Clothes lines that sense the weather

Students from the School of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications in Australia, held their 11^th trade fair on 24 October to showcase products they have developed.

The trade fair featured a display of products designed by engineers and internet technology professionals of the future.

Products on show included the blind person’s assistant and the fall-guard, an IP missile launcher, the runners health monitor, automatic pancake maker, coffee making machines, gaming devices for advanced gamers, entertainment sound systems which track multiple users in different rooms and clothes lines which sense the weather.

I am not sure about this one. If a clothesline senses the weather, what can it do about it? Im sure it cant remove all the washing and put it in a basket and take it inside to the laundry. Most people let their clothes dry while at work so unless it does this its not going to be a success at the moment. Full points for the pioneering spirit though which no doubt will one day lead to a sensing system that will actually activate a device to protect your clothes from the rain or even the harsh sun if exposed to long periods. Sounds like a good idea doesnt it. How about a bird poop sensor to protect your clothes? Now theres a good idea.

Sydney townhouse owners set free.

Unit and townhouse residents in NSW will soon no longer face $5500 fines and up to a year in prison for doing the environmentally responsible thing – hanging out their washing to dry on balconies.
But some see the decision to drop the regulation as opening the gates to another kind of environmental sin – visual pollution.
Owners, tenants, agents and environmental groups were encouraged to email their thoughts and opinions on the new law to the Department of Fair Trading. The NSW Fair Trading Minister Virginia Judge is assessing their feedback.
The current Office of Fair Trading strata title by-law bans the hanging of washing on balconies or anywhere that is visible to the public.
The rule states: “An owner or occupier of a lot must not, except with the prior written approval of the owners corporation, hang any washing, towel, bedding, clothing or other article on any part of the parcel in such a way as to be visible from outside the building other than on any lines provided by the owners corporation for the purpose and there only for a reasonable period.”
CBD resident Daniel Sloane suggests there are other ways to be environmentally friendly without causing the visual pollution. “People don’t necessarily need to use a dryer; they can hang clothes on communal clothes lines or an internal clothes rack”.
It seems that with the current state of the environment this is not just a local issue but a global one. In the United States the Connecticut’s General Assembly Energy and Technology Committee were considering a law giving homeowners the right to use clotheslines despite neighbourhood fears that displays of underwear would undermine property values.

Ditching the Electric Dryer

More than half of Australian homes now have electric clothes dryers and it can send household energy bills into a spin.

Paul Myors, an energy efficiency expert at Energy Australia, says almost 30 percent of homes use the electric dryer at least once a week.

“In fact, some households use them for every load” he said. “A standard clothes dryer run twice a week will cost you up to $70 a year to run, and can generate up to 400kg of greenhouse emissions.

Whoa, this baby is not just part of the problem but was also a fire starter!

“But the solution is simple and its been in many backyards for more than 103 years.” the outdoor clothesline is the simplest and cheapest form of solar power under the sun. Even during wet weather, clothes can effectively dry on a line or rack under the cover of a veranda, carport or garage. And its much gentler on clothes and will prolong their life.” For more details contact www.energy.com.au

Celebrity Clothesline news

Rachel Bilson, clothes line advocate

American actress, Rachel Bilson has joined with other mainly Australian  celebrities to try and get Americans to start using a clothes line to dry clothes instead of the electric dryer. The aim is to help the environment as well as to make people aware of the savings that can be made.

Clothesline use in America is sadly no longer a normal activity in the average American home. The electric dryer is usually the largest user of power for any appliance in an American home.

Celebrities lending their support include Melissa George, Olivia Newton-John, Amanda Detmer, Kimberly Joseph, Dannii Minogue, , Radha Mitchell, and Matt Rhys. Kimberly Joseph said, “I grew up in Australia helping Mum hang washing out to dry on the Hills Hoist (and going for the odd swing as well)…nothing like the smell of sun dried t-shirts and linen. With great weather being the number one draw card here in Los Angeles, clothes dryers should be a thing of the past. Bring on the Aussie clothesline, I say!!”

Kimberley Joseph. Loves Aussie clothes lines