Environmental Tip of the Week

Skip the dryer!

Are all of the dryers full? Hang your clothes dry!!

On average, a single dryer load uses 3,000 watts of energy. This single dryer load uses up to 30 times more energy than a ceiling fan would use throughout an entire day and almost 2.5 times as much as a the average household microwave. By eliminating dryer usage through fewer loads and the use of drying racks, you could reduce your carbon footprint by around 2,000 pounds a year!! This is a big reduction for a small price!

Don’t have a drying rack? Get creative! Clothing can hang over chairs, desks, bed posts, closet doors and even on command hooks! This small change will not only save the environment, but it will also save you money! Although the process of hanging the clothing may be straining for some, it will also reduce the wear on your clothes.

The dryer is one of the main reasons why clothes become worn down and without it, your clothes will last much longer. If your clothes tend to have a strong odor, line-drying them will also eliminate the stench better than throwing them in a dryer! Plus, there will be no extra chemicals used on your clothes that could seep into your body. If you tend to be sick in the winter, drying your clothing on a rack will create more humidity in your room, adding the extra benefit of improved breathing!