In the 1950s, clothes washers
were a saving grace for homemakers as a time saver,
but not as a water saver. In fact, top-loading machines,
on average, use 40 to 50 gallons of water per load.
There are, however, water-efficient
machines available that save water – and more. These
front-loading washers operate on a horizontal axis,
only partially fill the tub, and rotate the clothes
through the water. Only 1/3 the water and about 1/2
the electricity is used, compared to standard vertical-axis
styles. With lower water use, front loaders also
require less detergent – resulting in lower costs
to consumers and less chemical discharge into the
environment. And, because the front loaders tend
to wring out the clothes better, there’s additional
savings in electricity, as clothes spend less time
in the dryer. |
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This all is
good news for people in our area, where clothes washing
is the highest internal water use. (For most other
areas, it’s toilets.) And, with new EPA regulations
requiring that all new washers be 35% more water efficient
within 7 years, it may be important when considering
changes in your laundry room. With a more efficient
machine, there’s less water used, less electricity
needed, and less detergent down the drain adding up
to a better system for you and the environment. |
