FEMP Designated Product:
Clothes Washers
In areas with limited water supplies, consider buying products with low water factors (WF), a performance metric for comparing clothes washer water consumption independent of capacity. WF is the total water used per cycle divided by the machine’s capacity (in cu. ft.). A lower value indicates a more efficient clothes wash er. While ENERGY STAR does not currently include WF in its performance criteria, the Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to add it in January 2007. The Consortium for Energy Efficiency (see For More Information) includes WF in its list of qualifying products.
Cost-Effectiveness Example
Performance | Base Modela | Required | Best Availableb |
Modified Energy Factor | 1.04 | 1.42 | 2.34 |
Annual Electricity Usec | 1,250 kWh | 917 kWh | 556 kWh |
Annual Energy Cost | $75 | $55 | $33 |
Lifetime Energy Cost | $720 | $530 | $320 |
Water Factor (gallons/cu. ft./cycle) | 11.1 | 10.5 | 3.6 |
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Annual Water Use | 14,400 gallons | 13,700 gallons | 4,750 gallons |
Annual Water & Sewer Cost | $58 | $55 | $19 |
Lifetime Water & Sewer Cost | $610 | $580 | $200 |
Lifetime Utilities Costd | $1,330 | $1,110 | $520 |
Lifetime Utilities Cost Savings | - | $220 | $810 |
a)The efficiency (MEF) of the Base Model is the minimum allowed by current US DOE appliance standards.
b)More efficient products may have been introduced to the market since this specification was published. Information on the best available model was obtained from the ENERGY STAR residential clothes washers products list (see For More Information).
c)Includes energy for washing, drying and water heating. This value is not the same as that shown on the EnergyGuide label.
d)Lifetime utilities cost is the sum of the discounted value of the annual electricity, water, and sewer costs based on aver age usage and an assumed clothes washer life of 13 years. Future energy price trends and a discount rate of 3.0% are based on federal guidelines (effective from April, 2005 to March, 2006). Future water and sewer costs are conservatively assumed to increase only at the rate of inflation.
Cost-Effectiveness Assumptions
In this example, annual energy use is calculated with the standard DOE test procedure for a residential clothes washer with a 3.3 cubic foot capacity cleaning 392 loads per year. The assumed electricity price is 6¢ per kWh, the average at federal facilities in the US. The assumed water and sewer cost is $4.00 per 1,000 gallons.
Using the Cost-Effectiveness Table
In the example shown above, when using electric water heating and drying, the Required clothes washer is
What if my Utility Prices or Usage are different?
ENERGY STAR has an
March 2006
For More Information:
EERE Information Center
General Services Administration
(816)
EPA/DOE ENERGY STAR has lists of qualified residential and
(888)
American Council for and Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) publishes the Consumer’s Guide to Home Energy Savings which contains a chapter on laundry and list of
(202)
The Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) provides information on utility programs promoting
(617)
Federal Trade Commission lists the annual energy use of clothes washers and other appliance data on its web site at:
www.ftc.gov/energy/
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory provided market research and life cycle cost analysis in support of this energy- efficiency purchasing specification.
(202)
A Strong Energy Portfolio for a Strong America
Energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy will mean a stronger economy, cleaner environment, and greater energy independence for America. Working with a wide array of state, community, industry, and university partners, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy invests in a diverse portfolio of energy technologies.
