I did laundry today, and I didn't use our clothes dryer. Since we live in an apartment, I couldn't hang the clothes outside to dry, which means they're hanging around the apartment. It's going to take them forever to dry, but I did it nonetheless because not using the clothes dryer is a major energy saver.
After the refrigerator, the dryer is the second biggest energy-using home appliance. In fact, if you stop using it completely, your utility bill could easily decrease by as much as 10% annually. A lot of people think that a dryer is a necessity, but it really isn't. Air can do the same thing; it just takes longer. Plus, clothes last longer when you air dry them as dryers thin out the fabrics. ALSO, not using the dryer reduces the risk of a dryer fire significantly. haha
Fire Your Dryer
In the future, I'm going to hang as many of my clothes as possible instead of using the dryer though I don't intend to fore-go the dryer completely. I'd like to, but it's not practical in our current living situation. That said, I think it's important to realize that, in changing how one lives in order to better the world, it's not possible to change everything at once. Start with what you feel is easiest and most doable for you. I've found that the more I do, the more I want to do. Small things build on each other and make the bigger things that, at first, seemed unattainable instead seem possible. Slow progressive change is often more lasting than sudden, rash changes anyway. So, if you feel inclined to make a difference, don't let yourself feel overwhelmed by the amount of things you feel you should be changing or paralyzed by guilt because you can't stop eating individually packages burritos. Just do what you can.
The important thing is to do something. Something's add up.
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