Recent water restrictions throughout the country and memories of rolling blackouts in California and elsewhere are calling consumers’ attention to more energy efficient household appliances.
Consumers who are concerned with conserving natural resources are discovering the benefits of front-loading washing machines. These machines use up to 30 percent less water than top-loading machines, and consume 50 percent less electricity. They also use much less laundry detergent, which not only saves money, but saves the environment as well.
Front-loading washing machines clean by tumbling and compression. Like a clothes dryer, its drum rotates about the horizontal axis, prodding laundry through a tiny pool of water. This process is much gentler on clothes than a top-loading washer, which cleans clothes by twisting and turning them back and forth with an agitator. That means your favorite shirt will last a little longer.
Despite all these features, front-loading machines are associated mainly with laundromats in the minds of American consumers. However, they have been popular in Europe for nearly a century.
People shopping for new washers, dryers and dishwashers are looking more carefully than ever at the machine’s energy usage and ability to conserve natural resources, said Lynda Coyle, marketing manager for Miele USA, a top German appliance manufacturer.
“There seems to be a genuine concern not only for saving money but also for the long-term health of the environment in general,” said Coyle, noting that European countries have been well ahead of the United States in this regard for many years. “Our customers are not only asking about everyday water and energy efficiency but about the ability to recycle the appliance in the future,” she said.
From The WBAL Channel