Sustain Mizzou racks up savings

The program hopes to reduce energy usage by avoiding tumble dryers.

By Luke Udstuen

Published Jan. 22, 2010

A pilot project that aims to increase the energy efficiency of the laundry process began this semester.

Tina Casagrand, Sustain Mizzou vice-president of programming, is heading a project that purchased 20 laundry drying racks, which are available for students to check out free of charge.

The finer details of the program are still being scrubbed out, but savings can be expected from the pilot program, Casagrand said.

"A New York Times article inspired all of this," Casagrand said about her project. "It was a collection of writing from some engineers, some college students and a writer — it was talking about how inefficient tumble dryers are. They use 10 to 15 percent of all appliance energy."

The drying racks were paid for entirely by grants.

The Residence Halls Association funded $557.32 and the student sustainability initiative, which consists of the funds resulting from the $1 sustainability fee per student per semester, donated $1,000.

Some racks are located in South Residence Hall, and others available for off-campus checkout, Casagrand said.

"Right now, at South, they're available behind the desk," Casagrand said. "They can be checked out like any kitchen supplies, games, they have behind the desks, except students don't have to leave collateral, they just check them out."

The racks have been available for checkout at South Residence Hall for about one week, and around three to four people have checked out the rack, South Desk Attendant Kristen Zeis said.

Although clothes dryers bring convenience, they don't always indicate fashion consciousness, Casagrand said.

"Also, in other countries like Italy and Japan, the most fashion conscious countries on earth, around four percent of their population owns dyers," Casagrand said. "It seems like a very easy solution to an energy problem."

The proposed plans would put some racks in Mark Twain Residence Hall, but no plans are definitive.

Casagrand is working with Ben Datema, head of the Mizzou Dashboard Group, to see where the racks might be best suited.

"Mizzou Dashboard is a competition among Hatch, Schurz and College Avenue to conserve energy," Casagrand said.

Casagrand said her project aims to place drying racks in all residence halls and off-campus housing locations.

At the end of the pilot program, students who participated in the drying rack program will receive a short survey, asking them to voice their opinion on the project, Casagrand said.

Sophomore Cortaiga Gant stressed fiscal responsibility.

"Money is money," Grant said. "I can't say that I'm against anything, because I'm all for making green decisions that will create a healthier planet later, but if people won't use this and we're spending this money — even if it's just a dollar, or a few cents on something that won't get used, then why?"

The project purchased a variety of models, trying to find which ones would suit student use best for the amount of money spent.

"We've looked at the durability of certain models," Casagrand said. "We have two identical wide frame racks — one is from IKEA, one is from Moerman. The Moerman is substantially more expensive, but it's also sturdier, so we might end up going with that one."

Casagrand said the project intended to use racks sturdy enough to withstand typical student use.

"I don't know how racks could be used so roughly that they may be compromised," Casagrand said. "So it may make sense, especially if it's not getting checked out so much, to go with a cheaper brand. Not sure yet."