By Andrew Hunt
Homeowners with a mind for conservation can incorporate a "green" mentality into their homes through the appliances they use. Like energy use, water consumption is rapidly becoming an environmental issue in today's communities. Two new sets of washer and dryer units introduced by Whirlpool offer a solution for buyers interested in water-saving features and EnergyStar-certified appliances—as well as time-saving capacity and speed.
The front-loading revolution
Whirlpool's 2001 introduction of the Duet front-loading washer and dryer set was a watershed occasion in the world of home fabric care. Front-loading washers had previously been used only as high-capacity units for commercial and industrial enterprises.
The benefits of front-loading washers are many. For households that generate large amounts of laundry, front loaders offer greater capacity (Whirlpool claims the front-loading Duet washer can handle up to 16 pairs of jeans at a time). The higher capacity is generated because clothes are rolled rather then spun. This allows clothes to "fall" into the water. While most upright washing machines are rated to clean between 12 and 16 pounds of clothes per load, front-loading can often hold 20 pounds or more and produce equally clean garments.
In addition to being able to wash more clothes, front load washers use 50 percent less water per load. This can mean significant savings in geographic areas experiencing drought and rising water costs. More notable are the energy cost savings captured, thanks to using less hot water per load.
New washers for smaller spaces and smaller budgets
Two new sets of washers and dryers recently introduced by Whirlpool are designed to cater to many different lifestyles and home sizes while providing savings in energy and water use.
The Duet Sport HT and Duet Sport are compact models of the front-loading units. They offer the same deep cleaning and resource saving advantages of the established Duet series but can fit into tighter living environments. Able to be installed stacked, under counters, or on 15-1/2 inch pedestals, the Duet Sport HT and Duet Sport are EnergyStar-qualified and can reduce water use by as much as 26 gallons per load compared with traditional washers.
For homeowners not yet ready to make the leap to front-loading washers, Whirlpool has introduced the Cabrio HE washer and dryer set, which offer EnergyStar resource savings as well as accelerated drying times. With one of the largest capacity washing drums of top loading units, the Cabrio HE has water-saving load-size sensors to determine just the amount of water needed for optimal cleaning. The dryer touts the fastest dry times of units available in the United States, often completing drying cycles faster than the washer can clean a load of clothes.
For builders hoping to attract the attention of resource-conscious homebuyer, it's important to be able to suggest appliances that not only provide greater capacity but also conserve water and energy. The Whirlpool Duet Sport HT and Duet Sport series and the Cabrio HE washer and dryer pair fit the bill nicely. They're convenient, high-performance and good for the environment.
Now that's an easy sell.
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