13 Gallons Per Wash: A Super-Efficient Washer From Bosch
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 09. 5.06
The most efficient clothes washer available today is the Bosch Nexxt Washer. It earned the highest Energy Star rating for washers, which based on water and energy use. The specs are pretty impressive: the washer uses an average of 13 gallons of water per load (5345 gallons per year), and 178 kWh of energy per year. An average top-loading washing machine uses 50 gallons of water per load, and 933 kWh of electricity per year. Another advantage of this washer is that it spins at 1200 RPM, which is important, because it greatly reduces the energy required to dry the clothes.
The Bosch Nexxt washer is a front loading machine, and these machines tend to be more expensive than their top-loading equivalents. The Bosch washer costs about $1200. However, this cost can be made back because the washer uses much less water, especially hot water, and according to the Rocky Mountain Institute about 85-90% of electricity used to wash clothes involves heating up the water. Some other advantages: less detergent is required and there is less wear on your clothes because they are rotated through water rather than being agitated. Also, front-loading machines tend to have a larger drum capacity (the Bosch Nexxt has a 3.81 cubic foot capacity). However, front-loading washers do have longer wash cycles — a forty minute cycle time about average.
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Has anyone compared this to a Stable washer?
Spinning at 1200 RPM does not save energy if you hang your clothes to dry.
The Staber uses 5292 gallons of water per year and 180 kWh of power per year.
The MEF (Modified Energy Factor) of the Staber is 1.75 compared to 2.4 for the Bosch machine (higher is better).
Its a bit small, I have a family of seven. I have a Whirlpool Duet front-loader and it has a 3.8 cu. ft. drum.
Yeah, and it'll hold one shirt, small, one pair of jeans, small, and a pair of underwear -- and you'll have to stuff them in.
The Bosch and the Miele and other European washers are all tiny by American standards.
I totally agree, jingo!
At 3.8 cubic feet this Bosch does have more capacity than a lot of European washers, but it doesn't seem to compare unfavourably to most N American front loaders, and many of the top loaders. I think that for many households 3.8 is plenty big enough.
Sigh, I should add a disclaimer every time I write about washers.
I air dry clothes myself. But there are times where it is raining or snowing or the sun isn't shining. So other methods of drying are needed, and centrifugal drying is the most efficient in this case.
If 85-90% of the energy used in washing clothes goes to heat the water, shouldn't we all just be washing in cold? Or at the most, warm?
I guess I'm saying that you don't need to buy a $1200 machine in order to be green while washing your clothes!
I'm not sure by what measure this Bosch unit is considered the most efficient clothes washer. According to the Energy Star website, there are other brands/models that are more efficient. In fact, there is an LG model that has a higher Modified Energy Factor (higher is better), and uses less electricity and water per year. The Bosch unit is one of the most efficient models listed, but it's not the best.
I know it's because I'm a Textiles major, but every time someone mentions "air drying" I shiver a little bit. Some fibers just do not do well with air drying. Sure, your polyester sweater will be fine, but your cellulosics? They'll probably be quite stiff.
And what about bacteria/other substances? I wash all of my clothing in cold water, but my bed/bathroom linens get hot water (granted, I wash those less frequently than my clothes)...
I'll love a washer when it has efficiency like this and washes like a big old whirlpool industrial washer. I hate my craptastic european washer that takes me all day to wash my clothes. Each load may be more efficient, but in the long run, I think the maytag in the states may have it beat. I just had to vent about how much I hate my washing machine.
If by cellulosics, you mean rayon and tencel, those dry just fine on the line. In fact, the only things that get stiff are towels, and who cares if those are stiff, and blue jeans, which soften up the first time you wear them.
13 gallons of water per wash is 49 litres of water. This is about average for front-loading washing machines (at least in the UK). I've seen a few models that use 45 litres of water and the lowest I've seen is a Miele model that uses 42 litres (for a wash load of 5kg). However you look at it though, this is still an incredible amount of water being used.
Most washing machine models sold in the UK today have a 5, 6 or 7kg wash load; and the majority of models fall within a price range of about £200-£500 ($375-$900). I'm surprised the Bosch model is so expensive, but I presume it may be due to the fact that front-loaders are not widespread in the US.
As to the question of how long it takes to wash clothes, yes, front-loaders do take longer than top-loaders, but the fact that so many people find this off-putting illustrates how convenience trumps any concern for "green" issues.
We recently bought a Nexxt 300 and love it! Prior to this we had a maytag front loader but this is by far better. Our clothes are cleaner and the drum is huge!
I love my Bosch Nexxt Washer. I paid much less than $1200, $700 (after rebates) to be exact.
It is super......uses less detergent. It is very quiet.
I airdry (outside) all clothes from Spring until the snow flies in Ohio!! Wrinkles are not a problem.
At 48 yrs of housekeeping I have finally found the perfect washer for one of my most favorite household duties. A Happy Bosch Owner!!!
Okay... to everyone who's griping about the "size" you do realize that, while not THE largest, the Nexxt is darn near the top of volume capacity of the Energy Star rated clothes washers? Bigger than the Staber?
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=clotheswash.pr_clothes_washers
Yeah I use this machine to wash my dirty thongs