.jpg "Shieling Dryer offers a greener alternative")
An all-weather clothes drying system developed on the Isle of Mull has the potential to cut tumble dryer usage by up to 90 percent, according to findings by Scotland's Energy Technology Centre.
In addition to drastically lowered energy bills, the system could also save hundreds of kilograms of carbon emissions produced by power-hungry electric dryers.
The Shieling Dryer, developed by Mull businessman David Gracie, is a tent-like structure which uses wind power to take the wet from washing - even in the pouring rain.
Named after the traditional dwelling of Scottish shepherds, the domestic version of the Shieling contains 40 metres of line allowing up to four washing machine loads to be hung inside.
It is just 2.5m long by 2.3m wide - compact enough to fit comfortably in most family gardens. A larger commercial version is available containing 100 metres of line.
Case studies of users of both types were made this spring by an independent consultancy, Orion Innovations, on behalf of Scottish Enterprise's Energy Technology Centre in East Kilbride.
The studies ranged from a family of four near Dollar to a Buddhist retreat on Arran's Holy Isle.
It found that users had reduced their use of electric tumble dryers by between 60 and 90 percent, producing potential annual cost savings of over £800 a year in the case of the retreat. Even a family using a Shieling for just 60 percent of its drying could look forward to annual savings of over £150.
The £200 price of the domestic version of the dryer could be recovered very quickly, suggested the analysis, and produce hard cash savings thereafter.
But the environment was also a clear winner, researchers found - for the Shieling Dryer produced an estimated annual carbon emissions saving of 713kg a year for the Dollar family.
In the case of a five-bedroom guest house on the Isle of Arran which uses the dryer, the figure rose to a staggering 4288kg of carbon dioxide saved from entering the atmosphere every year.
According to David Gracie, the Shieling doesn't require a strong wind to lighten a laundry-load of moisture. Even on a still day, he says, air currents passing through it will produce a drying effect.
It works, he says, even in the rain - and items such as sheets and pillow cases are almost self-ironing inside the Shieling, thanks to the smoothing and billowing effect of the wind.
The Shieling was originally developed by David for use with his holiday park business on Mull, but interest from guests encouraged him to produce the dryers commercially.
"Tumble dryers are massive users of energy, and their cost in both financial and environmental terms is horrific. Now there is an answer - and it's simply blowing in the wind," he said.
Natalie, Kent around 1 year, 9 months ago