the urban laundry initiative
DESCRIPTION
2nd trimester project, under the mentorship of Dick van Hoff, at the Design Academy eindhoven, Man and Humanity Department.TRANSCRIPT
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