“What it takes to get it clean”

Energy Conservation

Project

By Marty Maines

10/28/07

• How much energy and

water does it take to wash my clothes?

• How much energy and water could I conserve if I laundered a different way?

• What technologies and technique are out there to conserve water and energy when laundering?

Question:

• Over a two week period I collected data on my use of the washer and drier machine.

• Next I took my consumption and converted my use into kWh used and gallons of water consumed.

• To conclude I compared my consumption to what I could could have saved using alternative methods of laundering.

Methodology:

Data Collection:• I collected data on the number of washer and drier times over the coarse of two weeks. • I use a standard Kenmore washer machine and drier that consumes 40 gallons and ~4 kWh per wash, and drier that consumes 4 kWh per 45 min at standard temperature.

• I also collected data on the settings I used to wash and dry and accounted for it in my estimation of the energy and water consumed.

• Energy consumption in kWh was estimated through research not actual gauging.• Could not account for change in size of loads even though I used the same setting every time.• My laundering use is probably not constant all year around, even though I assumed that in my annual projections.

Experimental Errors:

Recorded Data:

Drying * (All loads are set under Regular temp. settings)

Date Drying Time Energy Consumed9/30/07 45 min 4.00 kWh10/3/07 55 min 4.88 kWh10/8/07 60 min 5.34 kWh10/9/07 45 min 4.00 kWh10/9/07 50 min 4.44 kWh

Intervals: Total Total14 Day Totals 255 min 22.66 kWhMonthly Totals 510 min 45.32 kWhAnnual Totals 6,120 min 543.84 kWh*National Average (933 kWh Annually)

Washing and DryingIntervals: Total kWh Consumed 14 Day Totals 43.8 kWhMonthly Totals 87.6 kWhAnnual Totals 1,051.2 kWh

Washing * (All loads are large done with hot wash cold rinse)

Date Energy Consumed Water Consumed9/30/07 4.24 kWh 40 gallons10/3/07 4.24 kWh 40 gallons10/8/07 4.24 kWh 40 gallons10/9/07 4.24 kWh 40 gallons

10/12/07 4.24 kWh 40 gallons

Intervals: Total Total14 Day Totals 21.2 kWh 200 gallonsMonthly Totals 42.4 kWh 400 gallonsAnnual Totals 508.8 kWh 4,800 gallons

What If? Alternatives to my current

consumptions trends.• I could save energy by non-machine drying my clothes. (543.84 kWh/year)

• Hand washing my clothes. (508.8 kWh/year)

• Using cold settings on the washer machine. (103 kWh/year Vs ~500 kWh/year on regular settings)

• Use a side loading machine (~50% water savings)

“Wrapping Things Up”Project Conclusions:

* Using the heat that is already generated in side my house can be used to dry my clothes via drying

racks

* Hand washing or using cold settings on the washer machine can save a lot

of electricity

• Clothes lines

• Drying racks

• Hand washing

• Front loader washer machines are more efficient.

• Only wash what you need washed.

• Use cold wash or at least cold rinse to save energy.

Laundering Suggests for a Finite Planet:

The End!