Washing machines are costly appliances to operate. The amount of water used and the energy consumed can take up a large chunk of any home energy bill. Investing in an energy saving washing machine could save you a third of the energy required to do your laundry and thus create a massive saving on your energy bills. Furthermore, since most homes in the UK own a washing machine, buying an energy saving one will have a massive positive effect on the nation’s energy consumption.
If you are looking to buy an energy efficient washing machine it is important to look out for the European Community Energy Label (1). Washing machines, as with most other appliances today, are rated in accordance to their energy efficiency. The EU Energy Label is a compulsory notice that is applied to all white goods and home appliances sold within the EU. It allows consumers to clearly see the efficiency and energy consumption of a product. The system used by the EU Energy Label runs from A to G and primarily shows overall energy efficiency, and for washing machines, their spin and drying performance. Since it’s introduction in 1995, the EU Energy Label has become a widely recognised and respected guide for manufacturers and consumers alike (2). Also be sure to look out for the Energy Efficiency Recommended Logo as this is applied by the Energy Saving Trust to only the most efficient appliances.
There are many energy efficient washing machines on the market today that could save you money on your bills and cut down on your carbon footprint. Generally, top loading washing machines are not as costly to purchase but they are not the most economical choice. Front loading washers are more energy efficient since they have a larger capacity meaning fewer loads, less water and less electricity required to heat the water. They also have higher spin cycles removing more water from clean clothes with less need to use a tumble drier. Therefore, it is worth remembering that paying more for an energy efficient washing machine will save you money in the long term on energy bills. This is shown in the table below (3).
| Energy efficiency rating | Cost per year (five washes per week) |
| A | Less than £18.72 |
| B | £23.92 |
| C | £28.08 |
| D | £32.24 |
| E | £36.40 |
| F | £40.56 |
| G | More than £41.60 |
Here are a few examples of the most efficient washing machines to help you when choosing yours:
The Hotpoint WMD 960G is around £309 and it is popular due its quiet nature and 8kg size that allows you to wash more clothes without wasting water, soap or electricity. It has useful wash cycles including quick washes, a time saver button and a half load button. Most importantly, there is an eco wash setting which uses cold water but still cleans your clothes just as well as a hot wash. This setting may save you a small fortune!
Another quiet Hotpoint, the BHWM 129, is around £300 and will also save you money by using a lot less electricity and water than other machines. Thus, it is kinder to the environment and your pocket. This machine is also noted for its great ability at removing stains and giving a superb wash performance. Moreover, it has a ‘hand wash’ function which means you can wash your delicates without actually washing them by hand. Another popular feature is the anti-crease function which turns the drum intermittently after the cycle is finished which prevents clothes from getting crumpled and also helps them dry.
The Hotpoint WML 540P is specially designed to take loads from 1-6kg which means it can deal with an extra small load without wasting lots of water and electricity. It has spin speeds between 400 and 140rpm and it can wash at temperatures from cold to 90 degrees. This means you can customise your wash! This machine also has 6 wash cycle options, 3 of which are eco cycles. Clothes come out spotless and smelling fresh despite being washed in cold water. Cycles can be slow but the cleaning is effective and despite the many wash options, the machine is easy to use.
The Siemens W1M4S 383GB is available for around £450 and is clever in that it has a load sensor which means it only uses as much water as needed therefore avoids wasting water. It also allows for cold washes, it does not vibrate much and it has a clean, simple design and a 5 year warranty. A minor disadvantage is the touch sensitive buttons that can be triggered if you brush past them.
Next, the Beko WME 827W priced at around £209, has many programmes to choose from just like the Hotpoints but like the Siemens it has touch sensitive buttons which can be annoying if you accidentally start a wash programme that you cannot cancel. Possibly the best feature of this machine is that the washing comes out nearly dry even on a 900rpm spin. This appliance is also very quiet as it does not hum or rattle, even on a spin cycle. The drum will also continue to spin once the wash is complete to prevent the washing from creasing. Lastly, the great thing about choosing a cold wash is that it only takes half an hour and still leaves your clothes completely clean and fresh.
The Zabussi ZWF 12070 can be purchased for around £235. This model is very environmentally friendly as it is a cold fill only which means that it does not use your stored hot water when in operation. It has numerous different washing cycles covering a range of fabrics, different spin speed settings and has temperatures from cold to 95 degrees. There is also an eco setting which ensures less water and energy is used in the wash. However, probably the best feature of this machine is its delay start button of up to 9 hours. This means you can set your wash to start at a time when the electricity tariff is off-peak without having to be there to start it.
The Bosch WAE 24468 is available for around £345 and is exceptionally quiet even when on a spin cycle (less than 50dB). Furthermore, it is very environmentally friendly with the many wash and temperature settings it offers and will certainly save you money on electricity bills. This machine has a two year warranty (4).
AEG have also produced some energy saving washing machines though these tend to be more expensive (from £400-£560) than other makes. There is the AEG L66840, L74950, L76550, L84950 and L86850 which are very much the same in terms of being arguably the best for energy efficiency and they only really vary in style (5).
The Whirlpool AWOD 5526 costs around £250 and has an intelligent ability to measure the size of the wash load and adjust the water, temperature and time levels accordingly to save energy. There is also a SuperEco cycle that is designed to save up to 40% energy on a full load and it will remove the toughest stains even at low temperatures.
In conclusion, buying an energy saving washing machine will save you considerable amounts of energy and money but don’t forget that you can save money on your washing without replacing your old machine. The washing machine you currently own will likely work just as effectively at a lower temperature and so will your detergent. By selecting a 30 or 40 degree cycle you will use over a third less energy than you would with a 60 degree wash. This is because 90% of the energy used to wash a load of laundry comes from heating the water (6). It is also important to wait for a full load before using the machine, otherwise a half load or economy load should be used where available.
(2) www.greenconsumerguide.com
(3) www.which.co.uk
(4) www.ciao.co.uk
