Dedicated to taking an active role in reducing its carbon emissions as well as saving costs, MTW Linen Services, a subsidiary of Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS, has reduced its CO2 emissions by 12.5% following the installation of Thermal Energy International’s GEM venturi orifice steam traps. In addition, the laundry has reduced its energy consumption by 12% and its water usage by a substantial 30%.
Prior to the installation, Mark Wildish, Linen Service Manager at MTW Linen Services, found that 10 of the laundry’s 62 steam traps were failing each year, necessitating their replacement at a cost of £3,500. Additional costs for labour to maintain and replace the traps amounted to a further £5,000 per annum.
“When the traps failed we were losing steam which was costing us money and in addition we were also having problems with the feed water”, said Mark Wildish.
A site survey was carried out and from these findings Thermal Energy International was able to calculate that by replacing the mechanical traps with the GEM venturi design, MTW Linen Services would be able to save £26,617 in energy and maintenance per annum alone, providing a short-term payback.