Energy Saving Laundry Tips

Energy Star washers are a great way to conserve energy and save yourself some money in the laundry room.  Here are even more ways to cut back.

DON’T use too much detergent

You’re only helping Proctor & Gamble when you pour in those heaping cups of laundry soap. The owners’ manual provides instructions on the proper amount of soap to use. Using too much soap also can shorten the life your clothing, which could get expensive.

DO keep venting dry and clear.

We recommend cleaning your dryer vent a few times a year.  Otherwise, it could get blocked up, causing your dryer to take longer to do its job. And remember to clean your lint filter after every use.

DO switch to cold-water washes

About 90 percent of the energy used for washing clothes in an average washer is for heating the water. Need I say more? If you have tough, oily stains, even switching your temperature setting from hot to warm can cut a load’s energy use in half. Otherwise, you’d be surprised how well cold water cycles clean these days.

DON’T over-dry your clothes

Instead, use a moisture sensor (if you have one) to automatically stop the dryer once it’s finished. Note: Dry towels and heavier cottons separate from lighter weight clothes to ensure proper drying when using a sensor. If you don’t have a moisture sensor, use the cool-down cycle to finish drying clothes using the residual heat.

DO put full loads in the washer and dryer.

Full loads of laundry mean fewer loads of laundry, which mean less energy, water and money used, too. If you must wash a small load, remember to set the water-level to match.

Taken from Warners’ Stellian

Induction Cooking

You may have been hearing about induction cooking lately, but you may still be in the dark about what it actually is.  Induction technology uses electromagnetic energy to transfer heat directly to your cookware.  Since the cookware heats more quickly than on gas or electric cooktops, cook times are faster, meaning less energy is used.  Plus, it allows you to instantly adjust the heat from a delicate simmer to a quick boil.  Induction heat combines the benefits of gas and electric cooktops, offering you the power of gas and the easy cleanup of electric.

Cooks who are new to induction cooking will realize the benefits of induction immediately.  It’s faster, has more responsive heating, more energy-efficient cooking, and easier cleanup. Here are some other features induction offers:

• Bring water to a boil in as little as 90 seconds
• 70% more efficient than gas and 20% more efficient than electric
• More responsive  so you can instantly adjust the heat to a delicate simmer or bring it to a quick boil
• The sensors automatically detect the presence of magnetic cookware, activate the induction field, and adjust it to the exact size of the pan
• Heat is transferred directly to the cookware, so the cooktop stays cooler to the touch

Come to any of our stores to learn more and see the induction ranges and cooktops for yourself!

Information provided by Electrolux