Tips to Save Energy & Water at Home

jchait — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:55:07 -0400

Most of us have a washer and dryer at home and this is an area where your actions and habits can end up saving or wasting lots of water and energy resources. Of course, hopefully, your goal is to save resources, not waste them. If that's the case follow these tips.

When looking for a new washer and dryer, look for energy saving features, such as the ability to run larger loads and cooler rinse cycles, even if you sometimes wash on hot.

Run the largest load you can as often as possible. It takes less energy and water to run one huge load then it does to run two or three small loads.

Wash everything in cold - I swear it'll work, even if you use cloth diapers.

Use the least amount of detergent you need to get the job done, More is actually less when it comes to laundry soap, because one, it may take a second rinse to get too much soap rinsed, and two, some research shows that massive suds can make your washer work harder and use more energy.

Invest in a clothesline and some clothing pins, and hang your laundry to dry. Or, if you're lazy like me, you could hang your clothes on hangers to dry, then it's just moving them to your closet. In the winter, you can hang a load of wash in the bathroom, and it'll dry fine.

If you do use the dryer dry heavy clothing first and then lightweight items or vice vs. Because a hoodie takes longer to dry than say, socks, it's wise to seperate them.

Clean the lint filter after each dryer use.

If you can, keep your dryer where it's warm. For instance, a dryer in a dryer room, conserves more energy than a dryer in a garage.

Trading Up to Save Energy on Home Appliances

jchait — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

With Earth Day just passed many are pledging to use less energy, save resources, and cut back. One of the ways you can create energy savings in your home, both with new construction and remodels is to trade your old less efficient appliances in for new far more energy efficient appliances.

Here's the thing, there are pros and cons to trading up as an energy saving strategy. For example, you may save tons trading in an old washing machine for a new very efficient washing machine. However, that microwave or toaster may be just fine to keep. It really depends. First things first research the appliance you're trading up to be sure that trading up is the best course of action. You usually have 3 choices, trade up, keep the old, modify the old. Personally I also like the do-without method. I.E you CAN hang your clothes rather than dry them in an electric dryer.

To learn more visit...

When it comes to recycling your old appliance, what you don't want is the appliance languishing in a landfill. Learn about the correct and incorrect ways to recycle appliances:

energy star appliance

Tips to Save Energy & Water at Home

Trading Up to Save Energy on Home Appliances