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Horizontal-axis (H-axis) washing machines, also called front loaders,
are far more energy- and water-efficient than conventional toploading,
vertical-axis machines. H-axis commercial equipment has been available
for many years, but new products (based on residential models) have
been introduced recently. One manufacturer has designed a resource-efficient
vertical-axis residential washer that performs far better than typical
toploaders and meets ENERGY STAR®
standards. Look for washing machines that meet ENERGY
STAR requirements for water and energy savings.
Laundry water temperatures should be reduced to 160 degrees F
(71 degrees C) unless prohibited by code. Some soaps and detergents
perform well at lower temperatures and should be used where appropriate.
Temperatures should be checked with an accurate thermometer, and
equipment should be adjusted as needed. Microcomputers on newer-model
clothes washing machines permit precise control of water temperature
and cycles. Using equipment efficiently means ensuring that washing
machines and dryers are operated with full loads rather than partial
loads.
Large commercial laundries should consider water recycling and
batch tunnel washers as water-conservation measures. Continuous-batch
machines conserve water and energy, as do machines that recycle
the final rinse for use as the first wash on the next batch.
To reduce energy use by clothes washers, make sure that hot water
heaters are operating efficiently: repair leaks, insulate storage
tanks and distribution piping, clean sediment out of equipment,
and test/tune-up water-heating components.
Clothes Dryers
Dryers work by heating and aerating clothes. Clothes dryer efficiency
is measured by a term called the energy factor. It is somewhat similar
to the miles per gallon for a car, but in this case the measure
is pounds of clothing per kilowatt-hour of electricity. The minimum
rating for a standard capacity electric dryer is 3.01. For gas dryers
the minimum energy factor is 2.67. The rating for gas dryers is
provided in kilowatt-hours though the primary source of fuel is
natural gas.
Unlike most other types of appliances, energy consumption does
not vary significantly among comparable models of clothes dryers.
Clothes dryers are not required to display EnergyGuide labels.
Look for a clothes dryer with a moisture sensor that automatically
shuts off the machine when your clothes are dry. Not only will this
save energy, it will reduce the wear and tear on clothes from over-drying.
The best dryers have moisture sensors in the drum for sensing
dryness, while most only infer dryness by sensing the temperature
of the exhaust air. Compared with timed drying, you can save about
10% with a temperature sensing control, and 15% with a moisture
sensing control.
Look for a dryer with a cycle that includes a cool-down period,
sometimes known as a "perma-press" cycle. In the last few minutes
of the cycle, cool air, rather than heated air, is blown through
the tumbling clothes to complete the drying process.
Gas dryers are less expensive to operate than electric dryers.
The cost of drying a typical load of laundry in an electric dryer
is 30-40 cents compared to 15-20 cents in a gas dryer.
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