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Tips for saving water, energy, CO2 - and money!

We all need to do our bit to help the environment. Manufacturers make great efforts to ensure their products deliver great results when used in a safe and environmentally responsible way.  As a consumer, you also have an extremely important role to play. By using your products responsibly, you will help the planet - and save yourself money!

Today’s cleaning and maintenance products make our daily household tasks a lot easier. So do labour-saving electrical appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines. But to avoid wasting resources or harming the environment, consumers must use their products and appliances responsibly. Did you know that between 50% to 70% of overall carbon emissions related to cleaning products can occur during the use phase, for example when used in dishwashers or washing machines?

Here are some handy tips to help you get best results, reduce your “carbon footprint” and do your bit as a responsible consumer:
A carbon footprint is a "measure of the impact that human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide". It is useful in allowing individuals and organisations to conceptualise contribution to global warming.

The major contributors to carbon emissions are often related to energy consumption.
Specifically, a carbon footprint is usually expressed as CO2 equivalents, which accounts for the different global warming effects of different greenhouse gases. The full life cycle carbon footprint of a product or service may be calculated using the Life Cycle Assessment / Inventory (LCA/I) method.

In the context of detergents and maintenance products, a carbon footprint may be linked to the energy needed to manufacture and transport the raw and packaging materials, and the finished products, the use of the product by the consumer, and the disposal or recovery of the product and packaging… But did you know that between 50% to 70% of life cycle carbon emissions of cleaning products can occur during the use phase of the products, for example when using dishwashers or washing machines?

In addition to the measures taken by companies to reduce their carbon footprint, here are a few tips for consumers to consider when doing your cleaning!


When doing your laundry washing:
- “Wash at the lowest recommended temperature” (e.g. 30°, 40°). Most detergents work well at low temperature. Did you know that by setting the temperature at 30°C instead of 60°C, you can save more than 60%* of energy? Your laundry will still be as clean as you want and you will be helping the environment by reducing your energy consumption. Read the instructions on your detergent pack. Always remember to load your machine properly before each wash.
www.washright.com
*Forum Waschen Calculator

See also, the following 3 laundry annexes and tips:
1) Key laundry tips
2) Step-by-step guide for doing the laundry
3) Understanding textile care symbols

- Between 1996 and 2001, the average wash temperature in Europe fell by 6.4% (from 48°C to 46°C, and related energy consumption, from 1.04kWH to 0.99kWH*) thanks to concerted efforts of the appliance industry and consumers reducing their wash temperature (cf washright campaign). These improvements in energy efficiency have saved enough to power 900,000 European households for a year*. However, even more savings can still be achieved so “Wash at low temperature!”
*Source: A.I.S.E.


When doing your machine dishwashing:
- Try the 50°/55°/auto programmes; this will help you save energy and water, compared with washing at higher (60/65°) temperatures
- Did you know that by using lower wash temperatures, you could save up to 84 kWH of electricity per year (enough for 80 extra cycles, that’s 3 months of free dishwashing!), and up to 1,497 litres of water per year (enough for more than 40 showers!). Always remember to load your machine properly before each wash.
www.saveenergyandwater.com

 

EU energy labels are placed on appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers, rating their energy efficiency from A to G, with A being the most efficient and G being the least. When buying a new appliance, look for this label. The higher the energy efficiency, the less the environmental impact, and the more money you will save with each use.

In addition, for your other daily activities, a few best practice examples include:
- Optimising the insulation of your house/apartment.
- Favouring the use of public transport over cars, especially when traveling alone.
- Promoting the use of low energy consumption light bulbs and other appliances.
- Avoid leaving doors/windows open when heating the house.
- Ensuring that televisions, satellite transmission boxes and microwaves are not left on standby when not in use.

More information on these matters is available at:
- European Commission : “You control climate change” and Energy, Let's Save It!
- or via your local Government Ministry or Agency for the environment.

You can calculate your carbon footprint via the following CO2 calculator website:
- UK Government Carbon Footprint Calculator: http://actonco2.direct.gov.uk/