Urban LaundryInitiativeProposal

Cities are Growing

In 2008, for the first time in history, more than half of the world’s population will be living in towns and cities. By 2030 this number will swell to 5 billion.1 And, out of that sudden increase, 95% of the growth in the next two decades will be in the less-developed world.2

1 UNFPA,linking PoPulation, Poverty and develoPment,http://www.unfpa.org/pds/urbanization.htm06/07/2009

2 WUF,WorldUrbanForum,http://www.unhabitat.org/cdrom/intro/intro.html,05/07/2009

Natural Resources need to be used BetterFor highly industrialized economies, the total volume of natural resources required can be staggering—in the range of 45 to 85 metric tons of material per person each year 1 It is estimated that cities are responsible for 75% of global energy consumption and 80% of greenhouse gas emissions.2

1 WorldResourcesInstitute, WaSting tHe material World: tHe imPaCt oF induStrial eConomieS, http://earthtrends.wri.org/features/view_feature.php?theme=6&fid=4, 15/03/2010

2 BiovisionLifeSciences,ReducingCitiesEcologicalFootprint,http://www.biovision.org/reducing-cities-ecological-footprint.html11/02/2009

Alternatives to current habits need to be providedAllowing for slowing downPromoting Co-operationSharing of Resources

Image:E. Manzini, F. Jegou, Sustainable everyday. Scenarios of urban life, Arcadia Edizioni, Milano, 2003

*Graph based onElectrolux, Resource Efficiency, http://www.electrolux.com/node280.aspx 20/02/2010

Life Cycle Impact*

End of life 3%

Production 9%

Consumer Use 88%

Life Cycle Analysis of existing Washing Machines

During consumer use a Washing Machine uses 96% of all energy used in its lifetime, it contributes to 98% of all Air Pollution, 96% of Water Pollution, 87% of Solid Waste generated. It also accounts for 98% of the products Water consumption.1

1 LoughboroughUniversity,LCAAssessmentofWashingMachines,http://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/susdesign/LTSN/Blocks/Block%207/Life%20Cycle%20Assessment.ppt,15/02/2010

Potential to Reduce product Impact is in its use

How to make washing more sustainable?

Use energy, water and natural resources efficiently

Make products that are adaptable to different needs

Provide people with incentives for saving energy, water and resources

1 KEIDEL, Why buy a Front Loading Washing Machine? http://www.keidel.com/design/select/washer-load.htm, 13/02/2010

Power Use

Increase energy efficiency

Increase water efficiency

Resource use efficiency Social Context

Use Human Power Use front loading washing machines, they use up to 75% less electricity to run because continuously rotating action requires less energy than alternating agitation. They also are more effective during spin cycle in extracting water.1

Use polymer beads to clean clothes, Xero claims to use 90% less water. The beads and water interact with the clothes and extract stains. 2

Having a community laundry within an apartment instead of a washing machine per household is an immediate saving of resources.

Creation of a private- public partnership. Where individuals own or invest in participating in the Laundromat.

Use other renewable energy sources

Concentrate on cold water washing, 80 – 85% of the energy used to wash clothes comes from heating the water, and a hot water wash can generate up to 5 times the amount of greenhouse gases than a cold wash.3

One way to increase water efficiency is to use a front loading washing machine. They use on average 50L of water per load as opposed to 120L that top loaders require4

Use of recycled materials, as opposed to raw materials like steel, aluminium and high grade plastics, or recycling existing machines is preferred.

A possibility for creating a micro economy.

Provide both electrical energy and human powered options. Incentives could include human powered use free or discounted.

Facilitate for different load sizes, washing and empty load uses as much energy as a full one.

Consider: The average UK household uses almost 21 litres of water each day on clothes washing - 13% of daily household water consumption. This accounts for approximately 455 million litres of water daily, enough water to fill 145 Olympic size swimming pools.5

Design should allow for easy repair, and replacement of parts, efficiency would be maximised by a long product life cycle

A new opportunity for sharing, and social interaction.

Using a clothes line is incomparably more efficient than a clothes dryer.

Find uses for grey water Design for manufacture Design for Disassembly

Re-t

hink

ing

laun

dry

the system

1 KEIDEL, Why buy a Front Loading Washing Machine? http://www.keidel.com/design/select/washer-load.htm, 13/02/2010

Power Use

Increase energy efficiency

Increase water efficiency

Resource use efficiency Social Context

Use Human Power Use front loading washing machines, they use up to 75% less electricity to run because continuously rotating action requires less energy than alternating agitation. They also are more effective during spin cycle in extracting water.1

Use polymer beads to clean clothes, Xero claims to use 90% less water. The beads and water interact with the clothes and extract stains. 2

Having a community laundry within an apartment instead of a washing machine per household is an immediate saving of resources.

Creation of a private- public partnership. Where individuals own or invest in participating in the Laundromat.

Use other renewable energy sources

Concentrate on cold water washing, 80 – 85% of the energy used to wash clothes comes from heating the water, and a hot water wash can generate up to 5 times the amount of greenhouse gases than a cold wash.3

One way to increase water efficiency is to use a front loading washing machine. They use on average 50L of water per load as opposed to 120L that top loaders require4

Use of recycled materials, as opposed to raw materials like steel, aluminium and high grade plastics, or recycling existing machines is preferred.

A possibility for creating a micro economy.

Provide both electrical energy and human powered options. Incentives could include human powered use free or discounted.

Facilitate for different load sizes, washing and empty load uses as much energy as a full one.

Consider: The average UK household uses almost 21 litres of water each day on clothes washing - 13% of daily household water consumption. This accounts for approximately 455 million litres of water daily, enough water to fill 145 Olympic size swimming pools.5

Design should allow for easy repair, and replacement of parts, efficiency would be maximised by a long product life cycle

A new opportunity for sharing, and social interaction.

Using a clothes line is incomparably more efficient than a clothes dryer.

Find uses for grey water Design for manufacture Design for Disassembly

Lone People under 35 Business People

52%

Couples under 35

33%

Single Parent Families

21%

Lone People 65+

37%

Percentage of Population that live in high density housing in Australia Estimated laundry habits

Australian Bureau of Statistics, Housing stock: Changes in Australian housing, http://www.abs.gov.au 12/10/2009

FRESHWATER

in

GREYWATER

out

PHYSICAL ENERGY in

ELECTRICAL ENERGY in

Water efficiencyEnergy efficiencyLoad segregation possibleHand crank washing facilitatedGrey water harnessedUse of reycled plastics in production

Easilierto SUN dry

the fast system

FRESHWATER

in

GREYWATER

out

SOLARENERGY in

Filtration

Easilierto SUN dry

ELECTRICAL ENERGY in

Water efficiencyEnergy efficiencyLoad segregation possibleMade for sharing loads while maintaining hygienic standardsGrey water harnessedUse of reycled plastics in production

the slow system

FRESHWATER

in

GREYWATER

out

SOLARENERGY in

Filtration

Easilierto SUN dry

ELECTRICAL ENERGY in

Water efficiencyEnergy efficiencyLoad segregation possibleMade for sharing loads while maintaining hygienic standardsGrey water harnessedUse of reycled plastics in production

FRESHWATER

in

GREYWATER

out

Wetland Filtration

SOLARENERGY in

PHYSICAL ENERGY

in

Easilierto SUN dry

Water efficiency, rain water captureEnergy efficiency, and pedal powerLoad segregation possibleMade for sharing loads while maintaining hygienic standardsGrey water harnessed and reed filteredUse of reycled plastics in production

the co-op system

FRESHWATER

in

GREYWATER

out

Wetland Filtration

SOLARENERGY in

PHYSICAL ENERGY

in

Easilierto SUN dry

Water efficiency, rain water captureEnergy efficiency, and pedal powerLoad segregation possibleMade for sharing loads while maintaining hygienic standardsGrey water harnessed and reed filteredUse of reycled plastics in production

the incentives

Financial Savings or Profit

A product better adapted to individual needs

Outsourcing ofRegular MaintenancePr

imar

y In

centiv

esSe

cond

ary

Incen

tives

the mechanisms

Left to Right: Locking mechanism of washing bins used when in storage and in use as washing container, hand crank mechanism, grey water trolley and interlocking drawer, centrifugal two layer drum, water in hose attachment, pivoting water inlet/outlet, bin lids and locking attachments.

axiscentripetal

centrifugal

velocity

rotation

the physics

axiscentripetal

centrifugal

velocity

rotation

the components

the materials

More information at http://www.axionrecycling.comor http://www.materia.nl/575.html

Axpoly Plastics

Why?• 100% post-consumer recycled polymer (recoveredfrom refrigerators)• 93% less CO2 impact compared with virgin*• Successfully replaces virgin grade resin• ISO9000 quality certified• Available in a range of colours• Cost savings compared with virgin polymer grades

* As detailed in Axion’s report ‘Carbon Footprint Evaluation of Recycled HIPS’August 2008. Calculation made using data provided by WRAP and Plastics Europe.

Alternative Power Use

Energy Efficiency

WaterEfficiency

Recycled Materials

Opportunity for sharing

the research

1 KEIDEL, Why buy a Front Loading Washing Machine? -load.htm, 13/02/2010 1XERO, Technology, -polymer-technology.htm, 13/02/2010 1 C. Balston, Your Carbon Footprint - , -Friendly/Your-Carbon-Footprint-Habits-to-Make-Your-Appliances-More- , 12/02/2010 1 Greenhome, , 05/06/2009 1 University of Leeds,

, 10/02/2010

Sustainable Everyday Projecthttp://www.sustainable-everyday.net/scenarios/?page_id=26

Materia: Homehttp://www.materia.nl/

Historical Washing Machines & Patentshttp://www.oldewash.com/

Preliminary Sketcheshttp://issuu.com/joszczepanska/docs/wash-ing_mechanism_sketchesprint

Mechanism Testshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMskojQwRag

Water Use During Hand Washinghttp://www.greeninformation.co.uk/house-work/hand_washing_versus_machine_washing__clothes/

Hand Washing Reviewhttp://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/02/hand-powered-po/

Housework and Healthhttp://jech.bmj.com/content/56/6/473.abstract

History of Houseworkhttp://www.aei.org/article/24043

Calories and Mechanisationhttp://www.healthplans.com/articledetails.php?menuid=10&articleid=4324

Unilever- Handwashing detergenthttp://www.unilever.com/innovation/pro-ductinnovations/default/

Time Spent on HouseworkKrantz-Kent, R.. 2009. Measuring time spent in unpaid household work: results from the American Time Use Survey. Monthly Labor Review, July 1, 46-59

Washing Machine Museumhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3Ih4zbwkPs

Pedalpower washing Machine from Indiahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxryeNycJX0

Pedal Power to Electrical washing Machinehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN6iqicgaXI