Most Energy-Efficient Washing Machines

The cost of running household appliances quickly adds up. If you’re looking to save money, or reduce your carbon footprint, taking into account the energy usage of your appliances is crucial, as the energy efficiency of your appliances can play a big role in the ongoing electricity costs of your home. For example, a washing machine with a low energy rating can cost well over $100 a year in running costs. Whereas an energy-efficient model can cost a mere fraction of that.

So if you’re in the hunt for a new washing machine, it pays to consider just how energy-efficient it is.

What do you mean by energy-efficient?

Appliances in New Zealand are given an energy star rating out of six. Some models qualify for a “super efficiency” rating of up to ten stars. The higher the stars, the more energy efficient it is considered. Meaning, it sucks up less power when in use.

The water efficiency labelling scheme (WELS) is also used to measure relevant appliances’ water consumption. Like the energy star rating, the WELS is measured out of six stars. 

A washing machine with both high energy efficiency and water efficiency will use less power and water while in use. Not only will this save you money, but it will help reduce the carbon footprint of your machine.

The most energy-efficient washing machines

To help you in your hunt for a new washer, we’ve listed some of the most energy-efficient washing machines, currently available, in order of lowest annual running costs. 

Annual running costs are estimated on the assumption of one load daily, and have been sourced via Gen Less’ Rightware tool. Estimations have been made where annual running costs are not available.

The most energy-efficient washing machines: premium

Premium washing machines can be a great option. They often include a wide range of cycles, extra gentle drum designs, and sleek and stylish exteriors. But most importantly, they are energy efficient, too.  

AEG LF8C9412AC

• Annual running costs: $52
• Energy star rating: 5
• WELS: 4.5
• Load capacity: 9kg

Other features include:

• 10 wash programs
• Anti-allergy program
• Automatically shuts off water if a leak is detected
• Steam wash cycle to reduce wrinkles

 AEG LF8C9412AC

The most energy-efficient washing machines: budget

An energy-efficient washing machine doesn’t have to break the bank. While the cheapest washing machines on offer tend to be less environmentally friendly, there are some affordable energy-efficient models available. Keep in mind that these models, while on the lower end, will still not be as cheap as the most basic, less energy-efficient washing machines.

Samsung WF18B9600KV

• Annual running costs: $130
  • • Energy star rating: 4.5
• WELS: 4
• Load capacity: 8kg

Samsung W718B9600KV

The most energy-efficient washing machines: large load capacity

Front loader washing machines have become the norm due to their better performance and gentler design. However, many front loader machines are smaller than traditional top loaders.

For families who do a lot of washing, a larger drum capacity can make all the difference. Not only will doing fewer cycles save you time, but it can save power and water too.

Samsung WV16M9945KV

• Annual running costs: $151.58
• Energy star rating: 4
• WELS: 4
• Load capacity: 18kg

Samsung WV16M9945KV

How can I lower the energy use of my washing machine?

There are plenty of little tips and tricks to help limit the amount of power used by your washing machine. A few to try are:

• Avoid having it on standby, turn it off at the wall
• Avoid doing small loads of laundry
• Adjust water levels to not use more than needed
• Use predominantly cold water for your washes

Finding the best power provider

While energy-efficient appliances are a great way to save you money, you also need to be getting a good deal on your power. While less than half of Kiwis believe they are getting a good deal on their power, only 12% of us have actually changed our electricity provider in the last 12-months.

Ultimately, finding affordable power involves shopping around. And the fact that you’re reading this means that you’re already on the right track to finding a great deal on power. But when comparing power companies, it’s important to consider the broader picture – don’t become too focused on finding a deal with a big prompt payment discount or special perk. Be sure to balance all the rates, discounts, fees and contract periods when making a decision, as well as more personal factors, such as customer service and support.

To help you find the best value electricity retailer, Canstar Blue rates NZ power companies for customer satisfaction and value for money, see the table below for some of the results, or you can click on the button below for the full results of our survey.

Canstar Blue’s latest review of NZ power companies compares them on customer satisfaction. The table below is an abridged version of our full results, available here.

Compare electricity providers for free with Canstar Blue!

About the author of this page

This report was written by Canstar Content Producer, Caitlin Bingham. Caitlin is an experienced writer whose passion for creativity led her to study communication and journalism. She began her career freelancing as a content writer, before joining the Canstar team.