How to Save Energy in the Laundry Room
Laundry rooms can use a lot of energy and with skyrocketing energy prices, it is important to know how to save energy in the laundry room. Conserving energy used in the laundry room lowers your bills and reduces the strain on the environment. There are several practices for easily reducing the amount of energy you use.
Using Less Heat
90 percent of the energy used in laundry is used to heat the water, according to Energy Savers. Washing lightly soiled clothing in warm or cold water saves energy. In fact, hot water usually isn't necessary unless your clothes are heavily soiled or stained with oils. Using detergent formulated for cold water may clean your clothes more effectively.
Reducing Dryer Use
Save energy by line-drying or air-drying your laundry whenever possible. Air-drying also reduces the wear on your clothing. If you use a dryer, dry similar fabrics together and remove them as soon as they are dry. Over drying laundry damages your clothes and wastes energy.
Washing Full Loads
Wash full loads instead of partial loads, which use almost as much energy as full loads. If you wash partial loads, adjust your appliance settings accordingly. Whenever possible, wash several loads at one time. The washer and dryer use less energy to produce heat once they have already heated up.
Choosing Energy-Efficient Appliances
Purchasing an energy-efficient washer and dryer may decrease your energy bills enough to make up the investment. If you're looking for a new washer and dryer, look for an ENERGY STAR washer. ENERGY STAR does not rate dryers, but choosing a dryer that shuts off automatically once your clothes are dry will save energy.
More Energy Saving Tips
- Always clean out the dryer lint filter between loads. A clogged lint filter reduces air circulation, reducing efficiency.
- Remove clothes immediately after drying and hang or fold them. This reduces the need for ironing, which wastes time and energy.
- Check your dryer vent regularly and make sure it isn't blocked. A blocked dryer vent reduces air circulation and presents a fire hazard.
