Energy-Efficient Washing Machine Features to look for when you’re buying a new machine:
- Energy Efficient: (of course!). Check the energy guides, make sure it’s Energy Star or A*** rated.
- Cold Water: Heating water is by far the biggest user of energy when doing your washing. So look for a machine which offers cold water washing. Even a few loads washed in cold water will save a lot.
- Eco Setting: this washes at a lower-than-normal temperature. Most clothes can be washed on either cold or eco settings.
Small loads: the best energy efficient washing machines offer half or small load settings to reduce the amount of water and the length of the cycle, when you’re not washing a full load.- Skip rinse: not all loads need to be totally, thoroughly rinsed. A machine with an option to skip the extra rinse at the end saves energy.
- Solar: If you have a solar or gas hot water system and you want to wash using hot water, look for a machine with separate hot and cold water connections. This is because using your hot water system to heat water is cheaper than using the washing machine’s internal heater.
Cut the Power!
Of course, the absolutely most energy-efficient washing machine is probably a hand-powered one.
When I first saw these many years ago, I thought they would take a lot of effort to keep cranking the handle. But in fact, loads can be washed in just 2 minutes or less!
These are really cool for
- Small space living
- Dorms
- RVs and caravans
- Boats
- Small apartments
- Camping
- Really small loads (because it’s so quick and easy, instead of waiting for ages for a powered machine to do its job) such as a couple of socks or a top.
Be even greener and use an eco-friendly, biodegradable detergent. Then use the water afterwards to water plants or whatever else you need water for, that doesn’t need to be drinkable.
This type of hyper-energy-efficient washing machine is available globally, just do a Google search for “hand-powered washing machine”.
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Great advice as usual Clare. Most of us probably get used to using the one setting time after time rather than thinking about exactly what is being washed or how much.
So true! I only wash my bed sheets in hot water since my bed is almost always occupied! Cat all day, daughter napping, and then me, hubby and daughter at night!
LOL Cristina, that’s a busy bed! 🙂
Cozy and sometimes too warm! Wouldn’t have it any other way!
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A friend of mine went to visit his German grandmother when he was a boy. One morning he woke up to find, to his amazement, his grandma calmly stirring a pot of boiling water on the stove, containing his underwear.
I’m with the German grandmother: while I have no trouble washing most clothes in cold water, I must have the hot cycle for things like sheets and towels. (On the other hand, our dryer gets used only for the largest items that don’t drape well over our solar drying rack)
[…] You might also enjoy: Go green with your washing machine […]
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