By Deanne Revel
Students living on campus probably have used one of the new LG laundry machines in residence halls, a part of the Bee Clean Campus Laundry initiative.
“The new machines support the university’s sustainability goals by being more energy efficient than the old machines,” said Michelle Eversoll, SCAD’s director of auxiliary technologies.
The new front-load washers save water for the school, but also money for students.
The old washing machines held 12 pounds of laundry and used 30 gallons of water. The new machines hold 20 pounds of laundry and use 15 gallons of water.
The cost to wash or dry one load of laundry remains $1, so students can wash more laundry for their money.
“My bag was completely filled and I managed to fit everything into one machine,” said Hannah Pierce, a first-year industrial design major from Kauai, Hawaii. “I wasn’t able to fit this much into it before.”
Some students are excited for new laundry facilities, regardless of the additional features.
“There were occasions where they [the old machines] wouldn’t wash your clothes,” said Andrew Howard, a first-year sound design major from Cape Elizabeth, Maine. “One time I put my clothes in and they weren’t clean, just soaking wet, which was a waste of money.”
“I’m just happy they work more consistently,” said Ben Claycamp, a fourth-year visual effects major from North Potomac, Md.
Students also save money because the new front-load washers require less soap per load.
Students save time, too. The new machines spin out more water during the final spin, so clothes are less wet at the end of a cycle, which means clothes require far less drying time.
The new laundry facilities, per a suggestion from the United Student Forum, come with LaundryView.
“Laundry is something no one wants to do so, if you make it interactive, it’s fun,” Eversoll said.
LaundryView texts or e-mails students information about the wash status of a particular machine or machine availability for specific residence halls so students can minimize wait time.
Every residence hall has LaundryView except for Forsyth House, Pulaski House and Abercorn Terrace. SCAD plans to add this feature to these halls by the end of the calendar year.
Bee Clean Campus Laundry plans to host one reduced priced laundry weekend per quarter. These Bee Clean Wash Weekends will charge only 25 cents per wash or dry.
