A lot of eco-friendly options for the home come with a hefty up-front price tag, tempered by the promise of a long-term payout. Few more so than high efficiency washing machines, which can run up to $1,000 more than their lower efficiency counterparts. However, the high efficiency washer is an excellent example of how, by spending more to be green, you save more; both for the planet and your pocket.

Replacing your old washer with a high efficiency front loading model saves on water, electricity, plastic, clothing and, in the long run, money. According to Consumer Reports "an inefficient machine can cost an added $130 or more to operate per year than [the] most efficient models."

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