With another cold and wet winter looming having warm, and more importantly dry, clothes, towels and other garments is more important than ever. For most businesses, this requires some kind of dryer machine, its not like you could put a clothesline up on the top of your hotel or hospital! However running a dryer constantly can be expensive, and all that power usage can have a serious impact on your commercial laundry systems' carbon footprint.
Whether you are trying to make a difference, or just looking to save some power costs, here are our tips on how to reduce your commercial laundry carbon footprint.
This one might seem simple, but drying full loads of laundry reduces the number of loads you need to dry and, in turn, reduces the amount of energy and time used. We aren't saying you should never do half loads, sometimes emergencies happen. But from a sustainability perspective, full loads are much more efficient.
Be careful not to overload your dryer too! If the machine is too full the linen in the middle will not get adequate airflow for evaporation. Your dryer will have recommendations on appropriate loads, likely in the product brochure. You should follow these - they are the result of thousands of hours of testing.
Doing things right at the washing stage can also have an impact on the efficiency, and therefore sustainability, of your drying. If your laundry is not properly washed, either because it is still soiled, or was not spun fast enough to get the moisture out, it can dramatically increase the time needed to dry your garments.
Alternatively, you could introduce something like dryer balls to your drying process. These woolen balls get placed into the dryer with your wet garments, and will absorb some of the moisture much faster than the airflow from most dryers.
In addition to drying full loads, you should ensure that you are drying similar types of garments to maximise your heat efficiency. Different garments require different heats to properly dry, so a mixed load will typically require far more heat than likes. Here are our general rules for drying temps; (You should consult the washing information on each garment before washing, there are exceptions!)
Low heat
Medium heat
High heat
Make sure to carefully watch your drying temperatures, after all, no-one enjoys a crispy linen shirt that got bundled in with the towels!
This is where commercial laundry machines truly shine. High-efficiency commercial dryers use far less energy per kg than household machines. Speed Queen commercial laundry dryers also feature Quantum controls, which provide features such as low power mode/ automatic shutdown, moisture sensors, as well as offering many customisation options for dryer temperature and duration. A more modern machine will be far more efficient than one that is 15 years old! Get in contact with one of our specialists for more information.
While a commercial machine may require a larger upfront investment, in money, time, and even space, their superior ROI and sustainability will more than make up for it. More efficient drying, and less replacements and breakdowns will help you make a difference to the environment, one cycle at a time.
Lastly, some simple and regular dryer maintenance will not only extend your machine's life, but also increase its efficiency! The key part is checking its venting and lint filter for obstructions. Much like a smoker's lungs, a dryer with lint in its filter will struggle to operate properly and will take far longer to dry clothes than it should. If you'd like to find out more about why this happens, check out our article. Your lint filter should be checked regularly, but the commercial dryers air filter and vents should only need to be cleaned once or twice a year!