The Government is encouraging us to ensure that they buy only the highest rated washing machines, but some people are uncertain whether the benefits are worthwhile. Over the last couple of years, the majority of machines on sale in Britain have become "A" rated, and many are triple-A "AAA", with maximum performance also on the spin cycle and washing performance.

This page seeks to look at the financial savings from choosing an "A" rated washing machine, when replacing an old one that no longer works. According to research carried out by the University of Oxford's Environmental Change Institute (ECI) in 1997, the average UK washing machine is used for 270 wash-cycles a year. The amount of energy used in each wash depends on several factors including:

• the energy rating of the machine
• the wash temperature (typically 40, 60 or 90 °C)
• whether a half-load programme is available and selected
• whether it is used as hot-fill (and if so, whether the hot water is heated by gas or electricity) or cold-fill (when the machine will always use electricity to heat the water to the desired temperature)

In the same report, ECI estimated that for the stock of washing machines in the UK then, the average energy consumption per cycle for new washing machines was 1.24kWh. A washing machine that was new in 1997 would now be 8 years old, and so could be regarded as a typical "old" washing machine in 2004. (These figures assume that the heating element has not furred up in hard water areas, as this can significantly increase the cost of heating water.)

According the Government's Market Transformation Programme (MTP), the energy consumed by different energy rated washing machines is as follows:

kWh per cycle/Energy Rating	A	B	C	D	E	F
90°C wash	1.22	1.46	1.59	1.72	1.85	1.98
60°C wash	0.94	1.12	1.23	1.34	1.47	1.60
40°C wash	0.56	0.67	0.74	0.79	0.85	0.91

Although E, F & G rated machines could still legally be sold up to 31 December 1997, it is not an unlikely assumption that most machines being replaced today would have been rated D or E when new (as MTP estimates that the average life of a machine before it is replaced is 8.7 years). This roughly equates to the ECI estimate of average consumption. On a similar basis of the mix between washes at the three temperatures, the energy consumption of an "A" rated machine is likely to be around 0.85kWh per cycle. The annual savings would thus be around 270 x (1.25-0.85) = 108kWh, which would cost around £7, with lifetime savings of more than £65. The newer machine would also reduce lifetime emissions of carbon dioxide, the major contributor to global climate change, by just over 400kgCO₂.

There are plans to introduce a new A+ rating, similar to that for fridges, which would reduce heating costs again by around half.

The official energy label also includes other useful information, including washing performance and the effectiveness of the spin dryer; again both on an A-G scale where "A" is the best performance. By making sure that a machine is also rated "A" on the spin cycle, you can save even more money from lower tumble drying costs, or can rely on clothes drying completely outside, without the need to use a tumble dryer at all.

The Energy Saving Trust applies its Energy Efficiency Recommended logo to many of the most efficient washing machines, and has a search function on its website to enable you to find energy saving washing machines.

The European Eco-label for Washing Machines

All washing machines sold in the UK must carry the official EU energy label. A small number of the very best machines may also carry the European Eco-label. This is a voluntary label that can only be applied to washing machines (but not twin-tubs or washer-dryers) that meet certain minimum requirements:

• Energy consumption must be better than energy class A (in exact terms, the machine must use less than or equal to 0.17 kWh/kg of washing);
• Spin drying efficiency: class A or B;
• Washing performance: class A or B;
• Water consumption <= 12 litres per kilogram of washing;
• The machine must be relatively quiet, with measured noise during washing below 56 dB(A), and in the spinning cycle below 76 dB(A);
• There must be volume or weight related markings on the detergent dispenser to limit the chance of using too much detergent;
• The machine (and handbook) must be clearly marked for the best way of using it, for example through choosing energy saving programmes;
• The manufacturer must offer a guarantee that the washing machine will work for at least 2 years and that compatible parts will be available from stockists for 12 years from the time production ends;
• Plastic part heavier than 25g must not contain certain flame retardants or substances classified as carcinogenic, toxic for reproduction or dangerous for the environment. Plastic parts heavier than 50g: must identify the material used to facilitate recycling;
• The manufacturer must have made arrangements for the take-back or recycling of the machine at the end of its life without further cost.

A word about tumble dryers

As with washing machines, there are now "A" rated dryers available on the market that should use significantly less energy than older machines. The standard for tumble dryers is very high, so there are few models available. They work in one of two ways: either by using a heat pump rather than a conventional heating coil, or by having a very long (typically up to 8 hours), low-temperature cycle. These still cost slightly more than normal dryers, but should also contain more sophisticated sensing equipment to prevent clothes being over-dried, leading to fewer creases and wrinkles (or easier ironing).
The model shown here has been available in the UK since about 2003 and works on the long, low-temperature principle. If time is an issue, the low-energy button can be switched of, in which case it will perform like a normal "C"-rated dryer.

Of course, the best drier is still a washing line if you have space for one!