This is the final article in the COVID-19 you-are-stuck-at-home energy audit.
In the last column we covered issues with refrigerators. Let’s talk now about clothes dryers, clothes washers and dishwashers. (Water heaters demand a column all to themselves.)
5. Clothes dryers. Dryers (and toasters) are an interesting challenge. Using an electric or gas element to create heat doesn’t leave much room for energy efficiency. Here, however, you do have a high tech answer. All heating and cooling is moving toward heat pumps — air heat pumps, ground heat pumps (geoexchange), and if you own a pool or lakefront property, open-loop heat pumps. Modern heat-pump clothes dryers work at a fraction of the energy. They also have the bonus of being better for your clothes — rather than baking your clothes to evaporate the water, they dehumidify. They don’t need a vent to the outdoors, but the extracted water does need someplace to drain and they can’t do their job if you lock them up in a tiny utility closet. The other alternative is the laundry line, or as a friend said to me “We let God dry”. Let me know when you figure out how to get God to make toast.
 but water. There’s a handful of places on the earth where water shortages are going to hurt us long before we get slapped by climate change and unfortunately the Okanagan is on that list. You should replace your dishwasher if it was made in 2003 or earlier.</p>
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SaveOnEnergy.
See The Heat allows you to borrow a thermal camera on via the Okanagan Regional Libraray (the program is currently on hold due to COVID 19). Finally, the best tool for insulation holes is Certified Energy Advisor, who comes with experience, a blower door, and a thermal camera.
Missed last week’s column?
Dyer: DIY energy audit with solar bonus material
About Kristy Dyer:
 to sunny Penticton. Comments to <a href=)
Kristy.Dyer+BP@gmail.com
