Between heating water to wash your clothes and using the dryer to dry your clothes, laundry is likely the largest energy expense in your home after heating and cooling. Taking simple steps to reduce your energy use when doing laundry makes a big difference.
Photo contest winner
Congratulations to Sarah Wiley of Penticton who submitted this picture and won an ENERGY STAR® appliance package courtesy of FortisBC and Coast Wholesale Appliances.
This Penticton three year old loves to hang laundry, "the old fashioned way", and helps out every chance she gets.
Thank you to the many people who shared their inspiring photos and stories with us. View the great submissions on our Flickr gallery.
Be a laundry star
Upgrade from a ten-year-old clothes washer to a qualifying ENERGY STAR® model and use 75 per cent less energy to wash clothes1. With less water to heat and less drying time, it may be more affordable to replace your old washer than continue using it.
Do two for the price of one
All but the dirtiest loads can be washed in cold water, saving power and extending the life of your clothes. Switch from hot to warm and save as much as 50 per cent2 and from hot to cold to save even more.
Let it all hang out
Hang your clothes to dry and eliminate drying costs all together. You may save
$5 – 10 per month3.
More ways to save
- Wash full loads – for smaller loads, adjust your washer’s settings accordingly.
- Keep your dryer’s filters and hoses clear of lint – it’s safer and your dryer doesn’t need to work as hard to push air out.
- Reduce ironing by drying clothes at lower temperatures and stopping the dryer before clothes are too dry.
1 According to Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), 1999 models are rated at 860 kWh/yr and current, ENERGY STAR models are rated at 192 kwH per year (nrcan.gc.ca)
2 Source: NRCan (nrcan.gc.ca)
3 Based on average use of 7.5 loads/week or 392 loads/year at the current FortisBC electricity rate of 8.868¢ per kWh, and hanging 50 - 100 per cent of loads.