You throw in a load before leaving for work, then another while watching television at night, and maybe a few more in between Saturday errands-but you still don't have enough clean socks. Laundry is the chore that never ends. And so it's no wonder that conventional washing machines can account for as much as 26 percent of the average home's hot-water bill.

When you do the laundry, the majority of the energy you consume is used not by the washing machine itself but by your water heater. If you do nothing but cold-water washing, you're already way ahead of the game when it comes to saving energy. But most of us need to turn that dial to hot at least some of the time. That's where high-efficiency washers really shine. Many high-efficiency machines-which are relatively new to the U.S., though they've long been popular in Europe-can clean the same clothes with a lot less water (most models use 18 to 25 gallons per load, versus about 40 in conventional machines), and about half the power. They also require less detergent and have other nifty features that help them do a good job with less energy.

These machines do cost somewhat more than conventional washers at the time of purchase, but the energy savings will eventually make up the difference. And there may be other financial incentives, too. If you're thinking of replacing your current washer, consider this: "The first thing to do is contact your local utility company and find out if you can get a rebate for buying a washer on their list," says Howard Newman, communications director at the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE). His organization works with utility companies to promote the most energy-efficient products available, and many of the utilities offer rebates as a way to encourage consumers to replace old machines and save (this is sometimes true for other large appliances as well). Once you've studied their recommendations, you can set out to find the washer that suits you best.

Here's what to ponder when you shop:

Spinning 101: vertical or horizontal?
Ever notice that the washing machines in laundromats are generally front-loading? There's a good reason for this. Top-loading, vertical-axis washers have long been the household standard in the United States. Most have a big tub that fills with water and an upright agitator in the center that swirls the laundry around in that water. Front-loading, horizontal-axis machines work differently: In them, the tub that holds the water spins, tumbling the clothes around the way a dryer does. Because of this action, the tub doesn't have to be full-the laundry gets clean as it is tossed into and out of a smaller amount of water. Front-loading machines are thus much more efficient and cost a lot less to operate. Laundromat owners aren't dumb-they know how to save on resources and maximize profit.

Of course, there is a downside to the front-loaders. You can't, for instance, open the top and toss in an afterthought T-shirt once the cycle has started; also, loading and unloading them requires stooping over, which can be hard for some people. If you really prefer the top-loading style, there are high-efficiency versions available. They use less water and rely on wash plates inside the tub instead of agitators, and high-pressure sprays for rinsing. In addition, there is one U.S. manufacturer (Staber) that makes a top-loading, horizontal-axis washer. They come at a price premium, but they're very efficient.

Regular, super, or jumbo: the capacity question
How much washing capacity do you need? According to the folks at Energy Star, approved models range in capacity from 1.6 to 3.8 cubic feet. You need to consider your household and habits when deciding on the appropriate size, but keep this in mind: It's generally much more efficient to do fewer, larger loads than numerous smaller ones, so it's probably smarter to err on the big side. However, as Alex Wilson, co-author of Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings, points out, "If your needs are small-if you're a retired couple, for instance-and your machine is too large, you will likely end up running loads that are less than full, which is very inefficient." If that sounds like you, consider a smaller model.

High-speed spin cycle This is a feature commonly found in horizontal-axis machines, since their drums can spin faster than conventional vertical-axis washers can, and it delivers terrific energy savings. "The more moisture the machine can extract, the less energy you'll use drying that laundry," Wilson explains.

Water-level control Look for a machine that has this feature, so you can select a lower water level for a smaller load of laundry. It saves on waste.

Suds-saver option Instant recycling gratification: If you wash some items that are only lightly soiled, you might want to reuse the sudsy water for another load immediately afterward. This option will let you do that.

Digital readout panel This is a fancy feature available on some new machines, and it really isn't necessary. That digital display quietly sips power 24 hours a day, whether you're washing or not.

Combo machines These little units are popular in Europe and are gaining ground among space-starved apartment dwellers in the U.S. They wash and dry the laundry in the same machine. But they aren't perfect. "They have an inherent problem in that they use the same drum for both washing and drying," Wilson says. "You can't fill it as much with clothing, or you're not going to get efficient drying." You might be better off going the old-school route, washing your clothes and then hanging them on a line to dry.

MEF and WF When looking over product literature for washers, you'll encounter these acronyms, which tell you a lot about how well a particular machine does its job. The MEF (modified energy factor) is a number that reflects both the washer's capacity in cubic feet and the amount of energy consumed in kilowatt hours (kWh) per cycle. This calculation takes into account not only the energy needed to run the washer but also how much moisture is left in the laundry after washing and, by extension, the energy that will be required to dry it. The higher the MEF, the better. The WF (water factor) is determined by dividing the amount of water used for a load of laundry by the capacity of the washer. The lower the WF, the more efficient the machine is in terms of water usage. (According to the CEE, the top performers on the market have an MEF of 2.2 or greater and a WF of 4.5 or lower.)

Energy Star This program is sponsored jointly by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy. As of January 2007, for a clothes washer to earn the Energy Star rating it must have an MEF of at least 1.72, and a WF of 8 or lower. When you see that familiar blue star, you know the model is one of the better performers. But remember that even among Energy Star-approved models there is a range, and some machines perform significantly better than others.

EnergyGuide This yellow sticker created by the Federal Trade Commission is required to appear on all clothes washers and numerous other household appliances in retail stores. It tells you the amount of electricity in kWh per year that a washer will use (assuming an average of eight loads of laundry a week) and compares that with the consumption of similar-size models. This sticker also gives estimates of annual operating costs, both for households with electric water heaters and for those with natural-gas water heaters. EnergyGuide label information is helpful for comparison, but be aware that it doesn't tell the full story, since it categorizes the machines simply as "standard" or "compact." Within each of those categories, there is a range of sizes available, so one machine might use less energy than another, but it might also have a smaller capacity. Also the EnergyGuide label doesn't account for energy use in drying. The MEF provides a clearer picture.

Cheat sheet: where to find the current recommended models
Once you have a general sense of the style, size, and features you're looking for in a new washer, you can do one last bit of homework before making a purchase:

Visit the clothes washer section of the Energy Star website and take a look at the product list. You'll see every Energy Star-approved model on the market, and can compare them by MEF and WF. Armed with that information, you can decide what the smartest choice for you would be.

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