Spinning Dryer

Spin dryers are a fun option. Remember, heat requires much more energy than motion, so spinning your clothes partially dry conserves some energy. Spin dryers spin your laundry so fast that most of the water gets forced out. The clothes will still be a little wet after spinning. Think centrifuge for laundry. (Bonus: dries faster and reduces wear and tear on your clothes.)

The Spin X is the most well known spin dryer. The Countertop is a smaller and much cheaper spin dryer.

My duet does a pretty good job of spinning and drying so I haven't tried this out yet. I'd be interested to hear how it works though.

This is a good option if you want to augment an existing washer dryer, or live in an apartment.

The Whirlpool Duet

The Whirlpool Duet is a good choice for an efficient washing machine. The washing part of the duet is particularly fun to watch, it squirts, then spins, then pauses, then spins the other way.

In general, front loading washing machines are significantly more efficient than their top loading counterparts. There are two reasons: first, the front loader needs less water to soak all the clothing. Second, a front loader can tumble laundry more easily than a top loader.

Hand Washing

The Luddite approach to laundry is hand washing. Hand washing takes the most time and effort, and of course it is the most energy efficient way to go.

If you go this route, consider also using a spin dryer. Indulge.

Once you're done, just hang the clothes up on a line and let them dry. There are also racks available at most stores that use indoor space very efficiently for hang drying.