The Commercial, Family-Sized Washer Initiative, launched in 1998, encourages the purchase and use of energy- and water-efficient washers for laundromats, multi-family buildings and institutions. These high-efficiency commercial washers are nearly identical to residential models available in retail outlets. The only differences are minor engineering changes, such as a coin box.

Like their residential counterparts, high-efficiency commercial washers save up to 50 percent of energy costs and use about 30 percent less water.

For this program, CEE uses high-efficiency specifications that were originally developed for its Residential Clothes Washer Initiative.

In addition to maintaining an up-to-date list of qualifying washers, CEE serves as an information clearinghouse for initiative news and new products.

Many qualifying washers utilize horizontal-axis technology, which saves energy and water.

In the United States, there are approximately 2-3 million commercial washers, which are replaced at a rate of about 10 percent per year. Approximately 42,000 of those replaced clothes washers are sold to laundromats. It should be noted that, although laundromats represent less than 20 percent of the market, washers in these locations are in use much more frequently on a daily basis.

RESOURCES/LINKS

Multi-Housing Laundry Association