Are you one of those people who washes dishes by hand before putting them in the washing machine? What program do you select in the washing machine when you only want to wash some sportswear? Although we are increasingly aware of the importance of taking care of the planet and promoting the sustainable consumption of the resources at our disposal, we continue to neglect some essential points.
Nowadays, we all have appliances at home that make our lives easier. However, the price of water and energy also increases with its use, so we must do everything possible to use them efficiently, not to mention the preservation of the environment.
the price of water
Water is a scarce commodity and its price increasingly reflects this reality, not only due to the rising costs of its treatment, storage and distribution, but also due to the increase in fees levied on the supply service. In Portugal, there are support measures that include subsidies from municipal water companies and also special tariffs to support the neediest families. In spite of everything, as the 2020 Water Study shows, the disparity in tariffs by region and the unfair penalty in the price of water for the largest families, invite us to save on this essential asset for our well-being.
If you are curious, you can consult the Equity Index and Water Ranking of your municipality on the APFN (Portuguese Association of Numerous Families) page: https://www.apfn.com.pt/estudoagua
In saving is the gain
These days, the family budget is attacked on all fronts by the rising inflation of essential services such as water, energy and housing costs.
Some household appliances, such as washing machines and dishwashers, can consume many liters of water: the first can reach around 70 L while the second can reach around 20 L. However, we can take measures to reduce this to a minimum. spent.
In this way, Selectra, a company in the field of energy, water and telecommunications tariff comparison, suggests a series of recommendations that will help to reduce the water bill with its appliances. Find out which...
Save water with appliances
Keeping your appliances in top condition is important for them to work efficiently and not incur unnecessary expenses.
1 - Purchase products with energy label A
Appliances are always accompanied by an energy label approved in accordance with European Union regulations, with classification A being the most efficient in terms of water and energy consumption. Please note that since March 1, 2021, the energy class of some home appliances has been revised. Community legislation did away with classes A+, A++ and A+++ of labels for various household appliances (televisions, refrigerators and freezers, dishwashers, washing machines and washing machines and dryers), with the label showing a simpler scale to interpret, from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). In other words, appliances labeled G are those that use more water and energy .
2 - Regularly check your appliances
It is a fundamental aspect for the functioning of the device to remain intact.We usually don't pay attention to the instruction book, let alone the part related to maintenance and periodic review that must be carried out on all. In this sense, cleaning the dishwasher filter is essential to avoid clogs and the subsequent flooding and waste of water.
If the filter does not work properly, the leak protection of some dishwashers is activated, preventing the wash cycle from completing correctly. As a consequence, it will be necessary to clean the filter and the water piping and then repeat the washing cycle.
3 - Clean the dishes first before washing
To avoid washing by hand beforehand, simply remove the leftover food from the dishes with a napkin or cutlery and place all the dishes in the machine in an organized way. Don't do this procedure with the tap water running, it just wastes water and the bill will get higher.
In the case of the dishwasher, food remains usually stay in the filters, eventually clogging up, causing small floods to occur. In the worst case, this can damage the engine. Therefore, it is a good idea to remove dirt from time to time by doing a deeper cleaning.
Also note that using modern low-flow faucets, or flow control adapters on older faucets (as well as WaterSense-grade shower heads or modern flush toilets, in bathrooms) can significantly reduce water consumption in your home. . Modern faucets use 40% less water than pre-1995 faucets.
4 - Adapt the load of laundry to the washing program
The washing of clothes should not only be done according to the degree of soiling of the clothes or the color of the clothes, but also pay attention to the maximum load level of each type of laundry.