Laundry

Facts

Doing your weekly clothes washing can make up an estimated 20 per cent of household water consumption (Environment Canada and Water Efficiency Master Plan).

• An average top loading washing machine can use between 120 and 170 litres of water per load (United States Department of Energy 2008 and American Water Works Association 1999) depending on its age and size.
• It is estimated that 30 per cent of your hydro or gas bill is due to the energy required for hot water heating.
• Using less water per laundry load requires less hot water.

Solutions

• Consider replacing your top loading washing machine with an energy star front-loading model.
• Install an aerator on your laundry tub faucet; aerators are inexpensive and save up to 3.5 litres of water per minute.
• Wait until you have a full load of laundry before you wash clothes.
• Do laundry as a family, not separately.
• Use the correct setting for large, medium or small load.
• Using cold water to wash your clothes won't save water but it will save energy.