Our Environment - Committed to a Sustainable Future

Laundries by their very nature are large consumers of water and utilities. Over 150 billion gallons of water is used annually by commercial, industrial, and coin laundries within the United States. With growing awareness of environmental concerns, all of us must search for ways to reduce our environmental impact. As a company, WSD is committed to helping our customers reduce the environmental impact of their operations. Changing to sustainable practices is not just good for the environment, but will also reduce your utility expenses and enhance your bottom line. WSD provides the latest in commercial laundry advances and technologies to allow you to market your "green friendly" business.

Energy Saving Tips

Energy costs continue to escalate. To reduce consumption, consider the following:

• Daily removal of all lint from exhaust ducts, exhaust duct makeup air devices and combustion burners
• Capturing waste heat BTU's from hot water discharged directly to the sewer
• Capturing waste heat from water heaters, dryers, boilers or the devices currently exhausted directly to the atmosphere
• Staging laundry to assure that all laundry is processed according to the type, load size, color and soil content to maximize equipment capacity
• Maximize the moisture removal from linen through high extraction to reduce drying times
• Treat and/or reuse water in the washing process. Consider Milnor's trademark PulseFlow and RinSave technologies
• Determine if operating the laundry during non-peak hours can earn incentives from the local utility company
• Add frequency inverters or purchase inverter-driven equipment to reduce peak electrical demands
• Insulate hot water tanks and hot water lines with new higher R-factor insulation
• Inspect compressed air lines and eliminate air leaks throughout the laundry
• Repair any water leaks in all of the processing equipment
• Contact commercial lighting companies that specialize in low-energy/high-efficiency commercial lighting solutions

Plate/Frame or Tube/Shell Type Heat Exchangers

• Recapture and reuse heat from hot water discharged to the sewer

Shaker Screens

• Start of the Art screening equipment to meet your volume liquids-solids separation requirements. Reduce the solids being discharged to the sewer.

Direct Contact Water Heating

• By “over-cooling” exhaust gases, high-output heating systems provide near 100% energy use efficiency when heating high volumes of water

Gas-Stack Economizers

• Recapture the energy and heat being exhausted to the atmosphere by your steam boiler or hot water system.

Waste Water Treatment Recovery and Recycling

• Water is a natural commodity that is limited. Most water districts are increasing commercial water rates annually. Additionally, wastewater districts are limited on the type and amount of wastewater discharged from laundries. Within the last few years, many water/wastewater districts have increased rates substantially. Most districts invoice water on a cubic foot basis, ie. 748 gallons equals 100 cubic feet.
• Existing laundries are mandated to reduce water and wastewater. New facilities are faced with huge impact fees. These fees are required to pay for the capacity of new laundries that discharge into the sewer system. Western State Design is familiar with all systems that reduce water consumption.
• Laundries should minimize all incoming water. Accomplishing reduction of water usage will reduce costs. After minimizing all incoming and wastewater, the next solution is to pre-treat and reuse water within the processing formulas. Often, wastewater districts require wastewater treatment prior to discharge into the system.

Press/Centrifuge Water Capture and Reuse

• Captures and directs maximum reuse of a Tunnel Washer press or centrifuge water discharge.

Rinse Water Reuse

• Stainless steel tanks, pumps and, smart-therm controls recapture rinse water from washer-extractors for temporary storage and reuse. Reuse up to 30% of rinse water.

Advanced Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) Systems

• Prepare your waste discharge to meet the requirement of the local municipalities by removing solids and dissolved solids from the waste water flow to the sanitary sewer. This process reduces waste water surcharges.

Ceramic Element Filtration (CEF) Systems

• These systems provide filtration/recycling technology capable of filtering liquids to the submicron level. Systems effectively clarify to a significant degree a host of liquid streams high in COD/BOD, TSS, TKH, OSE and other insoluble or suspended materials. Additionally, clarification will occur with some soluble matter. Systems are capable of recycling up to 80-90% of waste water flows in specific applications.

Continuous Batch Washer Tunnel Systems

• Continuous Batch Washer Tunnel Systems utilizing Pellerin Milnor Corporation's new PulseFlow® Technology can reduce water consumption by up to 75% compared to conventional systems. This revolutionary new design for the 30-year-old CBW® tunnel concept still employs True Top Transfer washing, but also involves enhanced water flow and reuse. After months of testing and research by a third party, it was announced that PulseFlow Technology not only met industry standards, but exceeded them across the board. The Hohenstein Institute awarded Pellerin Milnor their Certificate of Innovation, confirming that a PulseFlow tunnel can effectively wash light to medium soil in 0.3-0.45 gallons/lb. of fresh water.

Front-loading Washers

• Modern front-loading, high-efficiency washers can reduce water consumption by up to 50% compared to older top-loading washers.
• Let your customers know that new machines wash effectively in either cold or warm water - hot water is only necessary for heavily soiled items.
• It is most economical to wash a full load of clothing, not just a few items.

Dryers

• Keep lint traps clean for more effective air circulation.
• Clean your dryer vents regularly to lessen drying times and decrease carbon dioxide emissions.




Thinking of purchasing new equipment? Energy Rebates may be available.