U.S. Water News Online
BERN, Kan. -- The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker. The police chief, the preacher, the teacher. In fact, just about everyone in Bern, Kansas, (pop. 200) is trading in their washing machine for a new Maytag Neptune washer, which, according to the manufacturer, can save up to 50 percent of current energy and water used when doing laundry.
Maytag Appliances and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are "adopting" this northwest Kansas community as part of the DOE's Energy Star Residential Technology program. The objective of this nationwide effort is to educate consumers about appliances that can help save energy and water and to accelerate acceptance of these technologies.
According to the American Water Works Association, washing machines are one of the top three indoor water-users in the home, along with showers and toilets.
"High-efficiency washers, like the Maytag Neptune washer, will help conserve precious natural resources," said John Tomlinson, residential program manager at the DOE's Oak Ridge National Labs. "We think it's important to provide information to consumers that quantify savings when using energy- and water-efficient appliances. Realizing the savings will show them how remarkable this option really is."
The town conversion will begin later this year, with the DOE monitoring how much water Bern household washers use to do laundry, then replacing existing washers with the new Maytag washers to track what Maytag Appliances and the DOE believe will be dramatic energy and water savings.
"We're confident that Bern residents will love the Maytag Neptune washer," said Lloyd Ward, president of Maytag Appliances. "Not only will it use less of Bern's limited water supply, it will put money back in residents' pockets by cutting utility bills."
Maytag claims the new model washer can save consumers up to $100 a year in water and energy savings.
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