Hello, would you please introduce Yirego to our audience?
Hi! My name is Megan and I represent Yirego. We are a Toronto-based household product design company geared towards creating sustainable solutions through unconventional designs. Our goal is to add convenience while reducing your carbon footprint.
What is Drumi?
Our first product, the Drumi, is a foot-powered washing machine that requires no electricity and minimal amounts of water. It holds around 4 pounds of clothing for one load. That measures to around 6 personal items, 3 sweaters, or 1 pair of jeans. It does not entirely dry the clothes, but spins the garments and leaves them a bit damp.
Where did the idea for a foot-powered washer and spin dryer come from?
The idea started when founder Yi Jiang moved into an apartment building and did not have access to private laundry. Instead, he had to use his building’s basement coin laundry. He found it very inconvenient and unhygienic. His breaking point was when a man next to him threw in muddy construction boots straight in to the washer. He used the idea for his thesis project for Industrial Design at Ontario College of Art and Design University. After graduating, he began pursuing it and developing the Drumi into what it is today.
What are some of the key features of Drumi?
What’s interesting about the Drumi is that it combines top loading and side loading technologies. It is easy to load, and the front-rolling drum aids in the best cleaning performance. Also, both lids serve double-purposes. The clear top lid also serves to measure 5 litres of water – the amount needed for a wash/rinse cycle. The lid for the drum also serves as a detergent tray. There are handles located on the side of the Drumi that allow for easy maneuverability.
How important is it to find innovations that can compete with energy hungry machines?
At Yirego we believe that reducing energy consumption can also add convenience in our user’s lives. The Drumi is not meant to entirely replace a full-size washing machine, but reduce the use of one. Exploring new ways to save on energy and carbon emmissions is very important to us.
Can the environmentally friendly nature of Drumi be measured?
The average full-size washing machine will consume approximately 50 liters of water (Energy Star machines will use closer to 30-35 L, non-Energy Star machines will use upwards to 75 L). Also, a full-size washing machine will use approximately 500 watts of power per load and emit around 10 pounds of carbon emissions weekly. By using the Drumi, you are reducing the use of a full-size washing machine, and actually reducing your carbon footprint by approximately 5-10 pounds weekly.
Can you tell us about the ‘potential to be made from 40% recycled material’?
We are currently looking into different ways that we can make the Drumi as sustainable as possible, and we are exploring new materials.
Would Drumi be beneficial to households in emerging nations?
While the idea came from Jiang seeing a problem with the laundry process in urban areas, the Drumi is ideal for developing countries. There are many areas in the world where water and electricity is scarce and the Drumi is a great alternative to hand washing. As we have been going viral, we are seeing a huge demand for the Drumi in emerging nations.
Who would most benefit from Drumi?
The Drumi caters to a very wide audience. While originally made to benefit students and young families who live in urban areas, many people in the developing world would benefit greatly. Those who live off-grid lifestyles and rely on hand washing would also be very thankful to have a Drumi. That’s the great thing about the Drumi; it fits in with every lifestyle!
We’ve seen that Yirego have won some awards, would you like to tell us about these?
We placed 2nd in the 2013 OCADU Imagination Catalyst “Take It To The Market” pitch competition, won Best in Category for the 2013 Rocket 12th Annual Design Competition, the 2014 Best Canadian Design by the Canadian Design Resource, and the Grand Prize in the 2013 Sustainable Design Awards.
Do you consider yourself a sustainable business, and is that important to you?
At Yirego, sustainability and user experience are our core values. We strongly believe that user experiences can be increased along with sustainable designs.
In terms of money saved versus conventional washing machines, could you estimate how long Drumi would take to pay itself off?
For those who use public coin laundry facilities, they will see a 100% return on investment in a year. The user is saving money on both water, time and energy costs. Public laundry facilities cost approximately $2.50 per load and private laundry will cost around $1 per load.
Where do you see Drumi in five years time?
We aim to have the Drumi distributed internationally within 5 years. Seeing as though the Drumi is the kick-off for Yirego, we also have future products under way which we plan to put on the market!
Go here to watch Drumi in action
Go here to learn more about Drumi