Bicycle Washing Machine on Campus

A few years ago, students in Suzanne Savanick Hansen’s class, “Sustainability and the College Campus” developed an idea for a bicycle-powered generator. The rider would pedal the bike and run a motor which would create electricity. This electricity would run into a battery and then through an inverter so that it could power common appliances. The idea became less feasible with all of the contingencies involved but the project was picked up again in October of 2018 with a specific goal in mind. Sustainability Office student worker Aaron Backs proposed to work on creating a sustainable washing machine. With this new idea, as the bike is pedaled, the drum in the machine spins and washes clothes inside. Aaron has worked over the passed year to make the washing machine possible, with the goal of introducing it to the Macalester community and possibly giving it a home in the EcoHouse.

written by Sustainability Office student workers Aaron Backs and Zella Lobo