Washers and Dryers
Laundry appliances are a cornerstone of comfortable living, saving you time and hassle, but their use forms part of your personal environmental impact. Luckily, there is no shortage of high efficiency models on the market to give you peace of mind and shrink your energy bills.
Traditional top-loading washers rub clothes against an agitator in a full tub of water, but front loaders tend to be much more efficient, tumbling clothes through a small amount of water. Still, high efficiency top loaders, that spin or flip the clothes through less water, have also been developed.
On any washer, you can look for water level controls that let you use less water for small loads, and temperature controls that let you choose cold or warm water instead of hot. On both washers and dryers, you can also look for delay start features that allow you to time your laundry to start during off-peak hours, when electricity is cheaper.
Compact washers and dryers are ideal for smaller households, having a smaller capacity and using far less energy than larger machines. However, you can end up using more energy overall with a compact if you do more loads than you would with a larger machine. Pick a size that suits your household to get the best efficiency and remember that all washers and dryers are most efficient when you run them fully loaded.
Energy Star qualification is applicable to standard size washers that are at least 30% more energy and water efficient than the minimum federal energy performance standard in Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations. But washers still vary significantly within the Energy Star classification. You can compare the energy and water use of almost all available models on the website of Energy Efficiency (http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca) You can also look at the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) ratings that assign efficient models to three tiers, Tier III being the best.
Energy efficiency does not vary significantly from one dryer model to the next, so dryers are not Energy Star qualified. According to Natural Resources Canada, while clothes washers have become 68% more efficient, clothes dryers are only about 17% more efficient today than they were in 1990. However, improved washer design and technology can help on this front. High performance spin cycles in washers now remove more water before the clothes hit the dryer, so you can cut drying time by as much as half – and the associated energy use.
The only significant gains in dryer efficiency have been along the same lines: moisture sensing technology is widely used to automatically turn off the machine as soon as clothes are dry. A cool down or perma-press cycle can also save energy by completing the dry cycle with cool rather than hot air.
Modern home appliances are made of steel, non-ferrous metals, plastics and other components that are valuable and recyclable, so there is not much variation in the disposability or end of life impact of appliances. According to Warrington Ellacott, Chair of the Canadian Appliance Manufacturers Association, appliances have a high material value so only 11to17% of end-of-life material ends up in the landfill. With average life expectancy of washers and dryers at 14 and 18 years respectively, the bulk of their environmental impact comes from their use, making energy and water efficiency crucial.
LG 4.8 cu. ft. Front Load SteamWasher™
May 2011
This washer’s best feature may be its ColdWash™ technology, which LG claims gives warm water performance in cold using “enhanced washing motions to penetrate deep into fabrics.” Energy Star qualified and CEE Tier III, this washer has very high energy and water efficiency. LG says its steam washer has been designed for easy recycling and More >
Bosch® Stackable Front Load Washer
May 2011
Bosch’s Advanced SensoTronic® II Plus allots the appropriate volume and temperature of water for each load. This front-loading washer spins up to a maximum of 1200 rpm, which removes more water and therefore requires less drying time and energy as a result. The washer is also Tier II certified for its efficiency. Bosch’s 29 manufacturing More >
GE Energy Star King-Size Capacity Front Load Washer with Stainless Steel Basket
May 2011
This more compact Tier II washer has a Load Sensing Adaptive Fill that measures the laundry load size and will add just the right amount of water. It also saves energy with its PerfecTemp Temperature Management System that controls the water temperature to ensure the protection and longevity of the clothing. Although assembled in China, More >
Maytag Bravos® Washer
May 2011
This washing machine is Tier III certified, making it one of the more efficient and less expensive top-loaders on the market. This washer is designed to use High Efficiency (HE) detergent, meaning that that the machine uses less water to clean a load. In addition the IntelliFill™ Water Level Control ensures that only the minimum More >
Samsung High Efficiency Front Load Washer with PowerFoam and Steam
May 2011
This front-loader Tier III certified washer is a higher end, high-efficiency machine. Its array of options provide the user with a machine that adapts to their material needs. This washer provides a variety of temperature options, including an Eco Cold Wash, which uses cold water and foam to effectively clean clothes using 65 per cent More >
LG 7.4 cu.ft. SteamDryer™
May 2011
To help you save energy, this LG steam dryer has a Sensor Dry System that measures moisture during the cycle, and automatically adjusts the drying time and temperature. Both the LG washer and dryer are shipped from South Korea, but the company has a comprehensive GHG emission reduction strategy and targets in place for the More >