April Showers Bring ... Muddy Clothes!

Spring showers are coming, and with them come muddy sidewalks, driveways, yards, and sports fields. All that adds up to extra laundry, which means our clothes washers and dryers will be working overtime. If you have old, inefficient appliances, all those extra loads will be noticeable in your monthly energy costs. Find out how ENERGY STAR^® certified washers and dryers can help you save money and energy on every load.

Washing Away the Dirt, and the Energy Waste
Cleaning clothes in a traditional washing machine is an energy– and water–intensive process. Switching to an ENERGY STAR certified model will lower the amount of energy required by 25% and the amount of water used by 40%. Many of these savings come from these models' more advanced features, such as automatically adjusting the temperature of the water or the wash time. To maximize the amount of energy and water you save, you should wash your clothes in cold water and always make sure to run full loads.

If you have an old, inefficient washing machine at home, you may be eligible for even more savings if you upgrade to an ENERGY STAR certified model. After you schedule a home energy assessment, a Mass Save^® Energy Specialist can gauge your existing model and determine whether you are eligible to receive up to a $350 rebate toward the purchase of an ENERGY STAR certified washing machine.

Drying Out Your Clothes, But Not Your Wallet
An ENERGY STAR certified dryer uses 20% less energy than a traditional model. These dryers save energy by including moisture sensors that will end the cycle when the clothes have fully dried. As an added benefit, the sponsors of Mass Save offer a $50 rebate on the purchase of select ENERGY STAR certified models. You can save even more energy by making simple changes to your laundry routine, such as drying only full loads and making sure these loads are separated by heavy items, such as towels, and light items, such as your delicates.

There are many models of ENERGY STAR certified dryers with similar features, but the heat pump dryer is a unique model. Conventional dryers blow hot air into the drum to draw moisture from the clothes, and then release this moist, hot air through an external vent. Unlike traditional dryers, heat pump dryers are super-efficient condenser dryers. A heat pump dryer uses a much more efficient process to heat the air that is used to draw moisture from clothes; in addition, instead of releasing the air through an external vent, it passes the moist, warm air through a condenser, which cools the air enough to release the moisture, and then reheats the air to continue the drying cycle.

Because a heat pump dryer doesn't require a vent, there's more flexibility with where it can be placed in your home. Plus, this technology can be very energy-efficient: according to EPA ENERGY STAR, heat pump dryers can use up to 60% less energy than conventional dryers. Since this is a newer technology, you'll pay more for a heat pump dryer upfront, but the savings on energy costs helps to even out the price tag over time. Also, if you have a space where an exterior vent isn't feasible, these dryers can be a great solution.

By using an ENERGY STAR certified washer and dryer, and integrating simple changes to the way you wash and dry your clothes, you'll be able to save energy, water, and money with your laundry routine. So as the rainier weather moves in this spring and the laundry piles up, remember these tips so you don't miss out on these savings!