Quick tips for choosing an energy efficient washing machine

Look for the energy efficiency star ratings and WELS water efficiency ratings.
More stars = more savings!

Look for the energy consumption numbers on washer star rating labels – this tells you the expected energy use in kilowatt/hour per year so you can compare different models and choose the most energy efficient washing machine.

Faster washer spin speeds remove more water from fabrics during the spin cycle for faster drying times, which means less dryer time and energy usage.
Models with high spin speeds of 1800RPM (Revolutions Per Minute) or more extract twice as much water from fabrics than models with low spin speeds of less than 800RPM, giving you the fastest drying times possible.

Front loaders are generally more water and energy efficient than top loaders, on average using about half as much water, but there are some top loaders that are just as efficient as a front loader.
Front loaders usually use less detergent, making them more eco-friendly, however they can use slightly more power due to their longer cycle times.

Tap connections are an important consideration for washers as most of a washing machine’s energy use is for heating the water for warm washes.
If you regularly do warm washes then a washer with dual hot and cold water connections will be more energy efficient than a washer with a cold water connection only.
A washer that connects to a hot water tap and uses hot water from your hot water system, whether it’s heat pump, gas, off-peak electric, or solar, will produce about half as much greenhouse gas emissions and be much cheaper to run than a washer that heats water once it’s inside the machine.

Cold wash cycles use ten times less energy than warm washes so models that offer purely cold water cycles are more energy efficient.Washers with an Economy cycle allow you to wash lightly soiled loads perfectly while saving energy and water.