Copenhagen

The green laundry is a communal laundry in a non-profit housing department for 1.600 people. The laundry was renovated in 2000, and designed as a “green laundry”. The idea is to collect, cleanse and reuse all wastewater from the washing machines for new washes, in order to reduce water consumption and to avoid outlet of sewage. Also, rainwater is being collected and used for washing.
The wastewater is cleansed biologically, including an aquarium and a “marshland” with fish and turtles. This serves as an exhibition on the water circuit, especially for children. Furthermore, use of renewable energy has been included in the laundry. Due to this concept, the laundry received massive – and generally positive – attention from the media, from environmental experts and from other non-profit housing associations. In 2002 the green laundry was evaluated, on environmental, social and economic issues.
It is important to notice, that the renovation consists of two parts: A “traditional” renovation of the laundry, where old washing machines, tumble dryers etc. have been changed with new and more efficient equipment – and a “green” (and more spectacular) part, which includes the recirculation of the waste water, stormwater collection and biological treatment of the wastewater.

sustainable consumption
energy efficiency
water management

to renovate the laundry in the
Folehaven housing department

non-profit association FB

residents

The project was financed by support from the Green Fund (a national fund), the Urban Ecological Fund in Copenhagen and Valby Bydel (a local council representing the district (Valby) where Folehaven is located)

The following elements have been included in the green laundry:
• A biological treatment plant and a storm water collection,
• Heating of the washing water with the district heating’s return water from the apartments of Folehaven,
• Change of energy supply from electricity to gas (for tumble dryers and rotary ironers),
• Ventilation with heat recovery and solar heating,
• Solar cells to produce power for pumps etc.
The environmental goals of the laundry were defined as:
• Not use water from the waterworks and to reuse the water from the washing machines,
• To avoid disposal of sewage
• That the water consumption should be reduced from 11.000 m3 to app. 500 m3 per. year, emissions of CO2 reduced to app 125.000 kg per year and use of soap reduced by app. 1/3. The soap can be reduced as the rainwater used for washing is
much softer (less concentration of chalk) compared to tap water, and therefore requires less soap. This would result in savings on app. 0,5 mill. DKr per year (app. 70.000 € per year).
• To visualize the possibilities to care for the environment, and to include the residents in the establishment of the green laundry.

Mrs. Bettina Fellow, 3B
Mr. Villy Sørensen, the estate committee in Folehaven

PETUS project
http://www.petus.eu.com/ (Accessed July 29, 2009)