It's no big secret that your clothes dryer uses a significant amount of energy. In fact it's second only to the refrigerator in terms of energy inefficiency. However, Hydromatic Technologies Corporation, the creators of the Dryer Miser, hope to change that with new technology that can dry clothes up to 41 per cent faster than a conventional dryer and uses 50 per cent less energy. You don't even have to replace the entire appliance - the Dryer Miser works with your current machine simply by having the $300 retrofit kit installed by a professional.

The technology used to accomplish this feat is actually a liquid. The Dryer Miser's copper and aluminum system heat a non-toxic hydrocarbon-based oil that mixes with hot air blown into the clothing drum section of the dryer. The non-combustible system also reduces the risk of a fire and will reduce energy costs in the home, as well as its most obvious feat - lowering the impact drying clothing without eliminating the convenience of using a machine to do it.

The product is not yet sold, but Hydromatic president Michael Brown hopes it could be available to the public as early as this fall and if successful, could pave the way for the first dryer given Energy Star approval. This is only the first step toward energy-efficient dryers for Brown: it is his goal to eventually see his work on an off-grid, solar-powered dryer come to fruition.

That's some great news: if the Dryer Miser is available this fall, consumers can utilize it all next winter. It's a win-win situation: you're reducing energy in the home at a time when energy usage and the resulting costs go through the roof due to colder weather. By initially investing the $300 in the conversion kit, not only are you preserving the environment, but you're saving money in the long run.

» Dryer Miser (Official Site)