Energy Consumption

The largest energy consumers in the laundry are the hot water heater and the drying tumbler. Energy is about 15% of the cost to operate your laundry. But there are some simple methods for reducing energy consumption. Water heating expenses can be cut simply by reducing the water temperature with temperature controlled fills.

However, the greatest energy consumption improvements can be found in decreasing drying time. Drying tumblers account for nearly 70% of all energy consumption in the laundry. Managers must venture beyond manufacturers’ rhetoric to find tumblers with designs that balance heat, tumble action and airflow. Drying efficiency is best delivered through this balance. Design features such as tighter tolerances, which force hot air through linens, versus around them, reduce drying times. Fast drying times and lower Btu consumption save energy.

Higher extract speeds in the washer extractors are an easy way to trim drying times before loads even make it to the tumbler. Extraction speed is measured in G-Force, with the optimum speed being 300 G-Force. While some machines boast speeds near 400 G-Force, the extra water removed is barely more than the 300 G-Force models. However, when comparing low priced, 86 G-Force washers and 300 G-Force washers, the water removed can reduce drying time by 30%. Super-high G-Force (300) is the single greatest factor in reducing energy consumption in a laundry.