I picked up the whirlpool duet washer and dryer at Costco 2 years ago when I bought my house, I'd buy them again. Costco sells HE detergent for less than you can pick up Tide at your local mega mart. I don't know if it rinses once or twice of a hundred times (okay, I know it doesn't rinse a hundred times) but they use waaay less water with whatever they're doing than any top loading washer. They spin at such high speed that it doesn't take long for the clothes to dry since most of the water is already gone. Things like fleece come out of the washer already dry. I leave the door open after it runs, much like I don't seal the dishwasher after it runs (I don't use heated dry on my dishes, for me I find it is a waste of energy and melts things.) Unlike a top loader which isn't water tight when you close the lid, a front loader or a dishwasher would reek if kept closed for an extended period of time because the door seals tightly to make both watertight. (Some dishwashers have vents that open during the drying cycle and will stay open, others close after the drying cycle.) Besides using less water, you use less detergent, bleach, and fabric softener.
Edit: Oh, it's more gentle on your clothes too, so they'll last longer.