Just before you go bed at night, take a quick walk around your living space. I usually find at least one additional thing I can do to reduce energy use overnight. Are the windows and curtains open or closed as appropriate for the season? Are lights turned off? Are appliances and electronics that might use vampire energy unplugged or the power strip turned off? Have you reset the thermostat for the desired night temperatures if you don’t have a programmable thermostat? If you have an appliance such as a dishwasher that you want to run overnight for off-peak energy use, is it ready to go? Is food left out that should be put away so it doesn’t spoil overnight?
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Per the New York Times Climate Forward newsletter, about 90% of the energy associated with washing clothes is used heating the water. There are times when warm or hot water are needed for a particular load of laundry, but most things can be washed in cold water. I had always wondered why some washing machines had two settings for cold water – “cold” and “tap cold”. According to the newsletter, some washing machines will heat the water to about 80 degrees Fahrenheit (or 27 degrees Celsius) if you choose the “cold” setting. So, the most energy efficient setting is “tap cold”. Cold water washing is also easier on your clothing.
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