INC NEWS - washing machines

[John Schelp]

Thanks for doing the math, Judy. Very interesting. 

I recently bought a front-load Energy Star washing
machine and would add two more benefits:

* you use less detergent,

* your clothes come out much cleaner (the terry on my
towels just pop out for a deeper clean).

Must be all the agitation. :)

best,
John

> ...buy new washers that are CHEAPER OVER THEIR
LIFETIME 
> AND WILL SAVE ENERGY, WATER, AND MONEY EVERY
YEAR....  
> 
> Here is what I discovered.  The cheapest top-loading
> machine is $299.99, or $320.99 with tax.  It uses
> 582 kwh of electricity per year.  (Natural gas will
> be a little cheaper.  I don't have the figures on
> natural gas use, however.) At $0.085 per kwh, the
> energy cost is $49.47 per year.  It also uses about
> 14,481 gallons of water per year.  In Durham, the
> water and sewer rate is $4.23 per ccf, and one ccf
> is 748.05 gallons.  So the water cost per year is
> $81.89.  Total operating cost is $131.36 per year. 
> The total cost of the machine plus operation over
> ten years is $1,634.55.
> 
> A comparable front-loading Energy Star washer uses
> 170 kwh of electricity per year and 5,408 gallons of
> water.  The total operating cost is $45.03 per year.
>  The machine is a lot more expensive:  $799.99, or
> $855.99 with tax.  BUT, when you add the total cost
> of the machine and operation over ten years, it is
> $1,306.30, significantly less than the cheaper
> machine.  And this is BEFORE the rebate of 10% to
> 20%, depending upon how many you buy...