Energy bill prices are continuing to rise rapidly as January has seen a five percent increase.
This means it’s highly likely most will be looking for ways to save energy and reduce their bills, and the fact that using less energy is beneficial to the environment is a bonus.
While it can appear challenging to know where to start, the best approach is to look at simplifying your daily schedule and that starts with choosing the right time to use your washing machine and do laundry, claimed the experts at Save on Energy.
They noted that a washing machine will use the same amount of energy regardless of what time you run it.
However, depending on your energy provider’s rates, “households may be able to save on energy bills by washing their clothes at different times of the day”.
Many energy companies charge extra for electricity usage during their peak hours. These price differences are called time-of-use rates.
Plans with this structure offer different rates depending on the time of day. Your energy plan may have cheaper energy rates during low-demand or off-peak hours and more expensive rates during high-demand times.
If you want to save the most money, read your plan’s electricity facts label to figure out when your energy rates are the cheapest.
For instance, a common range for peak hours is between 4pm and 7pm, therefore the “cheapest time to do laundry” for an energy plan with these rates is before 4pm or after 7pm.
In winter there is a particular time when households should do their laundry. The experts said: “Winter weather drives demand for electricity earlier in the morning when your furnace is busy working to keep your home warm and toasty.
“The best time to wash clothes in the winter is at night when your home’s temperature is set cooler for sleeping.”
Appliance experts at Candy noted that most people will see that they have a lower tariff overnight, usually between 11pm and 7am. They said: “This is the best time to do your washing as you’ll save money.”
As well as doing your washing at certain times of day, there are also other ways to reduce energy bills when doing laundry.
According to Energy Star, your washer uses about 90 percent of its energy to heat water, so switching your temperature settings from hot to warm can cut energy consumption in half – and shifting from warm to cold can save even more.
Your washing machine will use the same amount of energy whether you are doing a small or big load. Take advantage of the electricity you’re already using by washing larger loads.
When you use your dryer, be sure to remove the leftover lint after each cycle. This improves air circulation, allows your dryer to “work faster” and “wastes less electricity”.
