A National Study ofLaundry-Water Use in Multi-HousingA Comparison of Use by Residents with In-Apartment Washers and Residents with Common-Area Laundry RoomsMARCH 2001NATIONAL RESEARCHCENTER, INC.prepared byBoulder, ColoradoTable of ContentsPAGEEXECUTIVE SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1Results of the National Laundry-Water Use Study . . . . . .2Study Background and Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2Estimated Laundry-Water Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2Metered On-Site Laundry-Water Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3FIGURE 1: Average Metered On-site Laundry-Water Use per Apartment Unit per Week (Gallons) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3FIGURE 2: Metered On-Site Laundry-Water Use per Apartment Unit per Week (Gallons) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Adjusted Laundry-Water Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3FIGURE 3: Days and Numbers of Residents Away from Home During Study . . .3FIGURE 4: Average Percent of Laundry Done On and Off Site . . . . . . . . . . .4FIGURE 5: Average Total Laundry-Water Use per Apartment Unit per Week On and Off Site (Gallons) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4FIGURE 6: Estimated Total Laundry-Water Use per Apartment Unit per Week (Gallons) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4FIGURE 7: Metered On-Site Laundry-Water Use per Apartment Unit per Week (Gallons) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4FIGURE 8: Estimated Off-Site Laundry-Water Use per Apartment Unit per Week (Gallons) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Study Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Site Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5TABLE A: Characteristics of Selected Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Monitoring Washing-Machine Water Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Machine Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Metering the Machines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Residents’ Self-Reported Questionnaires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6TABLE B: Mailing and Response Characteristics of Selected Sites . . . . . . . .6Data Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7National Research Center, Inc. was contracted to conduct a national study comparing laundry-water use rates of apartment residents whose buildings have common-area laundry rooms with use rates of apartment residents whose buildings have laundry facilities in each unit.From September to December 2000 laundry-water use was calculated in part using watermeters attached to 191 in-unit washing machines and 50 common-area washing machinesin 8 apartment buildings matched for quality and size in 4 cities across the U.S. Resultswere adjusted to reflect residents’ self-reports of off-site use during the study period.Despite similarities in resident and apartment characteristics at all sites, residents ofapartment buildings with in-unit laundry facilities and residents of apartment buildingswith common-area laundry facilities had markedly different laundry habits overall, as well as at each of the four study sites. Residents with in-unit washers used 3.9 times more water to do their laundry on site as did their counterparts in buildings with common-area laundries.After adjusting for self-reported off-site laundry use and averaging figures for all fournational sites, the study revealed that residents of apartments with in-unit laundry facilities used 3.3 times more water for laundry (on and off site) than residents in apartments utilizing common-area laundry facilities. The average washing-machine wateruse on and off site for residents with in-unit laundry facilities was 227 gallons per unit perweek, while the average washing-machine water use on and off site for residents withcommon-area laundry facilities was 69 gallons per unit per week.Executive Summary 1Study Background and MethodsNational Research Center, Inc. (NRC) is one of theleading survey-research and strategic-planning teamsin the United States. Its principals have more than 20 years of experience in critical areas such as water use and conservation, transportation, and land use. They are the authors of Citizen Surveys: How to Do Them, How to Use Them, What They Mean,published by the International City and CountyManagement Association, and of numerous articlesabout survey-research methods, social science, andhealthcare outcomes.National Research Center, Inc. was contracted toconduct a national study comparing laundry-wateruse rates of residents of apartment buildings havingcommon-area laundry rooms (and no in-apart-ment laundry facilities) with laundry-water userates of apartment residents whose buildings hadlaundry facilities in each unit, but no common-arealaundry rooms.Included in the national study were apartment resi-dents in four states: California, Georgia, Oregon andTexas. In a large city in each state, two apartmentbuildings were selected—one with …
View Full Document
Unlocking...