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Cold is the New Hot: How to Save Energy by Washing Clothes in Cold Water
Heating water consumes about 90% of the energy to wash clothes, according to ENERGY STAR.
Washing clothes in cold water saves energy and can be more effective with the use of detergents specifically formulated for cold water. The active ingredient in cold-water laundry detergents are enzymes that are designed to catalyze chemical reactions at lower temperatures than enzymes designed to work in warm or hot water. Using cold water with cold-water enzymes in an efficient machine saves even more resources because fewer gallons of water are required per load of laundry. One thing to know about high-efficiency washing machines is that some do not trap lint, so to prevent microfiber pollution, you can install a filter on your drain pipe or use a greywater system to handle your effluent.
Two That Matter Most
To know how well you are meeting your need for clean clothes without wasting energy or creating microfiber pollution, these two indicators matter most:
- How much energy you use.
- How much lint you trap after each load of laundry.
