My husband and I did a lot of research before making this purchase. The washer replaced a 17 year old appliance that had an energy star rating but was not HE. Initially, I had trouble wrapping my mind around how little water was used, fearing that my clothes would be torn. However, the more I use the washer, the more impressed I am with how clean my clothes are. I love the options and the see-through lid. My only hesitation is how far away from the wall my washer and dryer have to be. My laundry room is narrow, and because my washer and dryer have to be about a foot away from the wall, my space to load and unload clothes is now much narrower. Maybe this is how all HE washers and dryers have to be now, but for me, this is a huge drawback.