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Green Laundry: By the Numbers
- 90 percent: Amount of total of energy used by a typical washing machine to heat the water; only 10 percent is used to power the motor.
- 34 million tons: Amount of carbon dioxide emissions that would be saved if every U.S. household used only cold water for washing clothes--that's nearly 8 percent of the Kyoto target for the U.S.
- Choose concentrated detergent
Concentrated laundry detergents have reduced packaging and a smaller carbon footprint (because more useful product can be shipped using less space and fuel). Plus, they deliver more bang for the buck. One brand, called Cot'n Wash, has received high marks from TreeHugger readers. Some big-time retailers such as Wal-Mart now sell only concentrated laundry detergents; soon it may be the only kind you can get.
Did you know?
Every time you turn the water temperature dial on your washing machine to "warm," you might as well start writing a check to the energy company.
- 700 pounds: Amount of carbon dioxide emissions saved each year by line-drying your family's laundry. You'd save 75 bucks, too.
- 99 pounds: Amount of carbon dioxide emissions saved per household each year by running only full loads of laundry.
- 7,000 gallons: Amount of water saved per year by a typical front-loading washing machine compared to a top-loading washing machine.
- 88 percent: Average increase in energy efficiency for a washing machine between 1981 and 2003.
- 49: Percentage of laundry loads run with warm water in the U.S. 37 percent are run with cold water and 14 percent with hot.
- 700 pounds: Amount of carbon dioxide emissions saved each year by line-drying your family's laundry. You'd save 75 bucks, too.
SOURCES: StopGlobalWarming.org, CNN, Ready, Set, Green, Energy Star, Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, U.S. Department of Energy
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