One obvious use of solar energy

Instead of using the dryer consider hang drying clothes on a clothes line. A bit inconvenient, perhaps, but well worth the energy it saves for the little effort involved and
almost zero investment.

In the winter, hang drying the colthes in the room where the woodstove is does double duty - the clothes dry and it also raises the room humitity somewhat.

This is a no-brainer and I have been doing it for years.

The one concept my g-friend was missing is that when you run the dryer, air is being pulled in from outside (from whatever leak the vacuum will expose), heated and exausted outside.

So, in the winter, your pulling in cold air. In the summer, your pulling in hot air.

Clothes dried on a line have a much nicer feel and smell than those dried in a machine.

When I was a kid, my grandmother would run the longjohns through a ringer and then hand them on the clothesline in the winter. When they would come in they were stiff as a board, but dry and very nice.

We hang our clothes out whenever the sun is shining--winter or summer.

Brilliant A solar powered clothes drying machine! Simply stellar!

Here's a link for design and implementation ideas:
Solar Powered Clothes Dryer

I wonder if this qualifies for the 2006 tax deduction for energy efficiency?

-- Mike :coolsmile:

The only down fall of the solar dryer is the occasional hornet, that takes exception of being disturbed, when putting on ones Jeans.

That sharp sting pain near a sensitive area can get your attention in a hurry

are we listening to the voice of experience :gulp:

We got a front-loading washer a little while ago. The clothes come out much drier than with the top loader.
It also uses less water and detergent.

See Craig, it really does pay to put off finishing some of those home improvement projects.

i need you guys to have a talk with my wife.

Yeah it happened it got me a few times till I squashed it. Did not miss a very sensitive are by much And it did hurt