Post by clean on Jun 6, 2006 11:18:15 GMT -8
World's Largest Laundromat runs on solar power
by Mira Oberman
1 hour, 42 minutes ago
The most popular feature of the self-proclaimed World's Largest Laundromat is not the massive machines that wash eight loads at a time. It is the aviary.
The 12 finches, two miniature doves and a yellow canary flirt and flitter in a cheerful glass-encased pen next to the coin machines.
Some of the older women in this suburb of Chicago will stop by to watch them even when they have no laundry to do.
"There's babies being born in there all the time," said owner Tom Benson, 61, who bought the laundromat in 1999. "Customers just beg me for a chick."
But while the aviary and perks like free coffee and donuts may be the secret to the laundromat's popularity, the secret to its financial success is the banks of solar panels on the roof.
Benson figures the 36 panels save him about 2,000 dollars a month in energy costs by shouldering the bulk of the work of heating the water for his 157 washing machines, which run 24 hours a day.
"It's such a good idea business-wise and conservation-wise that they should make it the law," he said.
The panels have also provided a lot of free advertising. The lieutenant governor of Illinois attended the laundromat's reopening ceremony after a fire in January to celebrate the largest solar water system in the state.
"Developing 'All-American energy' sources creates jobs for Illinois workers in emerging technologies," Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn said at the time. "Let's declare ourselves independent of foreign potentates by making a long-range commitment to 'All-American' energy sources such as wind and solar."
The panels have also attracted the interest of local television news stations and even The New York Times newspaper.
A bone of contention, however, is whether it really is the world's largest laundromat.
"It's a silly debate but the name creates the debate and I wouldn't get the publicity if I didn't have it," Benson said.
There is a store in Colorado that has more machines -- about 400 to Benson's 301 -- but Benson has nearly twice the size with 13,500 square feet (1,254 square meters).
And it is the extra square footage that allows for the amenities which make his store so much more than a place to clean clothes.
There are pinball machines, a play area for children, a snack spot with vending machines packed with treats popular with his largely Hispanic customers, flat-paneled televisions tuned to Spanish-language soap operas and even a lovely mural adorning the wall of "restaurant-style" toilets at the back.
Wednesdays are typically slow in the laundry world, but Benson draws customers with free pizza nights where about 150 to 175 people make their way through 35 pizzas. Sundays -- the busiest laundry day -- attract enough people to consume some 15 dozen free donuts.
Benson has also hosted immunization drives and sponsored community projects like a read-to-ride program which encourages children to read over the summer by raffling off a bicycle.
"It's a focus within the community and I think we play a significant role in the community," he said. "It's a place people come as families. I think people feel very comfortable here."
Anel Gonzalez, 36, appreciates the treats like cake on Mother's Day. With three children, she is at the World's Largest Laundromat two or three times a week and uses six machines a visit.
"I like coming here to see the birds," she said as she folded a massive stack of blue jeans. "It's very beautiful... and very clean."
news.yahoo.com/s/afp/afplifestyleus;_ylt=AjMYaRIYTzqsqyyM1LN0fgUDW7oF;_ylu=X3oDMTBhcmljNmVhBHNlYwNtcm5ld3M-
by Mira Oberman
1 hour, 42 minutes ago
The most popular feature of the self-proclaimed World's Largest Laundromat is not the massive machines that wash eight loads at a time. It is the aviary.
The 12 finches, two miniature doves and a yellow canary flirt and flitter in a cheerful glass-encased pen next to the coin machines.
Some of the older women in this suburb of Chicago will stop by to watch them even when they have no laundry to do.
"There's babies being born in there all the time," said owner Tom Benson, 61, who bought the laundromat in 1999. "Customers just beg me for a chick."
But while the aviary and perks like free coffee and donuts may be the secret to the laundromat's popularity, the secret to its financial success is the banks of solar panels on the roof.
Benson figures the 36 panels save him about 2,000 dollars a month in energy costs by shouldering the bulk of the work of heating the water for his 157 washing machines, which run 24 hours a day.
"It's such a good idea business-wise and conservation-wise that they should make it the law," he said.
The panels have also provided a lot of free advertising. The lieutenant governor of Illinois attended the laundromat's reopening ceremony after a fire in January to celebrate the largest solar water system in the state.
"Developing 'All-American energy' sources creates jobs for Illinois workers in emerging technologies," Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn said at the time. "Let's declare ourselves independent of foreign potentates by making a long-range commitment to 'All-American' energy sources such as wind and solar."
The panels have also attracted the interest of local television news stations and even The New York Times newspaper.
A bone of contention, however, is whether it really is the world's largest laundromat.
"It's a silly debate but the name creates the debate and I wouldn't get the publicity if I didn't have it," Benson said.
There is a store in Colorado that has more machines -- about 400 to Benson's 301 -- but Benson has nearly twice the size with 13,500 square feet (1,254 square meters).
And it is the extra square footage that allows for the amenities which make his store so much more than a place to clean clothes.
There are pinball machines, a play area for children, a snack spot with vending machines packed with treats popular with his largely Hispanic customers, flat-paneled televisions tuned to Spanish-language soap operas and even a lovely mural adorning the wall of "restaurant-style" toilets at the back.
Wednesdays are typically slow in the laundry world, but Benson draws customers with free pizza nights where about 150 to 175 people make their way through 35 pizzas. Sundays -- the busiest laundry day -- attract enough people to consume some 15 dozen free donuts.
Benson has also hosted immunization drives and sponsored community projects like a read-to-ride program which encourages children to read over the summer by raffling off a bicycle.
"It's a focus within the community and I think we play a significant role in the community," he said. "It's a place people come as families. I think people feel very comfortable here."
Anel Gonzalez, 36, appreciates the treats like cake on Mother's Day. With three children, she is at the World's Largest Laundromat two or three times a week and uses six machines a visit.
"I like coming here to see the birds," she said as she folded a massive stack of blue jeans. "It's very beautiful... and very clean."
news.yahoo.com/s/afp/afplifestyleus;_ylt=AjMYaRIYTzqsqyyM1LN0fgUDW7oF;_ylu=X3oDMTBhcmljNmVhBHNlYwNtcm5ld3M-