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  1. Sundeep Arole New Member

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    237 posts
    Framingham, MA
    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.
    #1

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  2. Sandor Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 9, 2005
    917 posts
    Deltaville,VA
    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.
  3. Eric Johnson Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    5,703 posts
    Central NYS
    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.
  4. Mike Wilson New Member

    joined: Nov 19, 2005
    1,003 posts
    Orient Point, NY
    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:
  5. elkimmeg Banned

    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
  6. fbelec Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 23, 2005
    1,337 posts
    northern massachusetts
    are we listening to the voice of experience :gulp:
  7. velvetfoot Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 5, 2005
    4,839 posts
    Sand Lake, NY
    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.
  8. webbie Administrator

    joined: Nov 17, 2005
    10,937 posts
    Western Mass.
    I made a BIG return from my clotheline at my last house. They were building a new development next door and decided that my clothesline would detract from the value. So the builders came over and talked to us....they also didn't like the tar paper on the roof of our unfinished detached garage.

    So, they painted the entire garage for me (it was base cinderblock), roofed 50% of it (the part facing the development) and put up a nice 6 foot wood fence on the side of our property where it faced the new street.

    When you add that to the energy savings, it looks real good!
  9. Eric Johnson Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    5,703 posts
    Central NYS
    See Craig, it really does pay to put off finishing some of those home improvement projects.
  10. fbelec Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 23, 2005
    1,337 posts
    northern massachusetts
    i need you guys to have a talk with my wife.
  11. elkimmeg Banned

    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
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