simple and sustainable: Make your Dryer more efficient!

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Make your Dryer more efficient!

I found this post on Twitter from 'Green Girls' and felt that I should share it:

Green Your Clothes Dryer
10 tips to a greener dryer.

By Josh PetersonLos Angeles, CA, USA Wed Apr 15 07:30:00 EDT 2009

The best dryer for your money and the environment is the clothesline. With the investment of a few bucks you can dry your clothes with solar power for free. However, many people enjoy the convenience of an electric clothes dryer and probably won't part with it. Ok. That's fine. Let's work with that.
If you're going to use an electric clothes dryer, then it should be an energy-efficient one. By adhering to a few simple tips, you can reduce the energy costs and electricity use of your clothes dryer. This is how:
Clean the lint filter after every use.
Make sure the dryer vent's outside. An interior-venting dryer can really destroy the quality of your indoor air.
Avoid overloading and under loading.
Wash loads back to back. The residual heat in the dryer will decrease drying time for every load past the first.
The vent hose shouldn't be longer than 25 feet. Each bend in the hose counts for five feet, not counting the bend at the actual appliance. (20ft of hose w/ one bend is equal to 25ft of hose with no bend.)
Don't forget to clean the exterior vent from time to time.
You'll also want to clean the vent hose once a year if possible.
If you vent hose is kinked, it will increase lint build-up and decrease energy efficiency.
Like the fridge, you should check the dryer door for leaks. Place a piece of tissue paper near the crack while the dryer is running. If the tissue gets sucked into the dryer, replace the seal.
Put the dryer in a warm place.

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Green Energy Conservation Tips

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Watch 'Living With Ed' for lots of eco tips!
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Water-efficient showerheads use 1/2 to 1/3 as much water as a standard one.
Using tactics towards energy efficiency is like giving yourself a big fat raise!
Conservation IS a renewable source of energy! It is the first step towards energy independence.
Conventional incandescent light bulbs convert only 5% of the electrical energy that runs through them into light!
You can save a lot of money by switching to CFL bulbs (compact flourescent lights). CFLs use 75-80% less energy!
Turn off lights when you leave the room. (seems like common sense but how many times do we forget?)

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