Washing and drying clothes is a energy and water intensive process. The average US family washes almost 400 loads of laundry annually and with a conventional washing machine that adds up to 16,000 gallons of water annually. A newer and more efficient washing machine with an ENERGY STAR label will use about 25 gallons of water, which is over a 40% savings in water usage. Additionally, if your washing machine is more than 10 years old you could save over $145 a year on your utility bill.

Your clothes dryer also has a large impact on your utility bills, and it is the second most energy intensive appliance in your home right behind your refrigerator. Unfortunately, clothes dryers are not regulated by ENERGY STAR and do not have energy efficiency standards, but there are a lot of simple things you can do to reduce your energy usage from your dryer.