On the sidelines of the Group of Eight summit, Sanyo Electric Co. displayed a washing machine, dubbed Aqua, that uses high-powered air, or ozone, to wash closes without a single drop of water. The process of ozonation, which disinfects bacteria on contact, can air-wash clothes removing about 80% of biodegradable stains without using any water, according to Sanyo.
The company says a full-cycle of air-wash uses about twice as much electricity as a regular wash but only one-fifth the energy of a comparable full cycle wash and dry in part because the air wash doesn’t need a drying system. The Aqua washer can also purify and recycle water that has been used for a bath use for a regular wash, reducing the amount of fresh water required to a half-bucket.
Source: WSJ, 08/07/08
