News Release
Research highlights health and economic problems caused by our indoor
drying habits
drying habits
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| Image: Laundry Time, Josh Tremper, under creative commons license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/ |
Think before you hang your washing round the
radiator, that’s a key message from the
findings of research carried out by the Mackintosh Environmental Architecture
Research Unit (MEARU) at The Glasgow School of Art in partnership with
academics at Strathclyde and Caledonian universities. The research project
looked at laundry habits across a wide demographic mix of residents in the West
of Scotland and undertook detailed analysis of air quality and energy
consumption relating to domestic laundry habits. It has highlighted three key
areas in which our current habits of indoor laundry drying are causing
problems: environmental, economic and health.
Draping
washing on driers around radiators is common practice nowadays whether because
the weather is too bad to hang it outdoors or the cost of using a tumble drier
is too great. However, the impact of this seemingly innocuous action is
something that more of us need to be aware of, and that house builders need to
address.
washing on driers around radiators is common practice nowadays whether because
the weather is too bad to hang it outdoors or the cost of using a tumble drier
is too great. However, the impact of this seemingly innocuous action is
something that more of us need to be aware of, and that house builders need to
address.
It
is a little known fact that the average load of washing will release around 2 litres
of moisture into the air during the drying process. When draped on driers by
radiators in ill ventilated rooms this can account for up to a third of the
moisture in the air creating the conditions in which mould spores grow and dust
mites thrive. Both of these are known causes of asthma. It also leads to
increased use of energy, especially when radiators are turned up to help the
drying process. Whilst opening a window can help address the moisture problem, this
also leads to increased energy usage, (which most people would want to avoid as
bills are rising exponentially), exacerbating fuel poverty which is a major
issue in the West of Scotland where the research was carried out.
is a little known fact that the average load of washing will release around 2 litres
of moisture into the air during the drying process. When draped on driers by
radiators in ill ventilated rooms this can account for up to a third of the
moisture in the air creating the conditions in which mould spores grow and dust
mites thrive. Both of these are known causes of asthma. It also leads to
increased use of energy, especially when radiators are turned up to help the
drying process. Whilst opening a window can help address the moisture problem, this
also leads to increased energy usage, (which most people would want to avoid as
bills are rising exponentially), exacerbating fuel poverty which is a major
issue in the West of Scotland where the research was carried out.
“Because of increased awareness of the energy
consumption of tumble dryers many people are choosing to dry clothes passively
within their home,” says Professor Colin Porteous of MEARU. “This results
not only in a severe energy penalty, because of increased heating demand, but
also a potential health risk due to higher moisture levels.”
consumption of tumble dryers many people are choosing to dry clothes passively
within their home,” says Professor Colin Porteous of MEARU. “This results
not only in a severe energy penalty, because of increased heating demand, but
also a potential health risk due to higher moisture levels.”
The
short term answers for someone wanting to ensure that air quality is compromised
as little as possible include drying washing outdoors whenever possible; using
energy efficient, condensing tumble dryers; and drying washing by south facing
windows using natural light and heat or, better still, southerly balconies
where these exist.
short term answers for someone wanting to ensure that air quality is compromised
as little as possible include drying washing outdoors whenever possible; using
energy efficient, condensing tumble dryers; and drying washing by south facing
windows using natural light and heat or, better still, southerly balconies
where these exist.
However,
with the current UK trend towards airtight construction and smaller homes,
which can intensify the moisture build-up from all sources, it is vital that steps
are taken in new housing stock to make sure laundry can be dried in ways that
will eradicate this major contributor to poor air quality. In a design guide
published today the researchers offer a number of clear solutions to the
problem. These include providing a
drying space with its own heat and ventilation; providing individual and
communal exterior covered drying spaces; upgrading balconies and sunspaces;
returning to the provision of communal laundry facilities in high-density
housing; ensuring there is heat recovery from grey water and solar energy
capture and that energy efficient appliances fitted in properties. Meanwhile, one of the most important ways of
addressing the problem in existing properties is to begin to fit them with
proper ventilation.
with the current UK trend towards airtight construction and smaller homes,
which can intensify the moisture build-up from all sources, it is vital that steps
are taken in new housing stock to make sure laundry can be dried in ways that
will eradicate this major contributor to poor air quality. In a design guide
published today the researchers offer a number of clear solutions to the
problem. These include providing a
drying space with its own heat and ventilation; providing individual and
communal exterior covered drying spaces; upgrading balconies and sunspaces;
returning to the provision of communal laundry facilities in high-density
housing; ensuring there is heat recovery from grey water and solar energy
capture and that energy efficient appliances fitted in properties. Meanwhile, one of the most important ways of
addressing the problem in existing properties is to begin to fit them with
proper ventilation.
The
researchers are now discussing their findings with the social housing sector to
encourage adoption of the proposals as the Housing Associations upgrade existing
and build new stock. But if the problem is to be addressed more broadly then the
Building Regulations need to be changed to strengthen the existing conditions
for all new housing.
researchers are now discussing their findings with the social housing sector to
encourage adoption of the proposals as the Housing Associations upgrade existing
and build new stock. But if the problem is to be addressed more broadly then the
Building Regulations need to be changed to strengthen the existing conditions
for all new housing.
“Minor changes to the wording of the
regulations would have multiple beneficial consequences,” adds Colin
Porteous. “Our research gives strong
justification for the changes both in terms of health and wellbeing, and
associated economic impacts. It is our hope that current statutory and advisory
standards will be modified to take them on board ensuring a healthy and
economically sustainable living environment.”
regulations would have multiple beneficial consequences,” adds Colin
Porteous. “Our research gives strong
justification for the changes both in terms of health and wellbeing, and
associated economic impacts. It is our hope that current statutory and advisory
standards will be modified to take them on board ensuring a healthy and
economically sustainable living environment.”
For
further information of the research and the design guide visit http://homelaundrystudy.net/
further information of the research and the design guide visit http://homelaundrystudy.net/
Ends
2
November 2012
Note for Editors
Mackintosh
Environmental Architecture Research Unit (MEARU) at The Glasgow School of Art
thoroughly investigated the laundry habits across a wide demographic mix of
residents within social housing in Glasgow and undertook detailed analysis of
air quality and energy consumption relative to domestic laundering habits. This
was been augmented by laboratory testing of materials by the Centre for
Research on Indoor Climate & Health (RICH) at Glasgow Caledonian
University, in turn supported by advanced moisture modelling by the Energy
Systems Research Unit (ESRU) at Strathclyde University.
For more information on MEARU, clients,
facilities, staff and projects
http://www.gsa.ac.uk/research/research-centres/mearu/
For further
information contact:
Lesley Booth
0779 941 4474
lesley@newcenturypr.com