Electricity use at different wash temperatures
Short answer: About ninety percent of the electricity in a wash goes into heating the water, so temperature is the one setting that matters most. Going from 60 to 40 degrees roughly halves the use. Here are the numbers and the places where you can safely turn it down.
Where the electricity goes
The motor that turns the drum uses very little power. The heating element has to lift the water from about ten degrees to the temperature you chose, and that is the part that costs. Roughly ninety percent of a wash's electricity goes into heating, which is why temperature is the place to save.
The numbers in practice
A wash at 60 degrees uses about 1.3 kilowatt hours. At 40 degrees it is around 0.7, and at 20 degrees it is under 0.3. The figures vary from machine to machine, but the relationship stays the same. The lower the temperature, the less power, and over a full year the difference shows on the bill.
From 60 to 40 degrees
The biggest step is going from 60 to 40 degrees on everyday laundry. You halve the electricity use, and clothes usually come out just as clean when they have only been worn for one day. That applies to bamboo t-shirts for men, for example. Always check the care label and pick the lowest temperature it allows.
When 30 degrees is enough
You can go from 40 to 30 degrees when clothes have been worn a day or two and are not visibly dirty. Items that simply sat close to the body usually come clean enough at a low temperature if the detergent also works in cold water. Follow the care label, and avoid overfilling the drum.
What you save 60 degrees for
Keep the hot programs for the textiles that really need them. That usually means towels and bedding, which lie against the skin for many hours in a row. Take a look at bamboo bedding, for example, and wash it as the label says. That way you only use high temperatures where they make a real difference.
The eco program
The eco program is often cheaper even though it takes longer. It washes for longer at a lower temperature and saves on heat, and heat is what costs. A long program does not use noticeably more electricity, because time only costs a little motor power. So you can choose eco when you are not in a hurry.
Fill the drum sensibly
Every wash costs heat, so it makes sense to wait until there is enough laundry for a reasonably full drum. Do not cram it in, though, or it will not rinse properly. Bamboo clothing for women also lasts longer when the detergent is mild and the water can move freely through the fabric.
Drying costs more than washing
The tumble dryer typically uses more electricity than the wash itself. That makes a clothes line or a drying rack the easiest way to save, and the line is free. Hang the laundry up as soon as the program ends, and you avoid creases and a musty smell. The fabric is also spared the heat of the dryer.
How to begin
Start with one step at a time. Turn everyday laundry down from 60 to 40 degrees, choose the eco program, and save the hot washes for towels and bedding. After a few weeks you can see whether clothes still come out clean enough. Then try 30 degrees on lightly worn items and see how it goes.
Frequently asked questions
Does a long program use more electricity
No, not noticeably. Time costs only a little motor power, while the heating element accounts for most of the use. A long program at a low temperature is therefore often cheaper than a short one at a high temperature.
Is the eco program cheaper
Yes. It washes for longer at a lower temperature and saves the heat, which is the expensive part. The result is usually clean laundry at a lower price, even though the program runs longer than the ordinary ones.
What about the tumble dryer
It typically uses more electricity than the wash itself. The line or the drying rack is free, and the clothes are spared the heat. Hang them up straight away so they dry without creases and without a musty smell.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
