Yes, I agree.  But then this sense of being struck as odd by what is written happens for me with lots of things that current commentators and writers note.  All too often much of what is remarked on has been known for years; it's just they didn't know it.  Perhaps this is the mark of more years lived than they have lived, but I also can't help viewing it with some wonderment that they don't bother to do a little more research on the topic they are remarking on.  Admittedly, I didn't bother reading the article, it may have been the author was trying to reaffirm the energy saving element of the topic.  The two have not often been linked although a moment of thought would bring cold water and energy saving together without much effort.  As for the Germans, the laundry room is the Waschkuche – washing kitchen.  Historically laundry was done by stirring clothes in very hot water over a fire; even 40 years ago the water for washing was plenty hot.  The up side of this was that the clothes were extremely well made and lasted forever.  Oh, and they were very clean too, perhaps sterile.