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What a load of laundry costs
Almost all of a washer's energy is water heating, and almost all of a dryer's energy is air heating. That is why switching to cold water is nearly free money, and why the dryer dominates the total either way.
What to know
- A cold wash is roughly 0.15 kWh a load against 0.5 kWh warm and about 1.0 kWh hot. Modern detergents are formulated for cold water.
- A vented electric dryer is around 3.0 kWh a load; a heat-pump dryer is roughly half that.
- The washer's final spin speed sets the dryer's workload. Removing water mechanically is far cheaper than removing it with heat.
Questions
- Where do I find kWh per load?
- The EnergyGuide label gives an annual figure based on a stated number of loads; divide it out. Or measure with a plug-in meter over a week.
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