AMERICANS can save nearly $160 on laundry every year by simply washing their clothes in cold water instead of hot water.
According to Florida Power & Light’s “House of Savings” online tool, households that do about 200 laundry loads a year can also save money by checking things like the lint trap on the machine.
Americans can save $160 on average when washing their laundry in cold water[/caption]
With an uncertain economy and a rising cost of living, saving on laundry can make all the difference.
There are a handful of ways to save money on your laundry load.
Washing your clothes in cold water uses less energy than washing them in hot water, and means your washing machine has to do less work.
Along these lines, using less laundry detergent on a load means that your machine isn’t working as hard.
But this doesn’t mean you should reduce the size of your laundry loads.
Doing a small load takes the same amount of energy as a larger one, so you may as well make the most of it and wash as much as you can at once.
And one thing that a lot of people don’t keep track of is how dirty the lint trap is on the machine.
By keeping the lint trap clean on the machine, you can dry your clothes faster.
According to experts, heating accounts for 90% of your dryer’s energy use.
HELPING HAND
Across the country, Americans are receiving assistance with their energy bill costs.
Several states run stimulus check programs that offer financial assistance to those who need it.
For example, in Los Angeles, California, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is offering checks worth up to $1,500.
LIHEAP offers help to those who cannot pay their heating bills, and also provides in-home services to improve energy efficiency.
Anyone over 18 can apply to LIHEAP, but they must have a valid Social Security number and meet the required income threshold.
How to save energy in winter?
Officials at Con Edison have revealed how homeowners can save energy this winter.
- Install a Wi-Fi thermostat
- Clear the area around cooling vents
- Invest in high-efficiency heat pump systems
- Insulate hot water pipes
- Clean filters
- Change window shades seasonally
- Invest in LED lighting
- Invest in proper insulation
- Unplug electronic gadgets when they are not being used
Source: Con Edison
This correlates to the number of people in a household, so if there is only one person there, to qualify for LIHEAP, they cannot make over $3,170 a month.
It then goes up, so if a household has 10 people in it, the combined income limit is $8,778.58 per month.
For households of more than 10, the threshold is raised by $182.89 for each additional person.
California pays LIHEAP out of its federal budget every year.
The state sets aside financial support money every year, and in 2025, California has $239.7 million in LIHEAP funding.
PERMANENT FUND DIVIDEND
Other states that run stimulus check programs every year include Alaska with its Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD).
The program benefits those who stay in the state for an entire calendar year as their primary residency.
It pays out from the state’s oil and mineral reserve surplus, something the state is very rich in.
This year, successful applicants were paid $1,702 as part of the PFD.
Washing your clothes in cold water uses less energy than washing them in hot water, and means your washing machine has to do less work[/caption]
