A clothes dryer with a fridge built in
Appliance maker Whirlpool displayed something called the HybridCare Heat Pump Dryer. It doesn’t have an air vent. Whirlpool also claims it is 73% more energy efficient than comparable dryers. The ventless feature is made possible by the unit’s incorporation of a refrigerator in its base — the condenser coils are barely visible through the front window of this partially cutaway dryer that was at the Whirlpool booth. Hot air from the dryer gets routed past the fridge and then through a dehumidifier before being reintroduced into the drying compartment. The only output from the appliance is a drain hose for the moisture condensed out of the dryer air. However, the ventless dryer will also set buyers back to the tune of $1,699. But Whirlpool says utility rebates for energy efficient appliances can bring that price tag down by about $600.
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