Front loaders are supposed to use less water than top loaders, as we are (unusual in England as most pay a flat rate for an un-metered supply) on a water meter it could save us money. Ours is in the kitchen under the worktop, as others have said a top loader wouldn't fit very well.
Here in England all washers (& other domestic appliances except electric stoves) plug into a standard 240 volts 3 pin socket. Do American washers plug into a standard 120 volts socket? I never noticed when I was in the USA, I didn't go around pulling peoples washers out so I could look behind them.
