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The average annual UEC of clothes washers decreased dramatically between 1990 and 2009 (see Table A.41 in Appendix A). During this period, the average annual UEC fell by 81 percent. This decrease is due both to energy efficiency improvements across all types of clothes washers and to the increasing popularity of front-loading units, which are more energy-efficient than top-loading units.
Front-loading clothes washers became increasingly popular between 200115 and 2009. In 2001, these clothes washers accounted for only 16 percent of shipments in Canada. However, by 2009, they accounted for 61 percent of shipments.
The popularity of front-loading clothes washers has implications for energy consumption because these washers tend to consume significantly less water and energy than do top-loading washers. As illustrated in Figure 9, although the energy efficiency of top-loading clothes washers has improved substantially, they still consumed more than twice as much energy (on average) as front-loading washers from 2001 to 2009.
Figure 9 Average annual UEC of clothes washers by type, 2001–2009
Figure 10 shows how the average annual UEC of shipped clothes washers changed between 1990 and 2009. In 1990, all clothes washers consumed 600 kWh/yr or more, and 64 percent consumed 1000 kWh/yr or more. By 2009, 89 percent of clothes washers consumed less than 400 kWh/yr and 16 percent consumed less than 150 kWh/yr (all ENERGY STAR qualified models).
Figure 10 Distribution of clothes washers by average annual UEC, 1990–2009
For regional shipment data by clothes washer type, volume and distribution by channel, refer to Tables A.37, A.38, A.39 and A.41 in Appendix A.
14 Includes hot water requirements.
15 2001 is the first year for which there are comprehensive data on distribution by clothes washer type.