Hi Everyone,
As I write, the tumble-dryers of Ireland are probably going like the clappers. Our lovely Irish climate means that most people see these energy-guzzlers as a necessity, especially in winter, but our leccy bills would be a lot less if we could use the humble clothes-line more often.
However, an article in the New Scientist magazine (29/10/2009) reveals some startling news:
... clothes-lines evoke a negative emotional reaction from many Americans, who view them as flags of poverty;
... clothes-pegs are no longer manufactured by American firms (they are all imported);
... property owners often fear that a clothes-line in their neighbourhood will lower the value of their house;
... the dryer is the home appliance that causes the largest number of household fires in the USA: 15,000 every year, causing tens of millions of dollars in property damage;
... 80 per cent of US households own and operate a tumble-dryer;
... tumble-dryers use over 3 per cent of all household electricity in the USA;
... however, the "Project Laundry List" organisation (which is part of the "right to dry" movement aimed at overturning clothes-line bans) estimates that most of us could save about 10 per cent on energy costs if we did our laundry
the green way - cold water, line dry, no bleaching or ironing.
"Project Laundry List"...here:
http://www.laundrylist.org/
Regards
Chris P
Admin
Pic #1: The clothes-line -- a flag of poverty or one way to save the planet? (Image by Andrzej Krauze)
Pic #2: One effect of global warming?