Washing Machine
SOCIETY BENEFITS
Reduced water shortages Reduced floodingECONOMY BENEFITS
Using less water will reduce your water bills!ENVIROMENTAL BENEFITS
Less water means less energy for pumpingUSEFUL LINKS
Advice
All washing machines must be sold with the EU energy-efficiency scheme rating clearly displayed.
Washing Machines achieve between A* (green) and G-rating (red…bad), with A* rating being the best. Spin efficiency of the washing machine is also important with A-rating being the best and is also graded with the same energy-efficiency rating.
It's also worth making sure the washing machine has a 'half-load' or 'economy' mode as this will allow you to wash fewer clothes with fewer resources. However some machines are so advanced that they do this automatically detect the size of the load and minimise the amount of water and detergents used.
Try to size the washing machine to your requirements taking into account the number of people living in your dwelling and how often you will require your clothes cleaned.
When you have specified the washing machine you would like then, the internet can help you find the best price, which may be considerably less than the high street stores.
Other Sustainable Considerations
A best-practice washing machine can use less than 40-litres per a standard wash. Currently there are only two models which achieve this, one from John Lewis and the other from AEG.
Washing performance is also graded in the same way the energy-efficiency is graded and we would highly recommend you specify a washing machine which achieves an A-rating for washing performance.
Consider using plant-based washing detergents which have a considerably reduced environmental impact than petroleum-based detergents. Plant-based conditioners can also be purchased, if you must use them ;)
