Front-loading washing machines

An ENERGY STAR front-loading clothes washer costs about $800 to $1,500. With average energy savings of $150 a year, it will pay for itself in five-plus years.	It's a mid-sized investment, with easy installation and a big payback.	It will reduce a homeowner's greenhouse gas emissions by about one tonne per year over a 10-15-year lifespan.

Front-loading clothes washers typically use about half the hot water, electricity and water of a conventional top-loading machine. They can save a typical family of four $150 in utility costs and more than 33,000 litres of water per year. Because they also tend to clean clothes better and with less wear, they are one of the most immediately effective ways of reducing your energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

What is a front-loading washing machine and how does it work?

As the name implies, clothes are loaded via a front, glass door instead of a top, metal lid. In a conventional top loader, a large, central agitator moves the clothes through a vertical drum full of water. In a front loader, the horizontal drum itself moves (there's no agitator) in a tumbling action, with the clothes lifted in and out of a much smaller amount of water. The spin cycles in a front-loading machine are also at much higher speeds, so clothes come out containing less moisture and thus need less time in the clothes dryer, providing additional energy savings. Front-loading machines have long been used in Europe, and the technology is well established.

What is an ENERGY STAR^®-qualified clothes washer?

Machines with an ENERGY STAR symbol use 35-50 per cent less water and at least 50 per cent less energy per load than other washers.

I've noticed top-loading machines that also have an ENERGY STAR symbol. Should I consider buying one of these machines?

Some newer models of top-loading machines use less water and energy, and the ENERGY STAR symbol reflects these savings, when compared with other, conventional top loaders. But these energy-saving, top-loading machines still use significantly more energy and water than their front-loading counterparts.

My conventional, top-loading machine is not that old and still works well. Should I still consider replacing it with a front-loading washer?

If your conventional machine is more than a few years old, it probably makes sense to replace it with a front-loading washer. Depending on the model you buy, the payback period is five-plus years on a machine that should last you up to 15 years. As well, a front loader uses half the hot water, electricity and water of a top loader, a considerable saving of resources that, in most cases, outweighs the environmental cost of scrapping a working top loader. For that reason, it's probably best - from an environmental perspective - to not sell or give your old machine to another user. When you buy a front-loading washer, ask the retailer if it will take away and recycle your old machine or check with your municipality for recycling locations.

What size of front-loading washer should I buy?

Tub capacities ranging from about 1.6 to 4.0 cubic feet are available (Note: Because they don't have a central agitator, their tubs hold more clothes than it might appear). For the greatest efficiency, choose a size that best suits your laundry needs. If in doubt, remember it's more efficient to wash slightly smaller loads in a bigger machine than to wash multiple loads in a smaller machine. Generally though, it's best, from an energy-use perspective, to wait until you have a full load before doing your laundry.

Can I use a regular washing machine detergent in my new front-loading machine?

No. Regular detergents are designed for top-loading machines, which use much more water than front-loading washers. These detergents will create excess suds, and may affect performance and cause damage, if used in a front-loading machine. Use a low-sudsing detergent specifically designed for front-loading machines. They are identified by an HE (high-efficiency) logo on the detergent container. Beware of detergents labeled as "high-efficiency compatible," which are often regular-sudsing detergents.

Can I buy an energy-efficient clothes dryer?

There is no ENERGY STAR program for dryers, although all new models should have an EnerGuide rating for how much electricity they use, on average, in a year. While most dryers use more than 900 kilowatt hours of electricity per year (at an average cost of $95), some consume only about 400 kilowatt hours (about $40 a year). To save energy, look for models that feature moisture sensors, which automatically turn the machine off when clothes are dry.