Cutting Energy Costs

HE clothes washers aren't the only way

"The average household does almost 400 loads of laundry each year, consuming about 13,500 gallons of water," according to EnergyStar.gov. Buying a new washing machine is a big investment, but the good news is that most people keep their washers an average of eleven years. According to the Energy Star website, "An Energy Star-qualified clothes washer can save you $550 in operating costs over its lifetime compared to a regular clothes washer."

Buying a high-efficiency washing machine is one way to cut down on energy use. But you can still cut costs even if you decide not to buy a $1,000 washing machine. Many conventional machines are Energy Star-rated. Look for washers with a high Modified Energy Factor (MEF). This is a detailed calculation that takes into account water heating energy and drying energy used by the washer. The Energy Star website lists the MEF for washers. The higher the MEF, the more energy efficient a clothes washer is.

A washer with a low Water Factor (WF) also saves money. The WF measures the number of gallons of water used per cubic foot. The lower the number, the more water efficient a washer is. The WF for models can also be found on the Energy Star website.

Adjusting your washing habits can also save energy. Wash a full load of clothes. Whatever the size of the load, the energy used is roughly the same. You can also try to wash and rinse clothes in cold water whenever possible -- heating water uses more energy than any other process. If clothes are oily or greasy use warm or hot water, but you can still rinse in cold water. According to Energy Star, "about 90% of the energy consumed for washing clothes is due to heating the water." Even washing in warm water reduces energy consumption to about half that of hot water cycles.

If your washer has various spin cycles, choose the highest spin speed available. The highest number of revolutions per minute (rpm) eliminate the most water from the clothes, so drying time is reduced.