by Jennifer Claerr

Created on: September 04, 2010

Today's Energy Star clothes washing machines use less energy and less water than older models. To qualify for the Energy Star label, a clothes washer must be a top-loading or front-loading design with a capacity of more than 1.6 cubic feet. The first clothes washing machines to earn the Energy Star label were made in 1997. If your clothes washer is not Energy Star qualified, you may be able to save over $100 per year by replacing it with a new Energy Star washing machine. The energy efficiency of clothes washing machines is measured using a modified energy factor (MEF) which measures the amount of energy needed to run the washer, to heat the wash water and run the dryer. There is also a water factor (WF) which determines how efficient the washer is in its water use. The higher the MEF and the the lower the WF, the more energy efficient the clothes washer is. Also, while larger clothes washers are more convenient, they use more energy than smaller clothes washers. Be sure to choose an Energy Star qualified washing machine model that's the right size for the loads of laundry you intend to wash.

LG Electronics produces many of the most energy efficient Energy Star clothes washers that are currently available. The LG WM2010C and WM2000C series front-load clothes washing machines. With 3.14 cubic feet of washing volume, these washers use 148 kilowatt hours per year of energy, have an MEF of 2.21 and a WF of 3.16. If you're put off by LG's higher up-front cost, there are other less expensive Energy Star washing machines you could buy. One is the Samsung WF219 front-load clothes washer series, which has 3.43 cubic feet of washing volume, uses 130 kilowatt hours per year, has an MEF of 2.65 and a WF of 3.2. Another is the Frigidaire FAFS4474 front-load washer model, which has 3.81 cubic feet of washing volume, uses 104 kilowatt hours per year, has an MEF of 3.21 and a WF of 2.9.

While Energy Star doesn't qualify clothes dryers, they do make recommendations as to which dryers are most energy efficient. To save the most energy, your best bet is to buy a clothes dryer with a moisture sensor. These dryer models are capable of turning off automatically when your clothes are dry, saving energy. A dryer with a moisture sensor will also reduce the wear and tear on your clothing, saving you money on clothes over time.

For more information about energy efficient clothes washing machines, visit EnergyStar.gov.

Learn more about this author, Jennifer Claerr.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.