Buying a Washing Machine? It's a Load-ed Question
If you're in the market
for a new washing machine, consider sinking
your clothes into an energy-efficient one.
It will not only conserve energy but, closer
to home, can help lower your utility bills.
To help consumers see
just how energy-efficient a washing machine
is, the Federal Trade Commission requires
manufacturers to post an EnergyGuide label
on their appliances. The Guide shows how
each model measures up — energy-wise
— to others of the same size.
For many years, the Guides
compared top-loading models with similarly
sized top-loaders and front-loading washers
with similarly sized front-loaders. But
changes in technology and marketing are
resulting in changes in the law: Starting
July 2000, changes to the FTC's Appliance
Labeling Rule and the familiar yellow-and-black
EnergyGuide will make both more meaningful
for consumers and manufacturers.
With front-loaders now
more widely available for purchase in the
U.S., the FTC has decided to require manufacturers
to provide information that will compare
all washing machines of a certain size (either
"standard" or "compact")
with others of the same size, regardless
of whether they are loaded from the top
or the front. The label change is expected
to alert consumers to highly energy-efficient
clothes washers and spur competition among
U.S. manufacturers. Front-loaders, which
have been popular for years in Europe, generally
are considered more energy efficient than
top-loaders, although they usually are more
expensive, too.
Spinning
to a Different Drum
Most washing machines sold in the U.S. are
top-loaders. They wash the clothes with
an agitator that turns on a vertical axis.
The tub also spins the clothes dry on a
vertical axis. Front-loaders work by tumbling
the clothes and then spin-drying them in
a tub that rotates on a horizontal axis.
There are some exceptions:
One manufacturer makes a horizontal-axis
machine that loads from the top, and another
company sells a machine with an axis that
is between vertical and horizontal.
Typically, front-loaders
use less water — from one-third to
one-half the amount that top-loaders require.
The clothes tumble in the tub, rising above
the water and then falling back into it
as the tub rolls on its side. Because less
water is used, less gas or electricity is
required to heat the water; because the
machines spin faster, clothes get wrung
out more completely, reducing the cost of
running a clothes dryer.
Horizontal-axis washers
(front-loaders) have one major drawback:
They can cost more than vertical-axis machines.
Still, with the energy savings they provide,
front-loaders may save you money in the
long run. In some areas of the U.S., utility
companies, environmental groups and government
agencies help sweeten the deal by offering
incentives to consumers who buy front-loaders.
At the same time, there are many highly
efficient top-loaders available, too. Use
the EnergyGuide to find efficient products
at the price that's right for you.
Reading
the EnergyGuide
The bright yellow-and-black EnergyGuide
label helps consumers factor an appliance's
energy consumption or efficiency and its
annual operating cost into their purchasing
decision. The law requires manufacturers
to place the label on most major appliances
so that consumers will see it when they
are considering various models.
The EnergyGuide for clothes
washers uses kilowatt-hours (a measure of
electricity use) to tell how much energy
each appliance uses in a year and compares
the appliance with other appliances of the
same or similar size. The range on the label
— where the appliance's energy use
is on a continuum — is of particular
benefit to consumers: A marker shows where
the particular model falls in the range
and how it stacks up against the competition.
The EnergyGuide also gives
the estimated cost per year to run the particular
model when it is used with an electric water
heater and with a natural gas water heater.
Saving
Energy
Getting the best energy value from any washing
machine depends on several energy-saving
wash-day practices. For example:
- If possible,
wash one big load rather than two small
ones.
- Load the washer
to capacity.
- If you must wash
smaller loads, select lower water levels,
if possible.
- Use cold water
rinses.
- Use lower temperature
settings and pre-treat or pre-soak stains
or heavily soiled clothing.
- Use the recommended
amount and type of detergent.
- Set the thermostat
on your water heater to no higher than
120 degrees Fahrenheit.
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