Reduction of Water and Energy use in laundry
operations at
A Major Aged Care Services Provider
Prepared By
Manu Bandara
manu@ozonelaundry.com.au
www.ozonelaundry.com.au
6th January 2014
Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................................... 2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................................................ 3
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................. 4
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ENVIROSAVER – OZONE LAUNDRY DISINFECTION ................................................................ 5
SCOPE OF THE PROJECT....................................................................................................................................... 6
SITE DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................................................................... 7
METERING PROCESS ........................................................................................................................................... 9
METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................................................... 11
DATA RECORD ................................................................................................................................................ 14
RESULTS ESTABLISHED FROM THE DATA SET ............................................................................................................ 16
COMPARISON OF INITIAL PROPOSALS TO METERED VERIFICATION .......................................................................... 17
ROI SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................ 20
BACTERIA ENUMERATION TEST RESULTS ............................................................................................................... 21
WASH QUALITY................................................................................................................................................. 22
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................................ 23
1
Executive Summary
This document provides information on a project undertaken by Laundry Solutions
Australia (LSA) and the outcomes.
In brief;

Washing machines were fitted with Water and Electricity meters to measure water
and electricity usage for 4 weeks.

EnviroSaver – Ozone Laundry Disinfection system was installed after this initial
period.

Water and Electricity consumption was recorded for a further period of 4 weeks
and comparisons were made to find out whether EnviroSaver –Ozone Disinfection
System can help the user to achieve their environmental sustainability goals and
reduce economic impact.

Results revealed by investing on the proposed roll-out of EnviroSaver, ACSAG can
achieve annual

Water cost saving - 51%

Sewage cost saving - 51%

Electricity cost saving - 89%

Natural gas cost for hot water – 93%

Green House Gas reduction – 89%

Return on Investment – 14 Months
And
2
Introduction
At present most of the laundries meet AS4146/2000 standard by way of thermal disinfection whilst
some laundries have been using disinfection by Ozone. Whilst it is known that the thermal
disinfection process that is used widely consumes large amounts of energy, economic benefits
of existing Ozone laundry systems have not been evaluated.
Laundry Solutions Australia was afforded the opportunity to engage in project results verification
on their proposal for EnviroSaver – Ozone Laundry Disinfection as they offer a positive outcome
to the user.
The initial proposal was based on Laundry Solutions’ standard calculations based on industry
knowledge.
The main features of the proposal were:
EnviroSaver is an ozone washing technology designed, manufactured and supported by
Laundry Solutions right here in Victoria, Australia.
EnviroSaver produces the following positive outcomes:

Saves up to 49% water and drainage costs

Saves over 40% gas

Saves up to 84% electricity

Reduces the carbon footprint of your laundry by up to 70%

Meets the Australian Standards of Laundry AS4146-2000

Failsafe System – ensures disinfection before proceeding

The only method to kill MRSA and Staph bacteria other than using high
temperature
3
Brief Description of EnviroSaver – Ozone Laundry Disinfection
EnviroSaver is the Ozone Laundry Disinfection technology designed, manufactured and
supported by Laundry Solutions Australia. All Research and Development, Design and
Manufacturing of systems is carried out at our Head Office in Mitcham, Victoria.
What makes Ozone effective in laundry?
Ozone (O3), sometimes called ‘activated oxygen’, contains three atoms of oxygen rather than
the two atoms we normally breathe.
The third oxygen atom of ozone makes it extremely reactive. This makes it the second most
powerful disinfectant in the world. Ozone attacks most organic soils and kills bacteria 3200 times
faster than chlorine bleach.
When used in a laundry application ozone disinfects the wash water and everything in the wash
water.
Normal Bacteria Cell
Ozone Molecules attacking the cell wall
Bacteria Cell disintegrates
4
Scope of the project
Scope of the metering process is to verify the savings proposed as mentioned below

Saves up to 49% water and drainage costs

Saves over 40% gas

Saves up to 84% electricity

Reduces the carbon footprint of your laundry by up to 70%

Meets the Australian Standards of Laundry AS4146-2000

Failsafe System – ensures disinfection before proceeding
5
Site Description
The selected user operates its Low and High care facilities in two sites. Each has its own Laundry
catering 60 low care and 60 high care residents in each facility.
Low Care Laundry:
This laundry is equipped with an IPSO WE73 (7.5Kg Washer) and an IPSO WE165 (16.5Kg Washer).
Ecolab supplies the laundry chemicals through the Navigator Solid system.
A 34Kg IPSO DR75 dryer heated by natural gas is being used for drying.
6
High Care Laundry:
This laundry is equipped with an IPSO WE165 (16.5Kg Washer) and an IPSO WF165 (16.5Kg
Washer). Ecolab supplies the laundry chemicals through the Navigator Solid system.
1 x 34Kg IPSO DR80 dryer and a Solaris SL50 23Kg dryer, both heated by natural gas are being
used for drying.
7
Metering Process
In order to isolate the usage of water each washer was required to be installed with 2 x Cold
water meters and 1X hot water meter for each inlet.
Water Meter installation:
8
Washing machines are powered by 3 phase 32A per phase. In order to measure the electricity
usage each machine requires a meter monitoring each phase and indicating total energy
usage per machine for a given period.
Electricity Meter installation:
Clip-on measuring
mechanisms and
data transmitter.
Receiver and
storage of electricity
usage data
LSA visited the verification site every week to make sure all meters were working and also water
and electricity meter readings were recorded for analysis.
Number of wash loads have been established by analyzing the electrical usage patterns
throughout the metering time frame.
9
Methodology
The method of arriving at the usage data for comparison was done in three stages.
Stage 1
1.) Before the installation of the EnviroSaver – Ozone Laundry Disinfection system
a. Establishing water and electricity usage data that can be isolated to each washer
b. Establishing the hot water volume that is used during the measuring period and
then calculating the heating energy value based on the hot water system that
supplies hot water to the Laundry and the kitchen
c. Establishing the number of wash loads that have been processed during the
measuring period
2.) Calculate the Water, Electricity and Gas usage per Kg of washing
Stage 2
1.) Installing the EnviroSaver Units on each washing machine
2.) After the installation of the EnviroSaver - Ozone Laundry Disinfection system
a. Establishing water and electricity usage data that can be isolated to each washer
b. Establishing the hot water volume that is used during the measuring period and
then calculating the heating energy value based on the hot water system that
supplies hot water to the Laundry and the kitchen
c. Establishing the number of wash loads that have been processed during the
measuring period
3.) Calculate the Water, Electricity and Gas usage per Kg of washing
Stage 3
1.) Compare and establish the difference in usage
10
Installation of EnviroSaver
After the initial metering of Water and Electricity, EnviroSaver Ozone Laundry Disinfection units
were installed at both Low Care and High Care laundries. Planning and care was taken to
minimize the disruption of the laundry operation.
New Wash programs have been installed which are in line with the pre-EnviroSaver programs.
Therefore, change of operator behavior is very minimal.
Low Care laundry after EnviroSaver - Ozone Laundry Disinfection units installed
11
High Care laundry after EnviroSaver - Ozone Laundry Disinfection units installed
12
Data record
Water, Electricity and Gas Usage - Pre EnviroSaver
Washer 1
Date
25/10/2013
4/11/2013
11/11/2013
18/11/2013
25/11/2013
Loads
Cold Water
Hot Water Hot Water
Cold Water
Electricity
Volume
Volume
Usage per
Usage per Kg
units Kw/h
Litre
Litre
Kg
31
89
65
64
66
7660
19416
14571
13311
12884
15
13
14
13
12
3327
4820
2489
3482
3377
7
3
2
3
3
64.689
161.89
152.182
523.1
639.72
Electricity
Water usage
Usage Per
per Kg
Kg
0.126
0.110
0.142
0.495
0.587
21
17
16
16
15
Washer 2
Date
25/10/2013
4/11/2013
11/11/2013
18/11/2013
25/11/2013
Loads
Cold Water
Hot Water Hot Water
Cold Water
Electricity
Volume
Volume
Usage per
Usage per Kg
units Kw/h
Litre
Litre
Kg
35
84
60
58
58
3140
11979
8472
8359
9023
12
20
19
20
21
742
2489
2010
1928
3377
3
4
5
5
8
26.973
85.312
66.87
271.88
343.74
Electricity
Water usage
Usage Per
per Kg
Kg
0.106
0.139
0.153
0.642
0.812
15
24
24
24
29
Washer 3
Date
25/10/2013
4/11/2013
11/11/2013
18/11/2013
25/11/2013
Loads
Cold Water
Hot Water Hot Water
Cold Water
Electricity
Volume
Volume
Usage per
Usage per Kg
units Kw/h
Litre
Litre
Kg
43
99
34
67
72
9304
20009
14229
18496
13863
13
12
25
17
12
2730
5625
3651
4131
3903
4
3
7
4
3
67.018
158.85
103.29
540.42
652.32
Electricity
Water usage
Usage Per
per Kg
Kg
0.094
0.097
0.184
0.489
0.549
17
16
32
20
15
Washer 4
Date
25/10/2013
4/11/2013
11/11/2013
18/11/2013
25/11/2013
Loads
Cold Water
Hot Water Hot Water
Cold Water
Electricity
Volume
Volume
Usage per
Usage per Kg
units Kw/h
Litre
Litre
Kg
37
90
92
71
76
8043
22507
40122
14910
17144
Average water usage per Kg
Average waste water volume per Kg
13
15
26
13
14
3258
8585
6041
5981
5712
5
6
4
5
5
57.6508
163.221
117.09
450.57
555.58
Electricity
Water usage
Usage Per
per Kg
Kg
0.094
0.110
0.077
0.385
0.443
19
21
30
18
18
20 Litres
18 Litres
Average Electricity usage per Kg
0.28 Kw/h
Average gas usage per Kg
1.41 Mj
13
Water, Electricity and Gas Usage - Post EnviroSaver
Washer 1
Date
2/12/2013
9/12/2013
16/12/2013
23/12/2013
2/01/2014
Loads
Cold Water Cold Water Hot Water Hot Water
Electricity
Volume
Usage per Volume
Usage per
units Kw/h
Litre
Kg
Litre
Kg
60
62
71
74
83
11766
10310
11523
9475
13734
12
10
10
8
10
281
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
50.36
46.68
47.54
53.62
59.83
Electricity Water
Usage Per usage per
Kg
Kg
0.051
0.046
0.041
0.044
0.044
12
10
10
8
10
Washer 2
Date
2/12/2013
9/12/2013
16/12/2013
23/12/2013
2/01/2014
Loads
Cold Water Cold Water Hot Water Hot Water
Electricity
Volume
Usage per Volume
Usage per
units Kw/h
Litre
Kg
Litre
Kg
62
60
63
74
77
6108
6690
7587
7837
8407
6
7
7
6
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
21.8
23.88
24.73
25.9
30.58
Electricity Water
Usage Per usage per
Kg
Kg
0.021
0.024
0.024
0.021
0.024
6
7
7
6
7
Washer 3
Date
2/12/2013
9/12/2013
16/12/2013
23/12/2013
2/01/2014
Loads
Cold Water Cold Water Hot Water Hot Water
Electricity
Volume
Usage per Volume
Usage per
units Kw/h
Litre
Kg
Litre
Kg
74
71
75
77
92
13615
12479
13624
13689
16588
11
11
11
11
11
216
0
69
0
0
3
0
1
0
0
27.31
22.84
24.2
11.3
44.12
Electricity Water
Usage Per usage per
Kg
Kg
0.022
0.019
0.020
0.009
0.029
14
11
12
11
11
Washer 4
Date
2/12/2013
9/12/2013
16/12/2013
23/12/2013
2/01/2014
Loads
Cold Water Cold Water Hot Water Hot Water
Electricity
Volume
Usage per Volume
Usage per
units Kw/h
Litre
Kg
Litre
Kg
71
69
74
77
77
13189
13429
12817
13504
16156
Average water usage per Kg
Average waste water volume per Kg
11
12
10
11
13
175
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
41.67
41.78
40.63
43.93
49.32
Electricity Water
Usage Per usage per
Kg
Kg
0.036
0.037
0.033
0.035
0.039
14
12
10
11
13
10 Litres
9 Litres
Average Electricity usage per Kg
0.03 Kw/h
Average gas usage per Kg
0.11 Mj
14
Results established from the data set
Water Savings
Waste Water Cost Savings
Electricity Savings
Natural Gas Savings
51%
51%
89%
93%
15
16
Bacteria Enumeration Test Results
AS4146/2000 standard for disinfection allows an aerobic bacterial plate count of less than 1
microorganism/cm2 by the contact plate method to meet the disinfection requirement within
health and aged care institutions.
A test swab was taken from an area of 10Cm2 from each washer at the end of the wash cycle
and sent to a NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia) accredited lab for
coliform analysis. According to the certificate of analysis which is appended below, there is no
coliform presence in the swabs taken.
17
Wash Quality
The intrinsic wash quality of laundry has remained unchanged. We have been able to maintain
the wash quality of laundry.
Below is an excerpt from an email conversation between the user and LSA which confirms the
wash quality has been maintained at the same level.
18
Conclusion and Recommendations
Three sets of information used in making an informed decision to invest in the EnviroSaver has
shown that the average savings proposed can be achieved as a minimum.
Within the current environment of regular increases in Water, Sewage, Electricity and Natural
Gas (also LPG) costs of laundry operations will keep increasing.
EnviroSaver system also reduces the environmental impact created by XXXXX aged care
facilities. This is in line with the corporate environmental sustainability strategy.
Therefore, it would be to the benefit of the user to roll out the EnviroSaver – Ozone Laundry
Disinfection system to all facilities at the earliest possible.
19