Queenstown Laundromat

This Queenstown laundromat is leading the way in sustainable laundry practices by utilising STIEBEL ELTRON heat pumps to heat a significant portion of its water. The industrial washing machine requires a higher temperature for the washing cycle, so a booster tank with electrical elements was set up to raise the water temperature to 65°C. Although gas was initially planned for the dryers, the owners' decision to opt for heat pumps to produce hot water was very forward-thinking.

Initially, the plan was to install 4 x STIEBEL ELTRON WPL 25 AC (60 kW total) heat pumps, but due to insufficient power availability, only 3 x STIEBEL ELTRON WPL 25 AC could be installed. As a compromise, a gas boiler was set up to heat the booster tanks in addition to the electrical elements, although it had never been switched on. Therefore, the water is being produced without any fossil fuel boilers.

The laundry was commissioned in the winter of 2022, and the system was sized with a hot water demand of 800L per hour at 65°C, with 9 hours of daily operation. This led to a daily energy demand of 460 kWh and an annual demand of 115,000 kWh. The cost of producing hot water with LPG would be around $24,000 per year, with gas costing $0.21/kWh and the potential to rise in the future. Preheating the water with heat pumps and boosting it with electrical elements would result in annual savings of approximately $10,000, giving the owners the confidence to proceed.

Not only is the Queenstown Laundromat saving money, but its sustainable practices are also reducing its carbon footprint. Since the premises lacked a reticulated gas supply, this also meant fewer LPG bottle changes, as 45 kg bottles are used, requiring almost two bottles every 3rd day. The STIEBEL ELTRON heat pumps have proven to be a reliable and cost-effective solution for the Queenstown Laundromat and a testament to their commitment to sustainable practices.