| Washing Machines |
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Okay, so we could all hand wash more than our jumpers but, be honest, who wants to, let alone has the time? The washing machine has freed up millions of people from the drudgery of hand washing, and few would want to sacrifice their beloved washing machine or Launderette (Laundromat). But washing machines use phenomenal amounts of energy and water just to keep you in clean shirts all week - they can account for around 13 per cent of household electricity consumption and 12 per cent of domestic water usage. So it is best to opt for the most energy-efficient model possible, no matter if there is an initial cost premium. Design options to look out for include eco-buttons, which define wash temperatures and loading levels, higher spin speeds that will reduce the moisture content of clothes and consequently decrease the energy used if tumble drying, and automated detergent dosage. Other tips include buying a machine with the right capacity for your needs - if the machine is too large you will be wasting energy on your small loads. And look for a machine with a hot-fill facility that uses hot water from the household water supply, preferably gas heated and with a short distance between the hot-water tank and the machine, so that heat is not lost en route. How you use your machine, new or old, is important if you are keen to save energy. TIPS Do a full load whenever possible - half-load options, despite their name, will often use just half the amount of water or energy. Pre-soak dirty clothes in bicarbonate of soda -this cuts down on the need for detergents and allows for a cooler wash. Turn down the heat - 40C (104F) is suitable for most items and 60C (140F) for very dirty clothes - since as much as 90 per cent of the energy used for washing clothes goes on heating the water. Always use cold-water rinses for the same reason. Wash clothes less often - a single washing-machine cycle uses up to 100 litres (22 gallons) of water and the average family uses its washing machine five times a week, amounting to 26,000 litres (5,760 gallons) of water a year. Use a magnetic ball (available from certain mail-order companies) to prevent calcification in washing machines, improving the operating life of your machine and reducing the amount of detergent needed. Check out eco-friendly washing powders and fabric conditioners. When disposing of an old machine, make every effort to recycle it. If it is still working, try to find a new owner by donating it to a charity that collects unwanted white goods; otherwise sell it to your local scrap dealer. Steel can be recycled from a washing machine, offering energy savings of up to 76 per cent when recycled. If you do not have a machine then support any green initiatives your local Launderette (Laundromat) may try to introduce. In the future these could include using computerized machines that will weigh the laundry and calculate the correct amount of detergent and water required; using waste heat from the tumble dryers to heat the washing water and the building; and using the final rinse water from one wash in the first rinse of the next wash. Tumble dryers are not as common as washing machines and remain a luxury for many. But if you do have one it would be worth considering whether it is being used as much out of habit as necessity. Drying clothes on a line in the garden is the greenest option, but if this is not possible, consider investing in a wooden clothes dryer (using wood from a sustainable source) to spread clothes out in a warm room and make use of radiators in winter. If you must use a tumble dryer - and remember that on average a tumble dryer will use more energy than it took to wash the clothes in the first place - make sure you buy the most energy-efficient machine available. Keep the dryer clean and free of fluff and make sure clothes are as dry as possible before putting them in. |
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