Laundry is a fact of life, but getting all those clothes clean and dry can use a significant amount of water and energy. In fact, it’s been reported that about 10 per cent of a home’s electricity use is spent washing and drying clothes.
Keen to reduce the impact of your laundry routine on the planet? Bob Park, appliance trends expert for GE Appliances recommends these three simple tips:
Be cool – use cold. Close to 90 per cent of the energy used by a washing machine is spent on heating water. Switching to a cold-water cycle is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce the energy footprint of your laundry room. As a bonus, cold water is gentler on your clothes, and many detergents are now optimized for use at any temperature.
Update your appliances. Swap outdated appliances for a more efficient Energy Star washer and dryer. These washers use approximately 35% less water and energy than conventional models, while the dryers use 20 per cent less. Plus, newer appliances often come with features specifically designed to help you improve efficiency. For example, SmartDispense, found in GE’s top-load washing machines, senses the size of your load and automatically adds the right amount of detergent, minimizing overuse and waste.
Set a routine. Washing machines use the same amount of energy no matter the size of the load. Save on electricity (and time) by washing full loads whenever possible. Setting aside a weekly laundry day can help. Plus, when you dry multiple loads back-to-back, you take advantage of the heat that’s already built up in the dryer – like using an oven that’s already pre-heated.
Find more information at geappliances.ca.
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