washers

Clothes washing machines are the second highest water users in a home, after toilets. Replacing an old washer with a new energy-and water-efficient model will cut the amount of laundry water nearly in half.

When shopping for a new washing machine, look for a Water Factor of 6, which refers to the gallons of water used per cubic foot of clothes, or buy one with the Energy Star Label. Energy Star  is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that helps consumers save money and protects the environment through energy- efficient products and practices.

Energy Star applies to dishwashers also. Energy-efficient dishwashers use 1/3 less water than dishwashers made before 1994.  Check out Energy Star’s tool for finding dishwashers and other products.