Energy Conservation and the Clothesline

[rinny_tin_tin]

I hear so much griping these days regarding electric and utility bills -- so I did some quick calcs and made some measurements. If my assumptions are roughly correct, it seems that *tomorrow* we can instantly reduce our energy demand by at least a 4th if everyone used the most practically efficient form of solar power - that is the old fashioned clotheslines -- to dry our clothes. My comps show that a young family of four can immediately reduce their electric bill or gas bill by 1/3. What happened to the old fashioned clotheslines and do any of you use it?

 

[GN4WHLN]

Our son is moving to his own place in two weeks. I suspect our utilities will drop by, oh...half. We use a clothsline for some things. South facing in the California sun, it dries things quick.

 

[nate379]

Not worth it for me. I do a load of wash a week if that.

 

[RRmech]

My 70 year-old neighbor had her clothes taken from her clothes line.
I've been looking out for HS guys in drag, walking around my neighborhood?

Steve

 

[timgr]

Clothes lines are ok if you want to iron your clothes. A tumble dryer eliminates ironing for nearly everything but dress shirts. Plus you are subject to the whims of the weather.

 

[nate379]

My mom used just a clothes line in the summer when I was growing up and she never ironed our clothes.

 

[His200HerScout]

we have a clothesline year round, even in the winter. we don't always use it, but we try to use it on sunny, dry days. i've never put a dress shirt on it, but everything else has required no ironing.

 

[KCarGuy]

My Sister-in-laws Dryer broke this weekend, and they put up a clothes line. My Brother-in-law and I were just talking about that. Its a good time to bring that back.
The Town that I live in...will not let anyone install or use a clothes line (or use a outdoor fire pit). Yet, I pay taxes for my property.
Hey, if a clothes line is "green", then I say...DO IT!
I remember how "crisp" our jeans used to feel when I was a kid.
I also think that everything will hold up and last longer...(dryer beats the **** out of the cheap material that clothes are made out of these days)

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Still have and use a clothesline. It helps with larger items and items that shouldn't be in the dryer (electric blanket), rags that have oil based products on them (hang till evaporated), small loads (I am single), etc.

On the negative, a dryer will take out any futz that clings to your clothes otherwise. Now I have a washer and dryer here, but lately it has been a savings for me, to drive a few blocks away, and use the laundromat. I can do multiple loads at once, and be out in no time.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

Excellent point there.

You know there are people out there that have put in $40,000 Photovoltaic systems that are using the power generated to run an electric clothes dryer!

We have many Amish families in my area that not only save by using a clothes line, they also save by using a washboard. In fact, if we adopted their technology, I calculate we could save 100% of our electricty immediately!

If you want to save some money and some energy and dry your clothes twice as fast and want to do something good for the environment then switch to a gas fired dryer.

1. Gas currently costs between 1/3 and 1/4 of power prices on a BTU to KWH basis.
2. A gas dryer dries clothes faster because it isn't limited by the home's circuit breakers.
3. The gas transmission system (natural gas) is on the order of 90% efficient, while the conversion of fossil fuels (coal and gas) to power at a distant generating station is on the order of 30% efficient. That means that every bit of resistance electrical heat that can be taken off the grid and switched to gas will increase overall system efficiency and lower GHG (primarily CO2) emissions AND take load off of our nation's overstressed power grid AND save your more than HALF your energy cost.

I've had a gas dryer since 1997 and the wife loves it.

Then again, I work for the gas company so that may color my viewpoint.

Phil

 

[redsky49]

Excellent point there.

You know there are people out there that have put in $40,000 Photovoltaic systems that are using the power generated to run an electric clothes dryer!

We have many Amish families in my area that not only save by using a clothes line, they also save by using a washboard. In fact, if we adopted their technology, I calculate we could save 100% of our electricty immediately!

As is that could ever happen.

 

[VHF]

Last year I lived in a rented house where the HOA prohibited clothelines (even though every backyard had a 6' privacy fence.)

Given the potential greenhouse gas reduction from using a clothesline over an electric dryer, maybe we need a national "right to dry" law that overules any local ordinances or HOA restrictions!

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

Last year I lived in a rented house where the HOA prohibited clothelines (even though every backyard had a 6' privacy fence.)

Given the potential greenhouse gas reduction from using a clothesline over an electric dryer, maybe we need a national "right to dry" law that overules any local ordinances or HOA restrictions!

You know -- I was thinking the exact same thing - sort of like the Telecommunications Act that specifically prohibits any impingement on Sat dishes up to 1 meter radius and they specifically name HOAs in the regs. Bu then - they had the tel industry to lobby their cuase - who would we get here?

A quick back o fthe envelope calc shows that if half of the US went to clothesline to do 8o% of their drying, we can save anywhere between 20 to 30 GigaWatts

 

[walrus]

A quick back o fthe envelope calc shows that if half of the US went to clothesline to do 8o% of their drying, we can save anywhere between 20 to 30 GigaWatts

We have a local radio show(its called hot and cold, Tom Gocze and Prof. **** Hill), that deals with home energy, how to save, how to heat etc. I wish you could hear it, in fact I wish it would get nat'l syndication. Its run by a couple local guys who invent wood burning devices, Solar heat for home heat or hot water. Both the guys have many patents. This subject is one of their pet peeves, a clothes line is instant savings. Takes some effort compared to a dryer but its easiest solar solution out there.

Heres one guys site on hot water storage.

http://www.americansolartechnics.com/


He makes tanks out of foam and pvc, very simple and very energy efficient

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

We have a local radio show(its called hot and cold, Tom Gocze and Prof. **** Hill), that deals with home energy, how to save, how to heat etc. I wish you could hear it, in fact I wish it would get nat'l syndication. Its run by a couple local guys who invent wood burning devices, Solar heat for home heat or hot water. Both the guys have many patents. This subject is one of their pet peeves, a clothes line is instant savings. Takes some effort compared to a dryer but its easiest solar solution out there.

Heres one guys site on hot water storage.

http://www.americansolartechnics.com/


He makes tanks out of foam and pvc, very simple and very energy efficient

Thanx - I'll check it out. As someone else here said - clothes seem to do better when dried ona line than in dryer - as in jeans.. I noted that on a medium-hot, medium-dry with some light clouds - say about 80 degrees F with about 15% - 20% humidity - the clothes with dry fully in 45 minutes - about the same time as a dryer. On a full clear full UV day Summer day, of say 80 to 90 deg F of no to humidity, the clothes dry fully in 30 minutes or less. Better than a dryer. The only added work is slinging them on and off on the line. ..But correct - using sun drying is about the best energy conversion efficiency you can expect and is the original solar power most folks seemed to have forgot. There seems the need for an aggressive movement to re-adopt this old technology

 

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

I made a clothes line for my wife last year (welded from 2" SCH40 black iron pipe) and she is riding me to get it re-installed, had to remove it to place chicken coop in it's place this spring.

We use the clothes line every chance we get, I guess being frugal, also makes me a friend of the environment.

Just think of all the lint you take out of the lint trap in your drier, that is your clothing wearing out as it tumbles around in the dryer. Not that I'm an anti dryer guy we have a gas dryer that gets used 1 - 2 times a day, that is until I get the clothes line re-installed.

That Honey Doo list doesn't get any shorter around here.

 

[AlTBird]

HOA's and uppity towns all over the USofA don't want'em on the basis of being "eyesores" and low-rent like that parts car you may have behind the garage. It will probably take an Executive Order from the current Administration and its 'green' minions to mandate their allowance and rescind those HOA restrictions. But, then again, perhaps they'll force the issue and outlaw electric dryers or tax/regulate them to death like what'll be done to the auto industry?

 

[ironroad 9c1]

fact is alot of this green **** comes from the same uppity people that don't want to see windmills , or solar panels , or clothes lines in there neighborhoods, but they want you to put em in yours..lol two face bastards.

 

[ItBurnsWhenIPee]

Wow...Couple of people with wadded up ******* in this thread.




Some of you people have real problems when you start blaming the President for your clothes drying issues.

 

[redsky49]

Wow...Couple of people with wadded up ******* in this thread.




Some of you people have real problems when you start blaming the President for your clothes drying issues.

+1

Maybe better if we stay on topic.

 

[MisterCMK]

Last year I lived in a rented house where the HOA prohibited clothelines (even though every backyard had a 6' privacy fence.)

Given the potential greenhouse gas reduction from using a clothesline over an electric dryer, maybe we need a national "right to dry" law that overules any local ordinances or HOA restrictions!

Or how about instead you petition your HOA to change the rules rather than imposing your will on everybody else through legislation (like is currently done)?

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

Or how about instead you petition your HOA to change the rules rather than imposing your will on everybody else through legislation (like is currently done)?

I think a good response to that would be that the energy crisis is indeed that - a crisis making it everyone's business - and to have an army of a million separate petitions to be submitted to a million separate HOAs is not only inefficient/unproductive, but not in the collective interest. If there was ever a justification for a NATIONAL LAW - this is one!

 

[MisterCMK]

I think a good response to that would be that the energy crisis is indeed that - a crisis making it everyone's business - and to have an army of a million separate petitions to be submitted to a million separate HOAs is not only inefficient/unproductive, but not in the collective interest. If there was ever a justification for a NATIONAL LAW - this is one!

An energy crisis? You mean a green mania? How can you be sure that a million people will care enough to make petitions to their HOAs? Quite frankly, I don't care if I save 23 cents in electricity and make the earth a little greener if I hang my clothes out to dry and I think a lot of people aren't going to go back to a washboard and clothesline anytime soon. Now, you think that the government making a law saying that HOAs cannot dictate whether or not clotheslines are allowed is going to be more efficient than the people making decisions for themselves? If so I have some muffler bearings that I would like to sell you. If everybody else in your HOA doesn't like clotheslines and don't want them allowed in the neighborhood, what gives you the right to impose your will on them? Feel free to petition your own HOA but if you really want a national law on something like that you are cracked.

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

An energy crisis? You mean a green mania? How can you be sure that a million people will care enough to make petitions to their HOAs? Quite frankly, I don't care if I save 23 cents in electricity and make the earth a little greener if I hang my clothes out to dry and I think a lot of people aren't going to go back to a washboard and clothesline anytime soon. Now, you think that the government making a law saying that HOAs cannot dictate whether or not clotheslines are allowed is going to be more efficient than the people making decisions for themselves? If so I have some muffler bearings that I would like to sell you. If everybody else in your HOA doesn't like clotheslines and don't want them allowed in the neighborhood, what gives you the right to impose your will on them? Feel free to petition your own HOA but if you really want a national law on something like that you are cracked.

I guess I'm cracked then...so deal with it

 

[Jaguar Fan]

Our son is moving to his own place in two weeks. I suspect our utilities will drop by, oh...half. We use a clothsline for some things. South facing in the California sun, it dries things quick.

We don't use a clothes line because of the air pollution (particulates) - clothes are pretty dirty by the time they are dry. I thought Alta Loma also had pretty bad air - don't clothes end up dirty there, too?

 

[Jaguar Fan]

I've been looking at something like this:

http://www.solarroofs.com/solarresidential.html


What do you guys think?

 

[TRTOOLSUPPLY]

Check out:www.builditsolar.com

Gary Reysa has 100's of neat(moneysaving) DIY projects!

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

I've been looking at something like this:

http://www.solarroofs.com/solarresidential.html


What do you guys think?

I'm not sure of their claim:
" The World's Most Attractive Residential Solar Water Heating, and Space Heating Systems!"

Makes it sound like Jessica Simpson is fastened to your roof - however, the money savings are beautiful.

 

[VHF]

I've been looking at something like this:

http://www.solarroofs.com/solarresidential.html


What do you guys think?

The Skyline collectors are easier to install as they are smaller/lighter than the typical 4x8 or 4x10 flat plate collector. However, IIRC their SRCC rating was on the lower end of rated collectors.

I'm thinking about the SunMaxx evacuated tube collectors for making domestic hot water. Evacuated tube collectors are more expensive than flat plate collectors, but easy to install (first the manifold and then one tube at a time) and they perform well in a cold climate.