I’ve been playing with my new watt meter and tested my washing machine (an older model that claims to be fairly inefficient, and use 908 kwh/year).
I was somewhat confused when it read something like .25kwh for a large, heavy-duty cycle. At that rate, I’d have to do 10 loads a day to match the sticker.
The only thing I can think of is that the energy used to heat the water is included in the calculation somehow, but while I’ve found some information on the ratings, I haven’t found that.
The Energy Star label on my new front-load washer specified two different annual costs - one for electically-heated water and another for those with a gas water heater.
392? That means I’d have to do 30 loads a month! That’s over 1 a day!! 
Who the heck does laundry every day? This whole thing doesn’t make sense. :dubious:
Someone with a wife and kids?
The US regulations say the standard is calculated on 8 loads per week, not unreasonable for a family of four. The standards also point out that they’re including the energy required to heat the water and dry the clothes, which is why front-loading models list so much less energy use; not only do they use less hot water, but they extract water more efficiently afterward.
In the 80’s and 90’s we used to do 5 loads a day.
Well then he shouldn’t do any. 
Ha! ha ha… ha.
I still maintain that the number is too high, but not so insane considering family use. I still haven’t found how the water-heating factor is calculated though. The closest I’ve found is the chart at the bottom of this page that says I’m using ~8c / load, making each load cost about 10c. At about $6/year, a new washer is clearly not an economically (or environmentally) stunning decision for me.
:rolleyes: It’s a standard. One that gives you a way to compare different models from different makes. If there was not standard, one washing machine maker might list his energy use at 1 load a week, and another at 10. This would not give you a very easy way to compare machines.
If you look at two machines, and one has twice the energy cost of the other, it does not matter if you do twice the standard in laundry, or half the standard, one machine is still twice as expensive.
I am aware of the benefits of standardized testing, I’m just questioning the standard. Having a sticker claiming over 900kWh/year (or almost $100/year) concerned me and had me checking out front-load washers every time I passed through an appliance store, whereas in reality I should care more about how much change I lose sitting on sofas.