Energy Star Washers and Dryers for Any Size Home

When it comes to washers and dryers, traditionally they have been separate, and while there are a plethora of energy star washers, eco-friendly dryers are harder to come by. It just takes too much energy to generate all that heat. Because my washing machine and dryer are both on their last leg, and I'm tired of babysitting both of them (kind of defeats the purpose of a machine to have to sit there the whole time), I decided to check out my options. Things have really changed - at least in the US. Europe has had much of this technology for a long time, and I've seen many messages from Europeans shocked that we haven't. You're not going to find this stuff at your local Home Depot or Lowes yet, but to my surprise these solutions were both initially less expensive than buying a traditional washer and dryer and save energy in the long run - you can't lose.

The closest to the traditional washer and dryer is the combo washer and dryer. Do not confuse this with a washer and dryer combo where two separate units are stacked on top of each other or side by side, a combo washer/dryer is a single unit that washes then dries your clothing. They come in vented and ventless depending on what kind of space you have, and range in price from $450 apartment sized units to a high end $1900 model. Your average unit will run about $700 but remember you're getting both a washer and dryer, so they actually don't cost any more than a new washer and dryer and often cost you less. What makes them so efficient is the way they dry. Rather than using heat, they spin much faster than a standard spin cycle, extracting the moisture without the need for a heating grid of some sort or air flow. Because they use so much less energy, they can be plugged into a regular 110A plug. They also save you space in your home and time because you no longer have to empty the dryer, empty the washer, haul the clothes to the dryer, then refill the washer and repeat. Now you can set clothes in the washing machine, go to work or sleep and come home or wake up to fresh, clean clothes. They do take longer than a standard dryer, so you will probably want to change your schedule to do this rather than wash everything on a single day because that will take forever.

But what if you have a tiny load or live in an apartment where they will not allow you to have a large unit (especially if they are trying to motivate you to use their coin fed machine)? The Laundry Alternative has your solution. The site is worth looking over, but I want to highlight a few of my favorites. The Wonder Wash is a little hand powered machine that uses no energy and very little soap. It only takes a few minutes, and holds 5 pounds of laundry. For a small family, women with cloth menstrual products, or parents with small children and/or using cloth diapers this little machine can help a lot with the things you need now. Even for a larger family, sometimes you need that item now and with this item you don't have to run the whole washer to do a couple outfits. It can be a standalone system for a single person or family of two if you do your clothes every few days, and since it is small and light if you go camping or travel you can bring it along with you and pack lighter. The other item I really like is the Countertop Spin Dryer (and the mini version). These also work in just a few minutes, so in 10 minutes or less with these two inexpensive appliances you can have a clean outfit for two people washed, dried and ready to wear. If you use cloth diapers you can forget the big pail and just wash in the evening. Since the spin dryer is also portable, you can pack it with the Wonder Wash and take it with you for clean clothes anywhere and if you are not in the market for a new washer and dryer, the spin dryer makes an excellent addition to your conventional dryer. By using the spin dryer for a few minutes before transferring your clothing to the conventional dryer, you can cut the time by half an hour. That means much less wasted energy and cost savings for you on your utility bill.