Commercial Washer Manuals & Owner Guides

Understanding MEF and IWF

MEF (modified energy factor)

Drum capacity in cubic feet divided by the total energy per cycle — machine, water heating and the drying energy needed for the remaining moisture. Higher is better.

IWF (integrated water factor)

Gallons of water per cycle per cubic foot of capacity. Lower is better; multiply by capacity to estimate gallons per cycle.

ENERGY STAR commercial washers must beat the federal minimums for both measures. Because a commercial machine may run several cycles a day, every gallon per cycle matters over a year.

Running an efficient laundry

• Program warm or cold default temperatures where soil levels allow; water heating is the largest share of washing energy.
• Keep machines level and balanced so they reach full extraction speed — drier loads mean shorter, cheaper dryer cycles.
• Post clear instructions: HE detergent only, do not overload, remove items promptly.
• Fix leaks and replace worn hoses quickly; a small leak wastes thousands of gallons a year.

Commercial Washer FAQ