A ‘nearly waterless’ washing machine developed by Leeds University researchers is set to debut in 2009. And when they say nearly waterless, they mean nearly waterless – as in only 1 cup. On top of that, it needs only a ‘pinch’ of detergent, and the clothes come out almost completely dry, so there’s no need to throw them in the dryer or even mess with clotheslines. It also uses just 2% of the energy of a conventional washing machine.
From Physorg.com:
“We have shown that it can remove all sorts of everyday stains, including coffee and lipstick, while using a tiny fraction of the water used by conventional washing machines,” Burkinshaw said.
When doing a load of wash, users throw their clothes in like a normal washing machine. Then a cartridge in the back of the machine adds plastic chips – about 45 pounds (20 kg) of them – to the load. Next, a cup of water containing the detergent is added. After the water dissolves the dirt, the chips absorb the water, without the need for a rinse or spin cycle. When finished, a grill at the bottom of the machine opens to collect the chips.
We’re just beginning to see what can be achieved when people actually put a lot of effort into sustainable, earth-friendly products and designs. Since washing machines account for a huge chunk of household water use, this could really help us all save lots of water. Green tech FTW!
Link [Physorg.com] + [Xeros]
