Washing clothes in cold water is an effective way to save energy, but the cold, alkaline well water here in the West does not get clothes clean. I’ve always washed our clothes in warm water, and this was getting expensive as the cost of propane was dramatically rising back in 2005. My propane bill was also skyrocketing with girls turning into teens taking daily showers.
When I looked at how I could cut my energy use, I knew I had to reduce my propane bill. I was filling my 125 gallon tank four times a year at a cost of over $200 each time at $2 per gallon. That was more than $800 per year, just for hot water and cooking.
Fewer showers were out of the question, so it was a matter of getting a more efficient washing machine.
I had that chance when the pump in my beloved 1978 Kenmore top loading washer died once again. Not wanting to resurrect it for a third time, I researched front loading washers on the Energy Star website, and found that the Kenmore HE2t was one of the most energy efficient of its type. I bit the bullet, and in the spring, shelled out $1200 for it and the pedestal it sits on.
Front loaders use 1/3 the water of a top loader. This cuts your energy bill for hot water and reduces your water bill. Front loaders also have such fast spin cycles that the clothes come out with less moisture in them. This reduces drying time, which further cuts your energy bill.
I was expecting to fill my propane tank that July. When I didn’t need propane until October, I realized the results of my purchase. Instead of filling up every three months, I could wait six months. I had literally cut my propane bill in half! At $2/gallon, this washer would have paid for itself in three years. When propane went over $3/gallon, my payback time was shortened to two years.
An energy efficient purchase, be it a home, appliance or car, may cost a little more, but that extra cost is offset by the energy savings. This is a lesson we all must learn to alleviate the fear of making a planet-wise purchase. Your money will come back to you in energy savings.
Remember, too, that every time you save energy, you lighten your impact on the planet by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. It also helps us become less dependent on fossil fuels. Energy conservation is win-win!
