Repsol YPF

In the case of the washing machine, the majority of energy consumed goes towards heating up the water, consequently, in order to reduce both your electricity bill and greenhouse gas emission the most effective action involves washing your clothes with cold water, or at least selecting those programmes with a lower temperature. These are undoubtedly the cycles which consume the least energy.

However, even before programming the appliance to do the washing, the first and most important decision in order to be able to reduce costs is taken when choosing the machine itself. It is important to go for appliances featuring the letter A on the energy label, that is to say, those which are most efficient in their energy consumption. The scale goes up to the letter G. It is estimated that during their useful life, compared to those in category G, those classified with energy efficiency A are capable of saving the same amount of energy as that consumed by an average family during a nine month period. 

Programme selection
How the clothes are washed will depend on the selected washing cycle, as at least the duration and amount of products intervening in the process, the water temperature and drum revolutions can vary. As such, neither the electricity nor the water used will be the same. It is also important to know that using the appropriate amount of detergent will also improve the performance of the washing machine.

The range of cycles offered by the different makes of washing machine is extensive. The basic programmes that a washing machine must offer are: economy programme, short programme, cold water programme and half load programme.
Managing to use the washing machine in an optimum way and reduce electricity and water consumption is not difficult if it is always put on with a full load, on economy cycles and at a low temperature. Between 80% and 85% of the energy used by a washing machine is devoted to heating up the water. As such, going from using hot water to tepid water can reduce the energy consumed in each wash by half. On the other hand, using the washing machine at full capacity will imply using it less often, with the resulting saving. Generally, the load capacity of washing machines is 5 or 6 kilos, although some models can hold up to 9 kilos.

This is the general advice to enable you to use this electrical appliance in the most environmentally-friendly and efficient way possible. However, there are already appliances with sensors to automatically adjust the intensity of the programme to the quantity of garments placed in the drum. They are machines designed to make intelligent decisions during the wash cycle. 

Important issues
When choosing a washing machine, you must bear in mind that there are three energy efficiency categories: energy efficiency during washing, energy efficiency during spinning and the type of general energy efficiency. The classification is the same as in the case of general energy efficiency, from the letter A to G.

As has already been said, it is advisable that the washing machine has economy and short cycles, as well as the option to select different temperatures to save energy. Another important question is that the filter be accessible, in order to be able to keep it clean. Likewise, another aspect which introduces efficiency should be valued in the overall management of this and other electric appliances: the use of recycled and recyclable materials during manufacturing.

Where the kind of load is concerned, there are washing machines with bigger loads. They have lower maximum spinning speeds than conventional machines, but they are a solution for properties which don’t have the space for a washing machine which is more than 40 centimetres wide.

The spinning speed can vary between 500 and 1300 revolutions per minute (rpm). The most modern machines come with gradual balancing mechanisms so that the garments are not stuck together after the spin cycle. A high-speed spin wrings out the clothes better and reduces drying time.

Finally, if you avoid putting the washing machine on at the same time as another electrical appliance such as the cooker or the dishwasher, you will make better use of the electricity and if you have a night tariff it is advisable to buy a washing machine with a timer, in order to be able to put it on when the cost of electricity is cheaper.