ENERGY STAR® washers use about 25% less energy and 40% less water than other appliances, so by using an ENERGY STAR washer you’ll see savings on each of your monthly bills! These machines can hold more items in the tub, meaning you can get your laundry done in fewer loads than you would be able to with other machines.

Ready to save money on your energy bills and hours doing laundry? It’s time to invest in an ENERGY STAR® compliant washing machine!

An ENERGY STAR® Compliant Washing Machine

Both top-load and front-load models can be ENERGY STAR® compliant. These models use a new style of washing that moves the clothes rapidly through streams of water instead of allowing the tub to fill with it. The average ENERGY STAR® washer uses around 13 gallons of water per load, saving you about 10 gallons per load compared to other machines.

ENERGY STAR® compliant models also avoid wasting water by using high-pressured sprays to rinse instead of letting clothes soak in a full tub. Another benefit of this washing process? This gentler wash cycle allows clothes to maintain their shape, appearance and color longer, meaning you can trust ENERGY STAR® compliant machines with delicates.

How to Measure ENERGY STAR® Compliance

Any product that is labeled as ENERGY STAR® compliant must meet the energy efficiency requirements established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These guidelines include:

• Products must deliver the service they advertise, plus an increased energy efficiency.
• Energy consumption and efficiency must be able to be tested and measured.
• If the product costs more than other models, users must be able to recoup the difference in cost through energy savings.
• Energy savings can be gained through non-proprietary technology available to all manufacturers within the industry.

Both top-loading and front-loading machines are eligible for ENERGY STAR® compliance if their tubs have a capacity between 1.6 and 6.0 cubic feet.

Find an ENERGY STAR® Compliant Washing Machine

If you want to replace an outdated or broken machine or simply switch to an ENERGY STAR® compliant choice, it’s easy to compare models and search by brand, size or appliance configuration online. Making the switch is a smart choice, since old or damaged washers are estimated to cost American consumers almost $3 billion per year due to inefficient use of energy and water.

When shopping for a new machine, think about the size. Larger models use more energy, but also wash more items at once, so decide which is more useful to you. For smaller spaces, there are ENERGY STAR® compliant washing machines in stackable models or under-the-counter designs which work well for apartments or smaller homes.

Look for models with a high Integrated Modified Energy Factor (IMEF) and a low Integrated Water Factor (IWF). The IMEF measures how the washer uses energy when not in use, such as when heating the water, and the IWF measures efficiency in gallons consumed per cubic foot of capacity. Each EnergyGuide label on washing machines will give you a brief overview of energy consumption and cost per year to help you make an educated purchase decision.