The washing machine is one of the most energy-consuming appliances in the house. But let’s see how much it weighs on the bill and, above all, what to do to save.
How much does a washing machine consume? and especially, how to save with every use? This is the question that many will certainly be asking themselves in these months of severe energy crisis, with energy rates now skyrocketing and record bills.
After all, the washing machine is one of those appliances that you really can’t do without and, especially for larger families, it remains on for several hours during the day. What to do, consequently?
As already mentioned, the energy cost of a washing machine It is one of the most difficult to reduce on the billbecause this appliance has become indispensable in our daily lives. However, there are precautions, both in the choice of the appliance and in the selection of washing cycles, that can make the difference.
Below, all the useful information.
Washing Machine and Energy Consumption: What to Know
Before delving into the actual consumption of a washing machine, there are some elements to take into consideration. Energy absorption and its consumption over time depends on many variables that, of course, are not the same in all conditions of use.
The following factors influence the cost of this appliance on your bill:
- Energy rating: the higher it is, the lower the energy consumption under the same washing conditions. The best on the market are those marked with the acronym “A+++”, which identifies the lowest possible energy requirement in all conditions of use. If you have to buy a new appliance, you should never go below class A: from B onwards, in fact, energy absorption increases rapidly;
- Temperature: the temperature during the wash cycle is the element that most influences the energy demand of the washing machine. This is because, to heat the water, the appliance uses various resistors and coils, which by their nature are energy-hungry. When you cannot wash in cold water, the temperature that involves the least consumption is the classic 40 degrees. Furthermore, you should never exceed 60 degrees, except in truly exceptional cases;
- Load: as you can easily imagine, the load in the washing machine affects consumption. The less the drum is filled, the more the washing cycles to be carried out will multiply, with all that this entails on the bill;
- Smart functions: New washing machines equipped with smart functions, such as automatic load recognition, temperature monitoring sensors and other similar features, can significantly reduce energy demands by optimizing each individual wash.
How much does a washing machine consume?
But how much does a washing machine consume? As we have already seen, a lot depends on the Features of the appliancefrom the temperature and washing habits. However, a car comes from the specifications Energy Stara U.S. government program designed to monitor the energy consumption of common electrical and electronic appliances in homes.
According to recent surveys, washing machines consume on average between 400 and 1,300 watts per hoursince it is reduced by 25% for those appliances that have decided to adopt the Energy Star specifications. 90% of the energy is consumed in the water heating phase and, generally speaking, each medium or large load wash cycle lasts between 50 and 60 minutes.
For a typical family of four, who performs between three and five washing cycles each week, these figures translate into an annual consumption of approximately 150 kWh for high efficiency appliances and beyond 400 kWh for those of low energy class.
The average is calculated on approximately 300 washing cycles per year. This translates into a bill expense, at energy prices in autumn 2022, of expenditure between 67 and 180 euros per yearalways depending on the energy class of the appliance at your disposal.
Washing machine consumption by temperature
Ma How much does an hour of washing consume?depending on the chosen temperature? Again, there are many factors to take into account and providing a unique figure is not easy. However, proceeding by approximation, some reference thresholds can be defined:
- Wash at 30 degrees: approximately 400 watts per hour, equivalent to approximately 20 cents on your bill;
- Wash at 40 degrees: approximately 600 watts per hour, equivalent to a cost on the bill of approximately 30 cents;
- Wash at 60 degrees: approximately 900 watts per hour, equivalent to a cost on the bill of approximately 45 cents;
- Wash at 90 degrees: approximately 1,200 watts per hour, for class A+++ appliances, equivalent to a consumption on the bill of 60 cents.
The costs always refer to the energy rates in Italy in autumn 2022.
E wash cold as much as it consumes? Although the ambient temperature of the water may vary from season to season, you can always take the data relating to 30 degrees as a reference: you will spend about 15 euro cents per hour, considering that the heating elements will not be activated. The only consumption will be represented by the movement of the basket and the water inlet and outlet pumps.
Does the washing machine consume energy when turned off?
When dealing with household appliances and other electronic devices in the home, we must always remember that consumption does not simply stop at the end of the washing cycle. As long as the appliance is not disconnected from the mains, there is always a demand for energy, even if small.
It’s the fault of Standby functions which, to keep presets and user settings in memory or keep status LEDs lit, can add 10 or 15 euros per year to your bill.
Washing machine consumption: how to save with every use
Even though the washing machine is an appliance that has become indispensable in our daily lives – and in some cases even less impactful on the environment: a washing machine cycle requires much less water, for example, than washing by hand – we can take small measures to reduce its weight on the bill.
Save by regulating the temperature
One of the first steps to take to save money without giving up the washing machine is to regulate the temperature carefullyavoiding widespread false beliefs. In fact, it is a common belief that very high temperatures are needed, especially for laundry, to eliminate germs and bacteria.
This was true in the past, when detergents were not so effective, but today most detergents on the market guarantee complete sanitization of fabrics even at low temperatures.
Generally:
- For the light dirtor simply to remove odors from fabrics, a cold cycle or a 30 degree cycle is enough;
- The majority of the household stainson both whites and colours, are eliminated without too much effort at 40 degrees;
- The 60 degrees should be reserved for stubborn dirtbut only if previous attempts at lower temperatures had proved unsatisfactory;
- 90 degrees are practically never needed, unless it is necessary to sterilize fabrics and linens, for example in the presence of infectious diseases or parasite infestations.
Manage the load better
Another element to take into consideration is the management of the loading the washing machine. It is a really bad habit to wash with the drum almost empty, because it is a waste both in terms of energy and the environment.
This solution should be chosen only when the fabric or the color of the washed clothes requires starting a washing machine cycle individually. At the same time, the drum should not be overfilled because, given the excessive effort both in moving and heating the water, the washing machine will consume more.
The ideal is always to rely on the capacity in kilos recommended by the manufacturer, ensuring that there is always enough space for the clothes to benefit from sufficient movement during the rotation of the drum.
Sources
Source: www.greenstyle.it