Struggle with Energy-Saving Washing: The Reasons Behind Public's Aversion to 30-Degree Wash Method - Energy Efficiency Dilemma: The Resistance Towards Washing Energy-Saving Appliances
Washing laundry at lower temperatures, such as 30 degrees Celsius, is becoming a popular choice in Germany for its energy savings, environmental impact, and fabric care benefits. Gabriele Haessig from Procter & Gamble emphasizes that this improvement applies to all common washing detergent products.
Traditionally, Germans have favoured higher temperature washes due to their perceived effectiveness in stain removal and enhanced hygiene. However, with advances in detergent chemistry and washing machine technology, cold or 30-degree washes can clean effectively in most cases, making high-temperature washes often unnecessary.
One of the significant advantages of washing at 30 degrees is energy savings. Washing at this temperature requires significantly less energy to heat the water compared to 40 or 60 degrees, reducing electricity consumption and lowering household energy costs. In fact, switching from a 40-degree to a 30-degree wash can save up to 38% of energy costs for washing.
The environmental impact of lower energy use is also critical. Lower energy use translates into less carbon dioxide emissions and a smaller ecological footprint from the laundry process. If all 40 million households with a washing machine in Germany washed their everyday laundry at 30 degrees, they could avoid an additional 570,000 tons of emissions. This is a significant step towards energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, priorities for many countries, including Germany.
In addition to energy savings, washing at lower temperatures also causes less wear and tear on fabrics, helping clothes last longer and reducing textile waste. Lowering the average washing temperature from 43.2 to 42.2 degrees has already saved 115,000 tons of CO2 emissions in the past two years.
The WWF and Procter & Gamble have organized events called "Cold Wash Salon" to demonstrate that 40 degrees is not always necessary for laundry washing. In these events, laundromats were taken over, customers were given washing powder, and machines were set to 30 degrees. Customers who initially expressed skepticism about washing at 30 degrees were relieved and appreciative after their laundry came out clean.
However, despite widespread promotion of energy-efficient 30-degree washing, many people in Germany continue to wash their laundry at temperatures higher than 30 degrees. Selina Sinning, responsible for behavioural research at WWF, suggests that not enough is being discussed about washing routines.
Countries like Italy, Spain, the UK, the Netherlands, and France are already following suit in replacing the traditional 40-degree washing temperature with 30 degrees. The shift towards energy-efficient washing is not just a trend; it's a step towards a greener, more sustainable future.
