[Greenbuilding] When will heat pump clothes dryers be worth buying?

[Antonioli Dan]

As we move to an “All Electric America,” it’s not at all unreasonable to use an efficient electric dryer in conjunction with grid-tied solar. For over 16 years our small urban “ecovillage” has never had a dryer, but this Winter I think I really want one for now and then use. I’m going to buy a coin-op unit and give the users the option to either continue to hang-dry their clothes or periodically use the electric dryer. Last year we got a lot of rain and there were times when I had to go to the laundromat to dry my clothes….only a few times a year, but I’ve decided that I’ve earned some eco-credits and deserve some creature comforts. So I’m gong to invest in a 240v commercial coin-op dryer for occasional use and we’ll hang-dry the rest of the time. 

In the meantime, if heat-pump units or other technologies come online that are net-zero energy then we’ll take a close look. For all we know, heat pumps are contributing to massive environmental destruction in ways we haven’t even figured out yet. All the “extraction” on a mass scale, I’m not sold on it at all. 

Dan


On Sep 25, 2016, at 7:40 PM, Reuben Deumling <9watts at gmail.com> wrote:

> Good advice. I used to live in the East Bay and found the climate nearly ideal for passive clothes drying. Dryers are overrated. ;-)
> 
> On Sun, Sep 25, 2016 at 7:34 PM, Lynelle Hamilton <lynelle at lahamilton.com> wrote:
> I have an umbrella clothes dryer that I use in the summer; winter it's a rack in front of the fireplace or in a south facing room, near the window.  I've found I don't need a dryer. 
> 
> A friend has a drying closet, courtesy of an odd heat duct layout in the home she bought. It has a heat vent in an unused closet. She opens the vent and closes the door when she hangs things to dry in the closet. Works pretty well to accelerate drying.
> 
> Lynelle
> 
> On 2016-09-25 10:08 PM, Clarke Olsen wrote:
>> The obvious dryer upgrade is to direct solar, often involving no more then a popsitive use for that last resort rope in the barn.
>> We use a folding rack dryer, outdoors/indoors; UV disinfective, less wear, less wrinkles...
>> Clarke Olsen
>> clarkeolsendesign.com
>> 373 route 203
>> Spencertown, NY 12165 
>> USA
>> 518-392-4640
>> colsen at taconic.net
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Sep 25, 2016, at 8:54 PM, Kevin Dalley <kevin at kelphead.org> wrote:
>> 
>>> I like the idea of reduced energy use for dryers. A heat pump dryer
>>> sounds interesting.
>>> 
>>> I'm less excited about the increased cost.
>>> 
>>> Currently, I have a old gas dryer in Oakland, with 17 year old solar
>>> panels. And a washing machine in need of repair. It's a convenient time
>>> for a new washer and dryer.
>>> 
>>> The solar panels aren't enough to cover switching to an electric dryer.
>>> Adding new panels makes the dryer get more expensive in the short run.
>>> 
>>> Does anyone have suggestions about dryers, whether heat pump or other
>>> energy star?
>>> 
>>> 
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