Energy-efficient technologies are designed to help you reduce your consumption of limited resources. This also means they save you money over the long term, but the initial investment is often higher. The time required for you to realize a financial benefit is called the payback period. Horizontal axis washers and dryers, more often called front loaders, can save enough water and energy within a few years to justify the additional cost. Another kind of payback, however, takes place almost immediately.
Front loading washing machines can handle larger loads than many top loaders, but use less water and electricity. And even while you earn back the extra money spent on a front loader, it gives you the same results or better, but more quickly. Their spin cycles also
remove more water from freshly washed clothes, which means they need less time in the dryer—indirect savings of energy and time.
How Front Loaders Work
The axis of a traditional washing machine is vertical—a cylindrical drum with an agitator in the middle. The agitator is necessary because the clothes would not circulate from top to bottom without its help. Because a front loading machine uses gravity to keep the clothes
moving, it doesn’t need an agitator. This saves room in the machine and allows you to run larger loads.
Gravity also lets a horizontal axis washer make more efficient use of water. Instead of filling the entire drum, as a top loader does, it cycles the clothes through water in the lower half of the machine. Because a front loader uses less water, it also uses less energy to heat
the water. When the wash and rinse stages are complete, the drum spins at high speed to force out as much water as possible—generally more than a top loader can extract.
The water and energy savings are substantial. According to figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), horizontal axis washers use 40 percent less water than top loaders, and as much as 50 percent less energy.
Increasing Availability
Until a few years ago, horizontal axis washers were difficult to find in the United States. Homeowners who were determined to buy them found they had to import their own, or buy them through distributors at high cost. The sales volume was too low for major retailers to carry them. One reason is the initial cost of front loaders. The least
expensive models, which meant those with the lowest capacity and fewest features, had prices comparable to the most well-appointed and expensive top loaders. The scarcity of front loaders made parts and qualified repair service very difficult to find.
In the past decade, three things have changed to make horizontal axis washers more widely available. The first has been a steady increase in the costs of providing municipal water and electricity. The second is a consequence of the first: greater awareness of water and
energy consumption. Consumers, municipalities, and manufacturers have all learned that conservation is the key to managing the future costs of our essential utilities. The third is enthusiastic recommendations from owners of front loaders. These personal endorsements
have inspired more consumers to consider new technologies than any promotion or rebate ever could.
Homeowners who manage their own appliances will find front loaders just as easy to install as traditional top loaders. They have the same kinds of water supply inlets and discharge hoses, and most use 110 to 120 VAC household current.
Benefits of Horizontal Axis Washers
By reducing your consumption of water and energy, a front loader saves you money. Publications from the EPA estimate that a family of four saves up to $100 per year in utility costs. A larger family, or an especially active one whose clothes need washing more often, will realize even greater savings. Reduced needs for detergent and drying time help as well.
The U.S. Department of Energy conducted a field study of 103 horizontal axis washers, called the Bern Clothes Washer Study. The results showed that front loaders used 56 percent less energy and 38 percent less water, on average, than top loaders.
Government information on horizontal axis washers estimate savings of $550 in operating costs over the life of the appliance compared to a top loader—but this figure is conservative. Reduced consumption of water, energy, and detergent for washing, plus reduced energy consumption for drying, would provide that much saving in five years. If the washer lasts longer than five years, or the prices of water, energy, or detergent go up, the savings will be
greater still.
Choosing a Horizontal Axis Washer
All large retailers that sell major appliances now offer horizontal axis washers. They generally cost more than traditional models, but as you know now, the difference is paid back over time. Aside from price, almost everything is the same as for top loaders. For example, warranties vary by manufacturer, but most cover the entire washer for one to three years, and some cover individual parts, such as the motor or drum, for longer periods.
By law, all new washing machines must display a yellow-andblack EnergyGuide label. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission requires all manufacturers to provide energy use data, which helps you calculate operating costs and compare different models.
Remember that EnergyGuide and Energy Star are not the same thing. Energy Star is a program of the EPA that sets guidelines for efficiency and performance. All major appliances must have EnergyGuide labels, but not all are “qualified” for Energy Star status.
A few other things to keep in mind:
- Energy Star qualified washers range from 1.6 to 3.8 cubic feet in capacity; instead of buying the largest model you can, choose one that meets your needs.
- Horizontal axis washers are made as stand-alone appliances, in stacked combinations with matching dryers, and even for installation under a counter.
- Some models allow you to adjust water levels to fit the load. If water conservation is already a high priority for you, this feature will be worth looking for.
- Modified Energy Factor (MEF) and Water Factor (WF) are important measurements; higher MEF values are preferable, while lower WF values are better. That’s because MEF measures efficiency while WF measures consumption.
find the best front loader for your needs.
Choosing a Clothes Dryer
Washing machines are more complicated and have more options than dryers. Case in point: even though some models of clothes dryer are designed for energy efficiency, none of them receives Energy Star qualification. That’s because most of them use roughly the same
amount of energy. The best single feature a dryer can have to help you conserve energy is a moisture sensor. Using this sensor instead of a timer, you can have the dryer stop running as soon as the clothes are dry enough. This saves energy costs and prevents unnecessary wear to clothes.
