Each of NYU’s 23 residence halls has had their washing machines set to use the cold wash cycle as default. This change will reduce energy consumption in dorms and provide additional sustainable benefits for the garments washed!
Cold Wash Cycles Reduce Energy Use!
Heating water accounts for around 90% of a washing machine’s energy use. By defaulting to cold water, one household can eliminate 1,600 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2e) emissions per year, the equivalent of avoiding 2,000 miles traveled in a car. With approximately 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students living in NYU residence halls, NYU has the potential to eliminate a significant amount of energy and emissions!
Cold Wash Cycles Are Better for Your Clothes
Doing laundry cleans your clothes, but hot water can lead to your clothes being worn out faster.
By using cold water, you can:
- Prevent delicate fabrics from shrinking or breaking
- Reduce fading & color bleeding
- Prevent wrinkles
- Better address stains, which do not always respond to warmer water
Detergents are also produced to work with cold washes so there’s no need to worry about the possibility of your soap not activating.
The decision to default washing machines to a cold wash cycle is one piece of the puzzle toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2040 and creating a more sustainable NYU!