[Greenbuilding] ENERGY STAR Clothes Dryers Program Launch

John Salmen terrain at shaw.ca
Sun Jul 22 18:26:19 CDT 2012


In Japan the majority still don't own driers (combination of high energy
cost and space). Combo machines (washer/spinner/dryer) are more common than
the microwave dryer they manufacture. So they use balconies and have some
specific washing products to deal with musty clothes. Rainy season is a
problem and damp clothes are often worn. I think part of it is attitudes
towards clothing.

 

So what I find interesting is what we use dryers for - which is
predominantly for an oversupply of cheap fabrics and clothing  (why do we
think thick towels are nice?) - like our oversupply of cheap everything. I
buy few clothes but typically expensive wools, merinos and sport clothing
that are quick dry and strong dirt resistant fabrics - .  Lots of quick
drying fabrics for sheets and towels available, bamboo, linen, lots of
synthetics. With the aging population it has become a bit of a market item.
I have a problem now with buying new appliances as the control boards seem
to fail after 3-5  years on everything. I would pay double if I was ensured
of 15 years service from an appliance without paying triple in maintenance.

 

So I don't dry my clothes and my teenagers have caught on (or caught my
expensive clothing tastes). There is always a drying rack sitting somewhere
inconvenient but you get used to it. We have a ceiling drying rack over the
hot water heater and it has been on my list to build a convective closet
(hard to fit in a 1026sq.ft. house) - which I think is the best option as it
is basic architecture and can adapt to whatever inefficient technology is
out there for venting and dehumidifying.  

 

From: greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org
[mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of John
Straube
Sent: July-22-12 3:09 PM
To: Benjamin Pratt
Cc: Green Building
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] ENERGY STAR Clothes Dryers Program Launch

 

Paybacks make no sense unless we know the cost of energy and the cost of the
product.
As an example, in Germany the Bosch WTW86560 costs about $2000-2200.  This
is a lot.  But electricity costs 20 cents a kWh and this would save 650
kWh/yr ($130) for a normal family of four relative to an electric dryer.  If
the electric drier is $500, then the payback is more like 12 years assuming
electric prices never go up (not a good bet).  
If this product was available in Long Island New York, the payback would be
better, in the order of 10 years.
Given that the average clothes drier lasts around 15 years, it makes sense
in these situations.  It would not make sense economically in areas with 6
cent power or the national average of 12 cents or so.
I would buy one for the same reason some people buy Prius' : it is not
payback, but the desire to harm the environment less if I can afford to.

It is odd to have a discussion on payback when others are saying we should
not even consider using clothes driers as it is always dry and sunny outside
when they do their laundry!

Dr John Straube, P.Eng. 
www.BuildingScience.com


On 12-07-22 5:35 PM, Benjamin Pratt wrote: 

Quick google search found this nice little paper on the subject of
heat pump clothes dyers
http://eec.ucdavis.edu/aceee/2010/data/papers/2224.pdf
With a payback period of at least 27 years, they are hard to justify.
However, I would expect the payback to be shorter if energy prices
rise  (although I only skimmed the paper so I don't know if the author
took that into account).
OF course, hybrid cars are popular, and their payback period takes
many years. But I suspect that clothes dyers don't have the appeal, or
express one's values, as much as a Prius does.
-Ben
 
On Sun, Jul 22, 2012 at 3:29 PM, John Straube  <mailto:jfstraube at gmail.com>
<jfstraube at gmail.com> wrote:

Heat pump condensing clothes driers have ratings of around 250 kWh per year
vs 900 for straight electric. These use almost 1/4 as much energy.
You just can't buy them here. They are available in Australia Scandinavian
europe japan.
Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
 

 
 
 
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