Saving energy and water makes good sense. It is good for our planet as well as your pocketbook. Many are afraid slightly when they hear the words energy efficiency. They immediately associate this with cutting back and sacrificing quality. The truth is you can achieve an energy efficient house without having to endure cold baths and showers and eating off of dirty dishes. Many times it is a matter of a quick change or installation of a small product that translates into money and water saved.

One device we all use that offers a lot of potential for energy saving is our washing machines. 0 percent of the washing machines energy goes to heating the water used to clean the clothes. Many are under the illusion that the hotter the water, the cleaner your clothes will be. This is both untrue and can ruin certain types of fabric. By washing your clothes at lower temperature, they will both get clean as well as save heating costs. Make sure that you use your washing machine at a full load. This will save on usage will mean less water and less cost to you.

If your have an electric water heater you may want to consider adding an energy efficient switch. This switches the water heater off at night and turns it back on in the morning. The average cost is about 30 dollars and it is quite easy to install. This device cuts down on added and unnecessary use on your water heater and usually pays for itself in saved energy in about a year.

By installing some simple equipment and using some common sense, your house can become much more energy efficient. This translates into good news for our planet, and good news for your pocket book. Your water consumption and heating use will be less which translates into more money saved for you.