
It’s more economical to purchase your washer and dryer separately, rather than spending money on both at once. But in most cases, there is no pressing reason to do so.

Most people assume they will buy a matching washer and dryer set. In fact, they are not even made by the same manufacturers. But these dryers do not match the most efficient washers. The most efficient dryers have a CEF of 9.75. The higher the CEF, the more efficient the clothes dryer. Clothes dryer efficiency is measured by Combined Energy Factor. The most efficient dryers are ventless electric dryers that use heat pump technology. Of course, the sources of your electricity and water will affect which of these you prioritize.ĭryer efficiency is simply a matter of electricity use.

There is usually a trade-off between water efficiency and energy efficiency. The best-rated washers have an IMEF of 3.1 and IWF of 2.7. The lower the IWF, the more water-efficient the clothes washer. The metric for water use is the Integrated Water Factor. The higher the IMEF, the more energy-efficient the washer is. The performance metric for washers’ energy use is called the Integrated Modified Energy Factor. Because they use both electricity and water, washers are the more complicated of the two to rate. Do you really have to buy mismatched machines to maximize efficiency? Washer and Dryer EfficiencyĮnergy Star rates washers and dryers for efficiency. But making your laundry room as efficient as possible is harder than you would think because the most efficient washers are not the ones that match the most efficient dryers. When it comes time to replace your washer and dryer, you want the most efficient ones. That’s a lot of time running appliances that can use a lot of energy and water. Not counting sorting and folding time, it takes about an hour and a half per load. The average American family does laundry eight to 10 times per week.

We found the most efficient laundry washer/dryer combinations so you can pick the best choice for the planet and your needs. It’s hard to think of a more mundane task than laundry but it has a big impact on the environment.
