According to worldwise, as the point of a clothes dryer is to make a lot of hot air, in many homes, the clothes dryer is the number two energy-guzzler, after the refrigerator. Typically, an average clothes dryer costs about $85 to operate each year. And dirty lint traps can cause up to an extra 30% in energy use, no to mention a fire hazard.

So, making changes in how you dry your clothes and how you use your dryer can result in significant energy savings, and the purchase of a new energy-efficient dryer may be well worth the investment.

Want to use a clothesline instead? Well, make sure your town doesn’t have a ridiculous rule against them first.

Photo credit: PersonalFinanceAdvice.