Hydropower from Old Washing Machines - 3/30/09

In New Zealand, a company called Ecolnnovation has found a way to make something from salvaged parts of household appliances.

One of the things they do is recycling SmartDrive motors from salvaged washing machines to generate hydropower.  You do need a river or stream near your home or small business.

Micro-hydro turbines can use the movement of medium flowing streams to deliver most of the electrical requirements of a small home.

Founder Michael Lawley says they salvage motors from washing machines like Whirlpool.  He claims they have made over 1,000 successful installations of its micro-hydro devices.
 
Lawley says his own home and company has been “power bill free” for 11 years.  He wants to put his devices to work for US homes bordering streams and rivers. 

This micro-hydro device can be of great help for people living in remote areas far away from the electric grid. 

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