Solar power runs 'world's largest laundry'

[Sven77]

Solar power runs 'world's largest laundry'

By MICHAEL TARM, Associated Press Writer Sun Jul 30, 3:00 PM ET

BERWYN, Ill. - One of Tom Benson's claims to fame, proclaimed in five-foot-high letters across his storefront, is that he owns the "WORLD'S LARGEST LAUNDROMAT" — complete with 153 washers, 148 dryers and 15 flat-screen TVs.
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But that's not the claim that excites advocates of renewable energy. It's that, perched atop the hangar-sized facility in this working class Chicago suburb, is one of the largest, most cost-effective solar systems in the country.

Scaling a ladder to the scorching roof one recent morning, the 61-year-old beamed with pride as he showed off the 36 10-by-4-foot panels that supply his 24-hour laundry with hot water.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060730/ap_on_sc/solar_laundromat_1

[Redstone]

1. Damn, wish I could afford one for my house.

When they get PV down to a dollar a watt, I'm in no matter what.

Redstone

[proud patriot]

2. Me too

just as soon as I can I will put solar on my house .

[benburch]

3. This isn't PV

This is solar hot water, and you can already afford this for your home if you choose.

[Redstone]

4. Already have it. What I REALLY want to do is generate electricity. We

tried to buy some land with running water so I could do microhydro, but were unable to find any. So it's PV or nothing here.

Redstone

[benburch]

5. You need more than a few feet of head for microhydro.

I did the calculations and there are just not all that many places where you can make it work.

You need either a small flow and a large head, or a large flow and a small head.

[Redstone]

7. I had a large flow and some good head. A fourteen-foot-high dam.

But we got outbid for the property. Damn.

And you know, there are some generators that use boat propellors attached to an alternator that can produce juice as long as the flow of the stream is about at a brisk walk.

The Pelton wheel isn't the only way to go.

Redstone

[benburch]

8. Right!

But power is always directly proportional to head times flow. No matter what sort of generator we are talking about.

[Redstone]

10. Yes, Newtonian physics trumps all. Still, it was a delicious dam with

plenty of flow, and that 14 feet of head. I'd have done well with it. Probably been able to power every house around the pond that it dammed.

Redstone

[benburch]

11. 14 feet with a good flow does indeed power a house fine. nt

[nam78_two]

6. kick

[BadgerKid]

9. Mmmm..free donuts/pizza & other links

Very cool concept.

http://theallineed.com/news//0606/06144252.htm
http://www.eere.energy.gov/state_energy_program/project_brief_detail.cfm/pb_id=485
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/04/worlds_largest_3.php
http://dandmequipment.com/stores.htm
http://steelturman.typepad.com/thesteeldeal/2006/06/laundry_can_be_.html