ENERGY STAR© Washer & Dryer Rebates
ENERGY STAR© appliances will help you save on energy costs.
Clallam County PUD offers a bill credit for ENERGY STAR-certified electric clothes washers and dryers.
- ENERGY STAR Electric Clothes Dryers – $50 bill credit
- ENERGY STAR Clothes Washer – $40 bill credit
In order to apply for the bill credit, fill out a copy of the application, linked below, and return it to us along with a copy of your receipt for the qualifying appliance showing the make, model number, and cost. Include a copy (photo or photocopy) of the product information insert or packaging that includes the Energy Star logo.
Return the completed application with required attachments to any PUD office, email copies by emailing Energy Conservation, or mail to PUD Rebates, PO Box 1000, Carlsborg, WA 98324.
As always, if you need any help or have any questions, feel free to contact us at (360) 565-3249.
Resource List
Additional Benefits of Energy Star® Washers
The average household does almost 400 loads of laundry each year, consuming about 13,500 gallons of water. About 90% of the energy used for washing clothes is for heating the water. There are 2 ways to reduce the amount of energy used for washing clothes—use less water and use cooler water.
Save Money, Time, Energy, and Water — Choose Energy Star® Qualified Clothes Washers By dramatically reducing energy and water consumption, Energy Star® washers cut utility bills by an average of $50 per year and saves 7,000 gallons of water a year. Over the 11-year life of the washer, that’s enough energy savings to purchase a new Energy Star® qualified dishwasher and enough water to provide a lifetime of drinking water for 6 people. Energy Star® qualified clothes washers can also save you time and help your clothes last longer.
- Save Time –Without a bulky agitator, Energy Star® washers can handle larger loads, and larger items, like comforters. More capacity also means fewer loads of laundry each week.
- Save Your Clothes — Instead of twisting and pulling clothes around a turning agitator, Energy Star® washers use sophisticated wash systems to flip or spin clothes through a reduced stream of water, washing your clothes gently. This lengthens the life of often-washed items and deposits less lint in the dryer. Furthermore, because Energy Star® washers are so gentle, many models can safely clean silk, wool, and other hand-washables.
- Save Water – On average, Energy Star® washers save 7,000 gallons of water per year. Over the 11-year life of the washer, that’s enough water to provide a lifetime of drinking water for 6 people/. Energy Star® washers dramatically reduce the amount of hot water used in the wash cycle, and the energy used to heat it.
- Help Protect the Environment — Because they use less energy, qualified clothes washers reduce the air pollution and greenhouse gases caused by burning fossil fuels. By reducing water consumption, they also help protect our lakes, streams, and oceans.
- High Spin - Speeds Efficient motors spin clothes 2 to 3 times faster during the spin cycle to extract more water. Less moisture in the clothes means less time and energy in the dryer.
Purchasing Tips
Ask for Energy Star®. When buying a clothes washer, request an Energy Star® qualified model to ensure that it is energy-efficient.
Check the yellow EnergyGuide label. This label helps to:
- Determine how much energy the model uses
- Compare the energy use of similar models
- Estimate annual operating costs
Choose a size that meets your household needs. Energy Star® qualified clothes washers are available in many sizes, ranging in capacity from 1.6 to 3.8 cubic feet. Energy Star® qualified models are also available in stackable and under-the-counter designs, which fit in smaller spaces.
Choose a model with a high Modified Energy Factor (MEF) and a low Water Factor (WF). Modified Energy Factor (MEF) is a comprehensive measure of energy efficiency that considers the energy used by the washer, the energy used to heat the water, and the energy used to run the dryer. The higher the MEF, the more efficient the clothes washer. Water Factor (WF) measures the water efficiency and is calculated as gallons of water consumed per cubic foot of capacity. The lower the WF, the more efficient the clothes washer. Both MEF and WF are listed on the Energy Star® qualified product list:
Look for several water level options. Choose a washing machine that has several options for adjusting the water level to fit the load.
Laundry Best Practices & Energy Saving Tips:
- Wash in cold water: About 90% of the energy consumed for washing clothes is due to heating the water. Switching your temperature setting from hot to warm can cut energy use in half for washing 1 load. Using the cold cycle reduces energy use even more.
- Fill it up: Clothes washers use relatively the same amount of energy regardless of the size of the laundry load, so run full loads whenever possible. For small loads, use the appropriate water-level setting.
- Avoid the sanitary cycle: This super hot cycle, available on some models, increases energy use significantly; use it only when absolutely necessary.
- Activate the high spin speed option: If your clothes washer has spin options, choose a high spin speed or the extended spin option to reduce the amount of remaining moisture in your clothes after washing. This decreases the amount of time it takes to dry your clothes.
- Use a drying rack or hang clothes outside when possible: Air-drying clothes (indoors or outdoors) helps them last longer and saves energy. If air-drying laundry indoors, monitor indoor humidity closely to prevent mold and mildew problems.
- Leave the door open after use: Front-loading washers use airtight seals to make sure no moisture leaks while the machine is in use. However, when the machine is not in use, this seal can trap moisture in the machine. Be sure to leave the door ajar for an hour or 2 after use to allow any of the remaining moisture inside the machine to evaporate. Caution: Make sure small children do not climb into the machine while the door is open.
- Always use HE (High Efficiency) detergent with Front-loading washers: Using regular detergent in a front-loading washer will create too many suds in the machine. This leads to decreased washing and rinsing performance. Over time it can lead to mechanical problems, and foul odors.
- Dry towels and heavier cottons in a separate load from lighter-weight clothes.
- Don’t over-dry your clothes. If your machine has a moisture sensor, use it.
- Clean the dryer lint filter after every load to improve air circulation.
- Use the cool-down cycle to allow the clothes to finish drying with the residual heat in the dryer.
- Periodically inspect your dryer vent to ensure it is not blocked. This will save energy and may prevent a fire.
- Consider air-drying clothes on clotheslines or drying racks. Air-drying is recommended by clothing manufacturers for some fabrics.
Laundry Appliance Terms to Know
- Volume –This is the tub capacity of the clothes washer or dryer in cubic feet (height by width by depth)
- KWH/Year –This number is the estimated annual energy use of this machine under typical conditions. The KWH/Year quoted on cards is based on an average usage of 392 loads per year, or just under 8 loads per week. Actual energy consumption will vary with load size, frequency & temperature.
- Modified Energy Factor –Modified Energy Factor (MEF) is a new equation that compares the relative efficiency of different clothes washers. The higher the Modified Energy Factor, the more efficient the clothes washer is. Note: MEF also takes into account the amount of dryer energy used to remove remaining moisture from washed items.
- Water Factor — The Water Factor is the number of gallons per cycle per cubic foot that a washer uses. The lower the water factor, the more efficient the washer is. So, if a clothes washer uses 30 gallons per cycle and has a tub volume of 3.0 cubic feet, then the water factor is 10.0.