 help that dryer run more efficiently and, of course, more safely. Now, if you find that you're ready for some new appliances, look for Energy Star certified washers and dryers. They're going to use 20% to 25% less energy than those conventional models out there. And finally, wash with cold water instead of hot. Truly, the detergents today are really made to perform excellently in cold washes, so that's great. It also can cut a ton of energy usage, about half, since you're not using the water heater to raise that water temperature.