Will People Buy Solar Clothes Dryers?

Its carbon footprint is zero. It doesn't use any electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, or propane. It eliminate static cling, saving the expense of dryer sheets. It costs almost nothing to purchase. It's relatively easy to install. It requires little maintenance.

It's the solar clothes dryer (i.e., the clothes line).

And only the most extreme environmental zealots will willingly trade their gas or electric dryer for a clothes line.

Despite the clothes line's many benefits, the clothes line falls short in one critical area. It's less convenient. It's much less convenient.

Many people prefer green products and companies when all else is equal. Fewer will pay a slight premium for green products and companies without other benefits. Fewer still will pay a significant premium. The funnel narrows further when the green product or company is less convenient, no matter the costs and benefits.

This is why bottle water continues to take up an entire aisle in the grocery store. It's why people drive to work rather than bike or take mass transit (mass transit's only preferred when it's more convenient). It's why people run their air conditioners when it gets hot.

It still makes sense to market and sell green. Customers want green and you should always market and sell things customers want. Duh.

Just remember, most people value convenience more than they value "greenience." People may want to be environmentally responsible. A lot of people may even be willing to pay a premium to be green, but only when it's not inconvenient.