General tips
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Have showers instead of baths and keep showers short.
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Shower with the windows open or turn your vent on to avoid moisture build-up.
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Consider installing a 'low flow' showerhead.
Washing machine/ clothes dryer
No costs/ low costs options
- Use your heated towel rail for only four hours a day (instead of 24 hours a day) and save up to $100 a year.
- Wash your clothes in cold water using cold-water detergents whenever possible.
- Wash and dry full loads. If you are washing a small load, use the appropriate water-level setting.
- Dry towels and heavier cottons in a separate load from lighter-weight clothes
- Don't over-dry your clothes. If your machine has a moisture sensor, use it.
- Clean the lint filter in the dryer after every load to improve air circulation.
- Use the cool-down cycle to allow the clothes to finish drying with the residual heat in the dryer.
Periodically inspect your dryer vent to ensure it is not blocked. This will save energy and may prevent a fire. Manufacturers recommend using rigid venting material, not plastic vents that may collapse and cause blockages.
- Consider air-drying clothes on clothes lines or drying racks. Air-drying is recommended by clothing manufacturers for some fabrics.
- Consider having an electrician install a timer on your heated towel rail.
Some investment
- ENERGY STARclothes washers clean clothes using 50% less energy than standard washers.
- When shopping for a new clothes dryer, look for one with a moisture sensor that automatically shuts off the machine when your clothes are dry. Not only will this save energy, it will save wear and tear on your clothes caused by over-drying.
Sources:
www.meridianenergy.co.nz
www1.eere.energy.gov
www.smarterhomes.org.nz |
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