Finally, the design of the washer can dramatically affect the households water consumption. By purchasing a new highly efficient washing machine, a water savings of 24% to 50% is possible.
The variety of efficient washing machines has greatly expanded since 1995. There are now at least eight major manufacturers of front loading machines that are offered in the United States. Nearly annual tests in magazines like Consumer Reports give some idea of the various brands and their performance.
Some laundromats offer front-loading washers capable of doing very large loads (25 to 35 pounds dry). some of these machines are very efficient-- equivalent to 15 gallons for a 12 pound dry load, or 1.25 gallons of water used per pound of dry clothes.
For information on clothes washers rated under the USEPA and Department of Energy Energy Star program, see the Energy Star webpage at http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=clotheswash.pr_clothes_washers.
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