Saving Energy - Appliances
Laundry:
- Buy a machine with a hot fill function (ie uses water from the water heater rather than heating its own).
- Front-loading machines use less water and energy than top loaders.
- Always have a full load of washing rather than half full.
- Use the lowest possible temperature setting.
- Pre-soaking reduces the amount of washing powder required and makes a cooler washing cycle possible.
- Small loads of clothes will dry faster in the clothes dryer.
- Hang out clothes to dry as often as possible.
- Invest in a portable laundry rack, so you can hang clothes inside to dry. This will also stop good clothes from fading in the sunlight.
Kitchen:
- Fill the kettle with only as much water as you intend to use. You can dramatically reduce your daily energy consumption, but make sure the elements are covered or power will go to waste.
- An electric kettle uses less energy than stove top boiling.
- Avoid buying a fridge that is bigger than you need. Check the energy rating.
- Buy a hydrocarbon-cooled model fridge rather than one using CFCs.
- Keep the fridge temperature at 38-48°F (3-9°C) and the freezer at 32-23°F (0- -5°C).
- Defrost the freezer when ice builds up so that it works to maximum efficiency. Full freezers need defrosting less often.
- Use the economy cycle on your dishwasher for every use. Running a dishwasher on an economy cycle with full loads can use less water than washing by hand.
- Buy fan-forced ovens, they generate up to 35 per cent less greenhouse gas than conventional ovens.
