A new washing machine will appear in stores this summer that spins clothes so fast (1,200 revolutions per minute) they come out almost dry.

That means less time in the dryer, which is the 800-pound energy gorilla in the laundry room.

The new breed of high-efficiency washing machines and dishwashers ''help stretch and protect our water resources,'' says Jesus Rodriguez, spokesman with the South Florida Water Management District. ``They're increasingly popular and they're going to have to be because of the dramatic population growth in South Florida.''

Laundry and kitchen appliances are rated by the Environmental Protection Agency as energy-efficient with an Energy Star label.

A front-loading washing machine tumbles clothes in the bottom of the tub rather than agitating them (often moving a full load very little).

Typically, front-loaders use half the amount of water per wash as a top-loader, about 20 gallons vs. 40 gallons. A family of four can save about 8,000 gallons of water a year using high-efficiency machines, according to the California Urban Water Conservation Council.

Kenmore (Sears) Elite uses 68 percent less water than a 42-gallon top-loader; Bosch says its front-loaders use 76 percent less.

The length of a cycle is about 40 minutes; a light-soil cycle may last only 25 minutes. By spinning clothes nearly dry, the dryer cycle is reduced from 90 minutes to 45.

About that juiced-up spin cycle: The basic spin rate of the high-efficiency machines is about 1,000 rpm. Top-of-the-line washers can whirl at 1,200 to 1,300 times a minute.

For consumers who prefer top-loaders, there's a new high-efficiency model made by Whirlpool called the Cabrio. It does not have an agitator, but an impeller that sends the clothes up the middle of the tank and out to the sides. Water saved: 30 to 40 percent.

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