Save time, save money, save energy, save water and still get cleaner clothes? Convince me… In recent years, there have been tremendous improvements in the energy efficiency and effectiveness of products that we use everyday. It’s probably an important topic for you because it helps to improve the environment and it can have a really nice impact on reducing your energy bills. Many American homes waste energy in a number of ways and the price of energy continues to go up. It makes sense for us to look for ways to reduce our utility bills. Washing machines are a major energy wasting culprit, so an HE(high efficiency) washing machine might just be a smart upgrade in your future. But, do they deliver what they promise? Energy and water efficiency, while cleaning better than traditional washing machines. Let’s find out…
Energy Efficient Washing Machines: Good for your budget, but…
In the average American household, a family will wash nearly 300 loads of laundry annually. That works out to almost one load per day for six of seven days in a week. With an appliance that runs that much, it had better be efficient.
However, households that use out of date washers or standard machines that don’t meet Energy Star requirements, use roughly 20% more energy and 35% more water. Washing machines that are more than a decade old are even worse, and it is estimated that old machines cost consumers as much as $2.8 billion in energy and water costs as a whole.
HE(high efficiency) washing machines that meet the 2014 Energy Star standards cost only $85 per year to run, on average, which is a significant savings over standard machines. They are also larger, so you can fit more clothes into each load, which reduces the number of loads and the time you will spend doing laundry, each week. Of course, saving energy is a great benefit, but there is nothing more important than saving your valuable time. Additionally, newer models save water – as much as 35% per load. Think of the impact that can have on a water bill.
You can save even more water and energy by using the new laundry detergents that have been specifically formulated for energy efficient washing machines. For example, Tide HE Turbo Clean claims that it can help you reduce your wash times by as much as 25 minutes. Additionally, it’s suggested to be used in cold water only, saving you the additional energy that it takes to heat your hot water.
Do Energy Efficient Washing Machines Save Energy and Clean Better?
Believe it or not, it’s true. You can actually get clothes cleaner using a newer and more energy efficient washing machine. There have been many innovations in the world of clothes washers, manufacturers have found that high-efficiency washing machines, or HE as they are often called, are the best way to get clothes their cleanest.
You may have heard an HE washing machine working, and it sounds like the machine is constantly turning itself on and off. It is actually moving one way briefly, stopping and moving in the other direction. While this continuous system of movement and water usage may sound less efficient, it is actually quite the opposite.
The process works by reducing the amount of movement inside the washer and by also strategically spraying water throughout the cycle, as well as to spin and flip the clothes. This is how the machine reduces the water used when compared to standard machines that fill up completely to operate. Also, it may sound like the machine is not working as hard to clean the clothes inside, or that a lack of water would allow stains and oils to set in. Again, the opposite is true. Because of the lack of movement, the detergent is actually better absorbed and the specific targeting of the water allows it to work better to clean your clothes.
Using an energy efficient washing machine is not only good for the environment, but it also helps you save time, energy and lots of water. Oh, and it does a darn good job of cleaning clothes, better than anything before it. Now that you know an HE washing machine will save your family time, energy, water and money, and actually clean your clothes better, are you adding an HE washing machine to your upgrade wishlist?
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