You might think that you have heard it all after you read this! The newest in green technology washing machines are set to go on sale next year. They use 30 percent less energy and they use an astounding 90 percent less water! They are the newest of the new: one cup washing machines that really only do use one cup of water for a load full of clothes.
I will admit, when I first heard about this, I was scratching my head. I couldn't help but wonder how a washing machine can use only one measly cup of water to get clothes clean? As amazing as this is going to sound, the water is replaced with thousands of tiny polymer beads that attract dirt. This technology is nothing fly-by-night by some crazed wanna-be inventor. It was developed by the prestigious University of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.
These beads interact with clothing in a (more or less) regular washing machine. By adding one cup of water, a certain level of humidity is created which activates these beads to absorb dirt in humid conditions. After going through a cycle and pulling all the dirt out of clothing, they fall into a mesh bucket and wait for the next load of clothing. The beads can be reused up to 100 times before a replacement is needed.
This technology is targeted right now at commercial industries like hotels, hospitals, dry cleaners and other institutions that require large laundry services, and it is being specifically envisioned for the North American market.
The one-cup washing machine is the new wave high-tech version washer that isn’t available to us consumers just yet. Yet we still must give credit where credit is due, and that’s a good and workable idea. But for us regular people, what do we have to look forward too in the here and now and coming in the future?
Right now the latest and the greatest are the Energy Star washers. Many models are available from General Electric, to Maytag, and even LG (the cell phone maker) has these washers on the market. They all boast decreased electricity and water usage but give the same cleaning results as older models that used far more resources.
From England comes the 14-minute Beko eco-washer, that, you guessed it, washes clothes in 14 minutes. Washing clothes so quickly saves electricity, and it has a water-saving feature that is second to none, which allows precise control of wash water so that not a drop is wasted. Marketed right now in the British Isles, I would love to see that washer on our shores.
Just a few short years ago there was nothing like these energy efficient washers available to the public at large, but Because Action speaks louder than words, we salute these companies for getting on the eco-friendly bandwagon. Going green sells, so bringing this technology is not only good for everyone’s pocketbook, it is just as good for the resources of the planet as well. That’s a win-win situation all the way around our big blue globe!
