Here's another innovation from GE, the Consumer and Industrial business unit is launching a marketing campaign to sell its new line of frontload washers and dryers that can hold and wash up to 17 pairs of jeans and up to six months of detergent and fabric softener. The technology SmartDispense enables the washer to dispense the right amount based on soil level, load size and fabric type. The CleanSpeak technology will allow the washer electronically tell the dryer which items to expect so it is integrated. May be next is it will play your iTunes too. That’s a pretty cool innovation.
The new product is more water efficient; it uses about 15 to 16 gallons of water per load that you have to heat, compared with a traditional top-load washer at between 39 and 40 gallons. If you think 15 gallons is still too much, researchers at the University of Leeds have invented a technology that uses plastic chips to clean clothes, eliminating the need water for water. This is the world’s first “virtually waterless” washing machine, the contraption utilizes plastic granules or chips to remove stains and leaves the clothes nearly dry. The machine can use as little as a cup of water. It will hit the market next year.
If don’t like that, you can get this (photo above) two-in-one WashUP washing machine/toilet combo. Basically after a load of clothes are washed the machine saves the water to later flush the toilet. We do need more innovation that allow us to wash clothes with little or no water needed, think about a car wash that doesn't need water or dish dryer that doesn't use that much electricity. We should spend more effort innovation that can help us to use less resources and more sustainable. This should be the mission of all appliances maker.
Whirlpool is working on a green kitchen design concept. Taking everything that you need from a kitchen and integrating it into a smart, efficient system, the concept promises to cut way back on waste -- energy, water, and heat all included -- to the tune of increased energy efficiency of up to 70%.
It "diverts" 60% of the water and heat generated from appliances to fuel other functions and appliances, rather than just tossing it aside. For example: the heat produced in the compressor coils from running the fridge -- the one appliance that cycles on and off, 24 hours a day -- is used to heat water for the dishwasher, rather than just wafting out into the kitchen. And speaking of the fridge, it uses a drawer fridge that saves energy by preventing cold air from slipping out every time you open the door. It is still at concept stage, but we need to get that sooner.
