Yeah, I get to save money........er.... um......I mean.......um...the environment?

Last month the washing machine decided to quit. No two weeks notice, no goodbye parties, just started to leak water all over the laundry room. My wonderful wife, wonderful in the sense that she does the laundry, knew that it could no longer be saved. The machine had to be at least 35 years old judging by the style of the machine and the manuals that came with it. Lots of paisley and pictures of women smiling and doing laundry. And they were all white. My guess would be 1968 to 1974. So in washing machine years it was about 96 years old.

Now the dryer is still good and seeing that I have already angered it, I have no comment. So instead of buying a washer and dryer together, my wife and I agreed tho just get a washer now and a dryer when it dies. Note, dryer years and washer years are not the same. Of course I've just jinxed myself and it'll die as soon as I upload this post. Never-the-less we needed a new washer, I have gotten spoiled by wearing clean clothes.

Looking online I saw that the current style we had, top loader costs about $400. I've heard that front loaders are more energy efficient, clean better, and spin out more water than the top loaders. They seem to cost more, but they really don't. More about that later. I started to research energy efficient washers. Lots of different types but they all work the same way. Comments were at least 85% or higher praising the washing machine. You need to weight out all advantages and disadvantages before buying something that you'll have for a long time.

Advantages:
- Cleans clothes better than top loader
- Full digital display
- Quieter, no longer sounds like the space shuttle taking off
- Spins out more water therefore less time in the dryer
- Uses less detergent
- Uses less water
- Uses less energy
- Will measure how much you put in and adjust the time and water

Disadvantages:
- Average cycle is almost an hour
- Have to use HE (high efficiency) detergent
- Very old pipes in houses have had issues during startup

Clearly the advantages outweigh the disadvantages and if you look closely you'll see a pattern. But first I must disprove the disadvantages. The average cycle is an hour, boo-hoo. The top loader takes about 25 to 30 minutes, half the time. I don't see how an extra twenty five minutes would be much of a problem. How much laundry are you doing anyway? As for the detergent, almost every detergent out there is HE. In fact the detergent we've been using for years is HE. And the issue with the pipes, very, very rare and there are solutions that can be applied.

So not counting the first three advantages, the rest all save you money. If the clothes leave the washer drier, then you don't run the dryer as long. Less detergent means you don't buy it as often. Since the city of Forest Grove charges me for water, I want to use less. They also bill me for any electricity I use, more savings. And since it senses the load before it starts it can adjust the wash I can run a smaller load, something that you really can't do in a top loader. So am I saving money or am I saving the environment by using less water, less detergent, less electricity?

While you ponder that for a moment I want to add the rebates and why it's cheaper to get an energy efficient washer. As I stated earlier a top loader is about $400. A energy efficient front loader similar size, is about $700. Now here's where the savings come in. First Home Depot had a sale on LG energy efficient front loaders, 10% off. So it went from $699 to $630. The state of Oregon gives up to $180 in tax credits for buying energy efficient appliances. This came out to a $157 rebate. Now its down to $473. The city of Forest Grove has a $70 rebate. So the final cost after rebates and sales is $403, three dollars more than a top loader. Add to that the money I will save each year on my water, electricity and detergent, it's a no-brainer.

Now I know as a Libertarian that getting tax credits is not the best use of government money. If the product is that much better, then the free market will work this out. This is true. But my mama didn't raise no fool either. If someone is going to give me money back then I'm going to take it. Ideally it would be better if there weren't tax credits or the government handing out rebates, but they are and there's isn't much I can do to change it. Even without the rebates I would still save money, much more in the long run than if I bought a top loader washer. The question then is why would someone not buy an energy efficient washer?

(Don't say revenge, don't say revenge.) Seriously, why do people avoid energy efficient or environmental friendly products? I think the problem is with the messenger. Most times when people talk about energy efficient they don't say "'save money" they say "save the planet". Now I like the planet as much as the next guy, but I like money a lot more. And so do many other people. Some environmentalist believe the only way to feel like you are doing something good for the environment is if you suffer. Like the person who thinks the only way to exercise is to push themselves to the point of pain (i.e. no pain no gain) instead of doing what is sensible. A number of people who spread the message of "saving the planet" are not the most avid free market supporters. And if someone doesn't think the free market is important, then they are not going to mention it. The problem is that most people do see the free market as important, without it you wouldn't be able to do much to save the environment.

More than that people don't like sacrifice, if people think they are making a sacrifice then they won't do it. If they think that this will not change what they would normally do, or not enough to truly notice, and save them money, then they'll jump on board. I have no problem saving a dollar, heck I'd save a nickel if it means I don't need to burn any calories over it. This is the message we need to get out there.

Buying the new washing machine meant I had to put up additional money first in order to get it back. Unless someone had to scrimp, borrow and pull together the $400 to buy a washer, then there is no reason not to get the most energy efficient model. I even opened a Home Depot credit card on the spot and they gave me six months of no interest, apparently on anything over $200 they do that, something to keep in mind in the future. Yet people still buy the less efficient model. Are they penny wise and pound foolish? Or do they think that since they have been told that it will "save the planet" which translates to them as "I'm going to suffer by having to make a sacrifice." This goes beyond washing machines, there are so many ways to save money by being environmentally sound, but people will actually avoid it because they haven't been told enough that they will save money.

What I ask is to anyone who wants to see more people do good for the environment, talk more about the money you can save. Mention both, some people will like to help the environment, some, like myself, want to help the environment and save money. Everyone else just wants to hear that they will save money. The goal is to balance our way of life with doing as little harm to our planet. If you make it an either or option guess which side most people will choose.

Now only if my wife can get me to actually use the washing machine........