Hanging clothes to dry on the line seemed like an old-fashioned chore back in the 60s. Now it’s thriving, however, as they anxiously await ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Clothes dryers, not that previously thought to be the responsibility of any personal laundry, will lose popularity as we do. they are looking for ways to use less energy and be more self-sufficient. The clothing line is making a comeback.
What is the Price – Although it is difficult to estimate the true global costs, the energy loop on consumers is quite simple. Clothes dryers are the second largest energy consumer of all household appliances, second only to refrigerators. Depending on where you live and what kind of dryer you have, drying a load of laundry will cost you anywhere from 15 to 40 cents per load. According to the US Department of Energy, electric dryers account for 5.8 percent of all residential electricity consumption. That number doesn’t even consider gas dryers, which use non-renewable resources.
Vae Legum – Much of the country’s population lives in suburban areas where municipalities and individual home owners have regulations and CCRs that prohibit the use of clothing for aesthetic reasons. These regulations are, of course, contradictory to the objectives of our industry, and thus many have been challenged in court. At least nine states already have laws in place or are considering such legislation to override some local or home owners association regulations that prohibit or limit the use of any renewable energy sources. Clothesline is one such device.
Clothesline Choices – If you’re thinking about installing clothesline options, consider options beyond the iconic T-post variety that span the entire width of your closet. Retractable types are almost invisible when not in use, umbrella-style on a swivel, which is especially useful for small spacesa >, and stands types that are useful even in small spaces, and can be folded and hidden when not in use.
Clothes Drying Tips – If you’re concerned about your energy consumption, but building clothes in your backyard isn’t likely to happen anytime soon, you can still save energy by following these easy clothes drying tips.
- Place the dryer in a heated area to match the temperature of the existing warmer air.
- Dry only full loads, but be careful not to overload the machine.
- Clean your towel after each pack.
- Make sure your dryer is heated properly.
- Use an auto-cycle dryer rather than a timed dryer.
- Dry many loads after another use the heat retained by the previous load.
- Take off the clothes and hang them still slightly damp. This will help reduce wrinkles and require less drying time.
Sources:
“Clothes Dryers” California Energy Commission
“Clothesline Regression – The Resurrection of the Renewable Energy Industry” Solar-dryer.com
