REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE EAST LOTHIAN FREECYCLE WATER ENERGY

Energy saving appliances use less power and are therefore cheaper to run. As they use less energy they are responsible for fewer greenhouse gas emissions so are better for the environment. To identify Energy Saving Recommended products that are endorsed by the Energy Saving Trust, look out for the distinctive logo. Washing Machines / Tumble Dryers / Dishwashers Nine in 10 homes in the UK have a washing machine; 40 per cent have a tumble dryer and one in four have a dishwasher. We use £700 million worth of electricity, by using these appliances. This produces 5 million tonnes (28.5 million double-decker buses) of carbon dioxide each year. The average washing machine is used for 274 cycles a year; a dishwasher for 248 cycles and a tumble dryer 148 times. The solutions: An energy saving washing machine uses a third less energy than an old, inefficient model and cuts water consumption considerably. Using a 40°C wash cycle rather than 60°C means you use a third less electricity. Reduce the wash to a 30°C cycle and the amount of electricity saved (not to mention money) will be even higher. Modern washing powders and detergents work just as effectively at lower temperatures so unless you have very dirty washing, bear this in mind. An energy saving dishwasher will cut energy wastage by nearly half on non-efficient models. When using your dishwasher or washing machine, it’s better to wait for a full load, or use the economy cycle if your machine has one. By buying an energy saving tumble dryer, you can cut energy wastage by almost a third. To save further energy, avoid trying to dry really wet clothes. Refrigeration UK households use £1.2 billion worth of electricity every year on cooling and freezing food and drinks. Refrigeration and freezing appliances in UK homes use nearly as much electricity as all offices. The solutions: Buying an energy saving fridge freezer to replace your inefficient model could cut carbon dioxide emissions produced indirectly by your home by up to 190Kg a year. An energy saving fridge freezer uses nearly a third of the energy to do the same job as a 10-year-old appliance – that’s a saving of up to £35 a year.

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