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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 ExamplePerformance 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
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
cost-effective if its purchase price is no more than $220 above the price of the Base Model. The Best Available
model is cost-effective if its price is no more than $810 above the Base Model. These savings will be less if nat-
ural gas is used for water heating and/or drying.
What if my Utility Prices or Usage are different?
ENERGY STAR has an Excel-based cost calculator for clothes washers on its web site. Go to
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=clotheswash.pr_clothes_washers, and click on Savings Calculator -
Clothes Washers. Select the water heater type from the pull-down menu then input the number of loads per
week plus the rates for electricty, natural gas and water. The output section will automatically display results
that better reflect your conditions.
March 2006
For More Information:
EERE Information Center
1-877-EERE-INF or 1-877-337-3463
www.eere.energy.gov/femp/procurement/
General Services Administration
(816) 926-6760
www.fss.gsa.gov/
www.gsaadvantage.gov/
EPA/DOE ENERGY STAR has lists of
qualified residential and family-size
commercial clothes washers at:
(888) 782-7937
www.energystar.gov/products/
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 energy-efficient
clothes washers. This guide is available
from ACEEE at:
(202) 429-0063
www.aceee.org/
The Consortium for Energy Efficiency
(CEE) provides information on utility
programs promoting energy-efficient
clothes washers.
(617) 589-3949
www.cee1.org/
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) 646-7950
A Strong Energy Portfolio for a
Strong America
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energy will mean a stronger economy,
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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.