Energy Efficient Washing Machines
Be sure to choose a washing machine size that suits your family
best. Buying a washing machine larger than you need because it
has more stars on the rating label will not save energy.
Energy Star Rating Labels
The washing machines from various
manufacturers have different energy
consumptions for similar washing loads. So, look for the red and yellow energy rating label.
These labels carry an energy
consumption figure and a star rating from
one to six stars and tell you home much
energy they use annually in kilowatt-hours
according to Australian test standards.
The energy rating label on the clothes washer shows an average energy
consumption figure in a red box. This indicates how much electricity the clothes washer will use over 12
months. It is based on the assumption that the clothes washer will be used, fully loaded, 150 times a year.
To calculate the energy cost simply multiply the energy consumption figure (kWh) by the domestic
electricity tariff of 15.01 cents per kilowatt-hour.
Types of Washing Machines
Twin tub washers
 Twin tub washing machines have a washing tub and spin drying tub. While they require more operator
time than automatic washing machines, they allow flexibility for personal washing methods.
The spin dry tub provides spray rinse and spin drying facilities. Twin tub washing machines are mostly
small, compact, lightweight and mobile.
Front and top load automatic washers
Automatic washers will wash, rinse and spin dry a load of laundry without any need to intervene.
They offer many features including a choice of water levels for large and small loads, variable wash and
rinse temperatures, variable washing and spinning speeds and even automatic dispensing of bleach and
fabric softeners.
Handy Hints
- Washing your clothes in cold water will save considerably on hot water energy if you have an electric
hot water system or a solar hot water system with the booster turned on.
- A front loading machine is more efficient than a top loading washer for hot or warm washes, as they
use about 50 percent less water. If you always wash in cold water, however, the difference between
the energy consumption of a top loading and front loading machine is small.
- By rinsing in cold water you save energy needed for hot water. Cold water can be used for the
complete cycle with detergents specially recommended for this purpose.
- Wash full loads rather than lots of smaller loads. Better results will be achieved if you group clothes by
colour and fabric, and by how dirty they are. Wash a group of lightly soiled items on a shorter cycle
rather than adding something more soiled and using a heavier cycle.
 COOLmob
Power and Water sponsor COOLmob to provide subsidised home energy audits and
water audits. For more information about reducing energy and water consumption
and to organise a $10 audit visit www.coolmob.org for Darwin or www.dkacoolmob.org for Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.
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