We have a project that includes commercial washers. The basis of design is a top load light commercial washer. From the Energy Star website, a top load commercial washer is not eligible for Energy Star. The data included with the washer being proposed indicates it would not meet the MEF or IWF requirements of Energy Star for any of the washer types. It's curious to me why Energy Star applies to top load residential washers and not commercial washers. In any case, LEED states commercial clothes washers must meet Energy Star or performance equivalent. Since the top load commercial washer is not eligible for Energy Star, does that mean it does not need to meet this prerequisite? If it does, what is the "performance equivalent" for a top load commercial washer, would it be the performance of the front load commercial washer? We may be able to substitute a front load washer to meet this requirement, but I'm wondering if the top load washer can be an option?
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Martha Norbeck
PresidentC-Wise Design and Consulting
71 thumbs up
December 9, 2020 - 2:04 pm
I have a similar question. (I hope USGBC staff are checking here) There is no allowance for what to do if the unit is of a type to which Energy Star criteria do not apply. The largest unit is 8 cf for commercial washers and my project is looking at an Industrial capacity. More clarity on how to deal with commercial units would be appreciated.
emily reese moody
Sustainability Director, Certifications & ComplianceJacobs
LEEDuser Expert
476 thumbs up
October 17, 2022 - 12:58 pm
I would assume that your washer would need to be equivalent if ENERGY STAR doesn't directly apply. The v4 Guide (which v4.1 tells you to still refer back to) lists CEE Tier 3A as applying to commercial clothes washers; v4.1, however, updates that as follows (though they have it listed in the International Guidance section):
The CEE Commercial Clothes Washer Specification is no longer active. Commercial clothes washers require the ENERGY STAR label or performance equivalent.
Hope that helps. You can email LEED Coach directly if you want to be certain that this approach is what's appropriate.
Deborah Ebersole
PrincipalStudio D Consulting + Design
6 thumbs up
July 30, 2024 - 4:39 pm
Hi,
We have a project that is experiencing the same issue - top load, commercial washer. Does anyone have any follow up on this issue? Has anyone found a commercial top-load washer that is Energy Star equivalent?
Emily Purcell
Sustainable Design LeadCannonDesign
LEEDuser Expert
370 thumbs up
July 30, 2024 - 5:30 pm
A few years ago, I successfully followed this guidance and simply excluded larger washers: https://leeduser.buildinggreen.com/forum/industrial-washer-vs-commercial...
I submitted a project for review (v4, not v4.1) a couple months ago and followed the same logic. I got a comment saying the washer was incorrectly excluded. When I questioned the comment, GBCI confirmed that the guidance in that LEED User thread is correct, but I need to provide a cut sheet for the washer demonstrating that it is in fact over 8cf and therefore not Energy Star eligible. Overkill on reviewer scrutiny in my opinion, but easy enough to provide in the final review.
I also want to note that the Energy Star standard considers "commercial washers" those that are used in multifamily buildings, dorms, hotel laundry rooms for guest use, etc. They are not very different from home washing machines. Source, scroll down to page 4: https://www.energystar.gov/sites/default/files/specs/ENERGY%20STAR%20Fin...
Everything you see in the Energy Star product listing will be the type of washer you would see in an apartment building laundry room.
This is different from "industrial washers" like in hospital laundries, hotel laundry for linens, etc. My recent project was an athletic facility that uses an industrial washer for towels and uniforms, so even if it had been smaller than 8cf it would not be ES eligible. I haven't had to fight GBCI on that front (yet...) but I hope that answers why you're not finding ES-qualified washers for these applications!