NEW ENERGY STAR® CRITERIA FOR CLOTHES WASHERS
Effective January 1st, 2007, both Canada and the United States have imposed new minimum energy efficiency standards for washing machines.
As one would expect, new Energy Star® criteria for clothes washers will also come into effect January 1st, 2007. As a result, some washers currently eligible for the ENERGY STAR symbol will no longer qualify, withdrawing the eligibility of all top load washing machines for ENERGY STAR rebate offers. The goal of ENERGY STAR is to identify products that are among the top 25 percent of energy performers on the market.
For the technically minded, changes to the Energy Star criteria for clothes washers are as follows:
- The minimum Modified Energy Factor (MEF) for ENERGY STAR qualifications will increase from 40.21 L/kWh/cycle to 48.45 L/kWh/cycle.
- A new Water Factor (WF) criteria has been introduced to ensure ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers are water efficient, as well as energy efficient. To be eligible, clothes washers will be required to have a maximum WF of 1.07 L/cycle per litre of tub capacity.
What does this mean?
All front loading washing machines continue to qualify for the ENERGY STAR rating. The top loading washer models that were modified to be water savers, will no longer qualify for the ENERGY STAR rating.
Susan Reynolds, Director of Business Services at Coinamatic Canada, states that about 93% of washer placements in the last two years have been front-loading high efficiency washers that qualify under the new ENERGY STAR ratings.
Talk to your Laundry Services Provider today about all options available to you and take full advantage of the significant utility savings and rebates available by switching to high efficiency front loading washers.
