Climate change has washing machine makers in a spin
Published 23 September, 2008, 00:52
As rising energy prices squeeze family budgets and consumers begin to see using less water and electricity as easy on the pocket as well as on the environment, a new generation of environmentally conscious engineers is changing the way people think about doing their laundry. Innovators hope to make cold-water washes the norm – or even do away with the need for water entirely.
Seventy per cent of energy can go towards heating the water in one of the home's most energy-hungry appliances. Experiments have shown that in many cases cold water does the job just fine – it's been found that cold water is actually better at removing protein-based stains, and works better with bleach.
One of the more interesting ideas to emerge is the idea of replacing water with solid solvents. A Leeds University professor is already working on plans for such a machine. A cup of water and detergent suffices to loosen stains, and then the clothes are spun in a storm of dirt-absorbing plastic chips. The technology could be available to consumers as early as 2009.
Some revolutionary ideas have already hit the market. Sanyo sells a washing machine in Japan that 'shakes' dirt from clothes by blasting them with ultrasound rays. The company claims it halves the cost of washing laundry.
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