According to Milieu Centraal, a washing machine consumes an average of 100 kWh of electricity per year, and a tumble dryer about 260 kWh. This makes the dryer one of the biggest energy guzzlers found in many households. Exactly how high the energy consumption is depends on the model and the energy label. With both washing machines and dryers, most of the energy is lost in heating; the washing machine heats water and the dryer heats air. As more and more households choose to wash at relatively low temperatures, this reduces energy costs. Dryers often require a higher temperature, and air is less able to retain heat than water. Therefore, a clothes dryer usually consumes more energy than a washing machine.
