Our Top Energy Efficient Washing Machines

If you’re looking to save on your energy bills and help the planet, investing in an energy efficient washing machine could be your best step forward. It’s not just the initial cost of the washing machine that will impact your bank balance, it’s the annual energy consumption that will add to the overall cost too.

Take me straight to the models >

A washing machine uses electricity to heat water and turn the drum every time you use it. It may not seem significant, but for larger families it can really add up. If you’re doing several loads a week and using higher temperatures for child shaped stubborn stains, your electricity bill could be significantly higher and carbon footprint much larger.

Generally a washing machine will add about £35 to your annual energy costs. An energy efficient washing machine will cost you around £15-£20 per year to run. Although it may seem like a measly £15, that negligible difference will certainly reduce your energy bills and lower your carbon footprint.

Choosing a new washing machine with lower running costs could really benefit you over the coming years. Energy efficiency ratings are only getting better and the world is slowly, but surely, turning to a more eco-friendly place. And the kitchen, or laundry room, is a great place to start making changes.

How washing machines compare on efficiency

Energy Efficiency

Washing machine energy efficiency has improved in recent years, but some washing machines remain more energy efficient than others. All appliances, including washing machines, are awarded an official EU energy efficiency rating. The ratings span from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient), and so you can use these ratings to help you find the machines that are cheapest to run.

The efficiency of washing machines has improved rapidly in recent years. It used to be that most washing machines on sale were at the top end of the scale, scoring at ‘Beyond A’ ratings such as A+, A++ and A+++. But since the change in energy efficiency ratings recently, these Beyond A machines are now rated lower at B or C. Now, don’t let that put you off. They’re still as efficient as before, it’s just that the efficiency of appliances in general is much higher.

The EU energy labelling scheme can help you choose a greener washing machine, but be aware that its washing machine labelling test is based on a 60ºC cotton cycle. Because of this, you may find the energy label ratings on washing machines don’t quite match your usage.

Water Efficiency

The average washing machine uses 9.5 litres of water for every kilogram of cotton clothes it washes. Water usage does vary between models though, ranging from an 8kg machine that can use just 5.5 litres of water per kilogram to a 6kg washer that consumes 22.7 litres of water per kilogram.

While the better performing washing machines use 44 litres of water at maximum capacity, the less water efficient models – with a smaller capacity – can use up to 136.2 litres.

To put those figures into perspective, if you always washed at max capacity and did the average three 40ºC cotton washes a week for a year, the good machine would save you 4,203 litres less water – more than 52 baths of water!

Our Top Energy Efficient Washing Machines 2021

Here’s a quick list of them all, just in case you’ve not got time to scroll down and read the whole thing:

Fisher & Paykel create their appliances with you in mind, giving you a sleek appearance and advanced features. This washing machine has luxury features like the AddWash Door, SmartDrive technology and even an interior light so you can actually see all your laundry when the wash is done. Find out more about this model here.

The interior drum has a “pillow” style interior, so your delicates don’t get eaten by the metal design. There’s also a simple Refresh function, which removes allergens and reduces wrinkles with no water in just a matter of 20 minutes. As far as washing machines go, this one is great for couples and small families alike!

SmartThinq can also diagnose any problems with the washing machine and relay that easily to the LG Customer Care team. So if (a big if!) you have any issues with this washer, there’s no faffing around with pictures and waiting years to know what’s wrong with your washer. LG really did Thinq ahead with this one!

We included this model as it’s great for families as well as an all round decent washing machine. A 12KG capacity is great for large and medium sized households. It’s got an easy-to-use digital control panel, plus a child lock so it’s not so easy for your kids to use it! LG know how sensitive kids can be, so they’ve included TrueSteam technology which keeps your clothes hygienic and soft for as long as possible.

You know you’ll get a good washing machine with Miele. Their products are tested for the equivalent of 20 years use, proving just how durable and reliable they are in comparison to other models. To add to it, their appliances are significantly easier to recycle compared to the rest of the industry. Smort.

It’ll save you detergent and fabric softener too. i-DOs measures your liquids precisely, so your clothes don’t age too quickly with unnecessary exposure to detergents. It’s smart too, with connectivity to Bosch’s app HomeConnect. The app will do all sorts of things, including letting you know when it needs to use the self clean setting!

Then there’s the Stain Removal system, which includes 4 specific stains that you can target. Including blood, grass, red wine and grease & oil. Siemens know exactly what stains are the toughest you face on a day to day basis, and have created a solution for that. Less stains and less energy waste!

Our range of energy efficient washing machines goes further beyond this list. We have a lot of A Rated LG models available. And buying a B, C or D rated washing machine isn’t going to affect you too bad if your budget doesn’t stretch that far.