Green is often synonymous with spring, especially in April. With Earth Day on April 22nd, you may be looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint and leave the world a cleaner place. Here are a few tips on how you can use your appliances to best practice conservation and environmentalism.

First, choose to repair rather than replace:

In 1992, the EPA created the Energy Star program which set minimum standards of energy efficiency for most household appliances. If your appliance has the familiar blue Energy Star label on it, consider repairing it instead of replacing it. Repairing your appliance can extend its life. Discarded appliances can make their way to the landfill (which may contain materials that are harmful to the environment), increasing your carbon footprint on our planet.

If you are looking to upgrade your appliance, consider repairing your old one anyways to give it a second life. You can reuse old appliances in a vacation home or garage, donate it to a charity, or sell it at a flea market or garage sale.

Next, run your dishwasher instead of handwashing dishwasher-safe dinnerware:

Believe it or not, energy-efficient dishwashers are a greener way to get your dishes clean than washing them by hand. Dishwashers typically use less water than handwashing, as its recirculating pump sprays a small amount of water all around your machine. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, an Energy Star certified dishwasher can use as little as three gallons per load. Comparably, handwashing dishes in the sink can use up to 27 gallons of water for a full load of dishes. The energy used by your home’s water heater to make hot water for your dishes by hand is greater than the energy used by your dishwasher to heat and pump water throughout.

Lastly, schedule your dryer vent and refrigerator coil cleaning:

Dust and dirt built up on your appliances are causing them to work harder, using more energy to perform their essential functions. When lint and debris clog your dryer vent, it can cause restricted airflow throughout the system, prompting your dryer to use more energy and creating an extreme fire hazard. Additionally, you may need to run more than one cycle to get your clothes fully dry. Dryer vent cleaning can help protect the environment, your home, and your wallet by allowing your dryer to use less energy per cycle.

According to the Consumer Energy Center, the average refrigerator accounts for the most electricity used in your home of any kitchen appliance. Cleaning the coils can reduce the amount of energy that your fridge uses by up to 30 percent.

Schedule both services by calling Westside today!