Three Bellevue businesses – Crossroads Appliances, Home Depot and Lowe’s – were recognized for contributing to the city’s water conservation goals by selling energy-efficient clothes washers.

Through the WashWise Clothes Washer Rebate Program, the city of Bellevue teams with the Cascade Water Alliance to offer rebates to residents who purchases energy- and water-efficient washers. In 2007, the three companies awarded 1,020 WashWise rebates.

The new washers sold are expected to result in water savings of nearly 5.5 million gallons per year over traditional washers.

Besides saving water, the new washers also use less energy and create less wastewater than traditional machines, resulting in lower utility bills.