Our domestic energy consumption

Real Estate
81

Heating and water is done with oil.

I guess we are within the typical band of around 4000 kWh for a 4 person household.

82

For the oven-lovers, I suggest to check Airfriers. I have one and I use all the time I have to do easy stuff. It’s like the microwave. Nice tool and underutilized.

3 Likes
83

Just to be clear, washing machine and dishwasher run with the cold water which is heated electrically. Running it at lowest temperature possible (Eco Mode etc.) is the best way to save energy here. Most washing powders are pretty effective now at low temperature, so this is not an issue.

5 Likes
84

I’ve seen a quote (but can’t find it) that with modern detergents the most ecological act you can take is to wash at 30 deg C. Machines are usually set by default to 40 or 60.

85

I recently saw the following advice in a paper regarding washing temperatures: wash bedsheets, underwear and kitchen towels at 40 °C with a detergent containing bleach, unless someone in your family is allergic to dust, immunocompromised, or has diarrhea or a skin fungus, then wash at 60 °C, again with a detergent containing bleach. Every now and then wash at 60 °C anyway to disinfect the washing machine.

The full text in German:

Wenn wir von Hygiene sprechen, geht es um die Frage, wie wir gesund bleiben und die Verbreitung von Krankheiten, verursacht durch Krankheitserreger, vermeiden können.

Hierbei ist wichtig zu wissen, dass die Wirkfaktoren Zeit, Chemie, Temperatur und Mechanik die Hygienewirkung von Waschprozessen massgeblich beeinflussen. Beim Faktor Chemie, dem Waschmittel, ist die Unterscheidung zwischen einem Produkt mit oder ohne Bleiche wichtig. So enthalten Waschmittel mit der Bezeichnung «color» oder «fĂŒr Buntes» in der Regel keine Bleiche und töten Krankheitserreger nicht wirksam ab. Pulverwaschmittel mit der Bezeichnung «Universalwaschmittel» oder «Vollwaschmittel» hingegen enthalten Bleiche und können somit auch Krankheitserreger reduzieren.

Aber Krankheitserreger ist nicht gleich Krankheitserreger. So werden Bakterien und behĂŒllte Viren (zum Beispiel Coronaviren, Grippeviren) in einem 40-Grad-Waschprozess mit einem bleichehaltigen Waschmittel genĂŒgend gut deaktiviert, wĂ€hrend Pilze, unbehĂŒllte Viren (etwa Noroviren) und lebende Milben erst bei Temperaturen von ≄ 60 °C und mit einem bleichehaltigen Waschmittel abgetötet werden.

Was bedeutet das nun konkret? In einem Haushalt ohne Allergiker, ohne krankes oder immunsupprimiertes Familienmitglied reicht ein 40-Grad-Programm mit einem bleichehaltigen Waschmittel fĂŒr das Waschen der UnterwĂ€sche, BettwĂ€sche und
KĂŒchentĂŒcher. Ist ein Familienmitglied allergisch auf Hausstaub oder leidet an einer Durchfallerkrankung oder einem Hautpilz, braucht es jedoch zwingend ein 60-Grad-Programm mit bleichehaltigem Waschmittel. Eine 60-Grad-WĂ€sche empfiehlt sich
zudem ab und zu, um die Waschmaschine hygienisch sauber zu halten und einem Biofilmbewuchs vorzubeugen.

Caroline Amberg
Mikrobiologin Swissatest Testmaterialien AG
Bereich Mikrobiologie/Haushaltshygiene

86

I jush wash everything at 90 degree to be sure.

6 Likes
87

For me it’s:

  • Towels (incl. kitchen) and bedsheets: 60; then drier
  • Everything else: 30; no drier
5 Likes
88

Non-frugal electric bill mystery solved!

“Warm washes (40°C) are best for items that have come into contact with body fluids, such as underwear. Wash such garments on warm temperatures with Ariel. Cold washes (15-30°C) should be used for lightly- to moderately-soiled daily items.”

1 Like
89

I never wash anything, I let the bacteria kill each other.

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90

That‘s also why I need 1200/year for clothes. They get small so fast!

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91

If there is going to be a new bacteria/virus out there one day, I know where it came from :smiley:

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92


 and then you dry in the oven, right?

5 Likes
93

I was on ECO setting. I guess this is 40c or maybe 30c. And every now and then do a 90c wash to ‘disinfect’ the WM.

Though I don’t use the dryer. With this hot weather, I hang it outside at lunch time and it is dry by the end of the afternoon.

94

I was told that the drying temperature should always match the washing temperature. So I just use a couple of electrical heaters and put them into the bedroom where my clothes are drying. Usually overnight to save on electricity.

2 Likes
95

My ECO setting goes at 40C. I think it just uses less water.

Also need to do a hot wash every now and again (whites) else the machine can get gunked with sludgy detergent

According to the internet:
" Washing at 30 degrees will save you 38% on running costs rather than washing at 40 . Take that down to 20 degrees and the saving goes up to 62%."

96

You should get a powerful air conditioning unit to cool down the room again during the day.

5 Likes
97

Are you joking? Apologies if you are, but if you’re not then to be sure about what? Ruining your clothes? Or ask yourself this: what deadly disease are you trying to kill by washing at 90C? The only thing I can think about is ticks.

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98

Currently, that’s the quickest option . Besides, it saves you from cleaning the lint filter or the background noise from the Secomat :smiley:

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99

Unfortunately, my gf is allergic to different kind of pollen. Last time I set my clothes on the balcony was before she moved to me :smiley:

I will also run an excel, soon, to see how the EKZ bills changed.

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100

I don’t know how your washing machines works, but mine does the full 360degrees.

2 Likes