Tip 3 - All Washed Up |
| The average American home washing machine is used 416 times a year. It should pay off economically and environmentally to learn a few tips about using washing machines efficiently. |
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ENERGY FACTS
- Electric washers and dryers can consume as much as 25 percent of the electricity used at home, including hot water for the wash.
- As much as 90 percent of the energy consumed by washing machines heats the water.
- Reducing water temperature reduces energy consumption. Few fabrics need to be washed in hot water these days. With today's detergents, many lightly soiled clothes can come clean even in cold water. Cold-water washing saves energy.
- Conventional washing machines use about 15 percent of the water in homes that have them. Each wash cycle uses 32 to 59 gallons, as much as two showers.
- New-generation resource- efficient clothes washers save energy, water and wastewater, and save you money in the long run.
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SIMPLE WAYS TO SAVE ENERGY
- Experiment with cold-water wash and rinse cycles. For nearly all clothes, the results will be as good as hot-water wash and warm rinse and you'll cut your energy use by half.
- Set the water level in the washing machine to suit the size of the load. You'll save both water and energy.
- Try washing on a "delicate" setting instead of "regular." The motor won't work as hard.
- Visit the Seattle City Light WashWise Web pages for information on horizontal-axis washers.
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