Clothes Washers for Consumers

The average American family washes almost 400 loads of laundry each year. It's a good thing families can cut their related energy costs by more than a third - and the water costs by more than half - just by purchasing a clothes washer with the ENERGY STAR label.

• Over the life of your new ENERGY STAR qualified washer, you'll save enough money in operating costs to pay for the matching dryer. With your water savings, you could fill three backyard swimming pools.
• Is your washer over 10 years old? Replace it with a new ENERGY STAR qualified washer and you could save over $135 each year on your utility bills. That's like getting your High Efficiency (HE) detergent free year round.

Clothes washers originally qualified for the ENERGY STAR label in May, 1997. Clothes washers that have earned the ENERGY STAR are 30% more efficient than non-qualified models and are more efficient than models that simply meet the federal minimum standard for energy efficiency.

Eligibility Requirements:
Only front and top loader clothes washers with capacities of greater than 1.6 ft3 are eligible to earn the ENERGY STAR.

Clothes Washers Key Product Criteria: ENERGY STAR

Learn How a Product Earns the Label

What else should I look for when buying a Clothes Washer?

Check the yellow EnergyGuide label.
This label helps you determine how much energy it takes to operate the model, compare the energy use of similar models, and estimate annual operating costs. Learn How to Use the EnergyGuide Label.

Think carefully about the size.
While a larger model will obviously hold more clothes, it will also use more energy. On the other hand, a model that's too small will require a lot more clothes washing. ENERGY STAR qualified models are also available in stackable and under-the-counter designs, which fit in smaller spaces.

Choose a dryer with a moisture sensor.
While ENERGY STAR does not label dryers, you can reduce your dryer's energy use by choosing a model with a moisture sensor. This feature automatically shuts off the machine when clothes are dry, which saves energy and reduces wear and tear on your clothes caused by over-drying.

Choose a model with a high Modified Energy Factor (MEF) and a low Water Factor (WF).
Modified Energy Factor (MEF) is a measure of energy efficiency that considers the energy used by the washer, the energy used to heat the water, and the energy used to run the dryer. The higher the MEF, the more energy efficient the clothes washer. Water Factor (WF) measures water efficiency in gallons of water consumed per cubic foot of capacity. The lower the WF, the more water efficient the clothes washer. Both MEF and WF are listed on the ENERGY STAR qualified product list:

Related Information:
Educate yourself on new clothes washer technology
Clothes Washing Best Practices

These FAQs represent the top ten related to Clothes Washers and the ENERGY STAR program.