SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The program director for Ecology North says the organization's new energy reducing proposal may be "low tech" but that doesn't mean it isn't "no tech."

Arlene Hache, executive director with the Centre for Northern Families and Doug Ritchie, program director for Ecology North, stand by the first clothesline paid for and installed by Ecology North as part of a new initiative to reduce the energy used by dryers for non-governmental organizations. Ecology North is offering to install a clothesline free-of-charge to any low-income NGO in Yellowknife. - Terrence McEachern/NNSL Photo

Doug Ritchie is offering to pay for low-income, non-governmental groups to have a clothesline installed at their facility.

"In the era of trying to reduce energy and climate change, it is one effective technology that can help people to reduce their demand on the electricity system."

So far, only the Centre for Northern Families has taken up the offer. "It's wonderful," said Arlene Hache, executive director for the centre.

She said she never thought of installing a clothesline before, but she's convinced given the volume of laundry the centre has on a daily basis, she's expecting to save money in energy costs.

"We wash the bedding every day," she said. "We have nine beds here, but 23 women sleep here. So, our bedding and our laundry needs are out of this world."

"We spend about $40,000 a year on utilities, and the majority of that is power," said Hache.

Hache admitted that the centre still has to use the dryer from time to time, especially on days when it's raining. But she said she prefers the fresh air smell on the bedding because it also helps in terms of "mood and morale" of the residents.

Installing clotheslines can cost between $60 and $80 for materials and whether a post needs to be placed in the ground.

Besides non-governmental organizations, families can save hundreds of dollars each year using a clothesline instead of the dryer.

"The reality is in the north, every time we use the dryer it costs us at least $1 (in terms of energy consumption) if we go for a full hour." Ritchie also recommends using cold water to reduce the costs associated with energy consumption because about 90 per cent of the cost of washing clothes is heating the water, he said.

Ritchie said it is running late in the season for drying clothes outside, although residents can still hang a clothesline in their homes to help reduce energy. One reason the program is off to a late start is that volunteers at Ecology North needed to learn and practice installing clotheslines.

"We're encouraging people to think about it this summer and especially for next summer. And certainly we're going to be gearing up for hopefully a larger campaign next summer," he said.

Ritchie has actually installed two clotheslines this summer - the second one he installed at his home.

"As a North American society, we have got out of the habit of using clotheslines. And, because the dryer is so convenient and often right beside the washing machine, we just don't think about alternatives," he said.