INITIATIVE | 080 At Shaw, we're looking hard at the way we do things in order to increase our efficiencies and lessen our burden on the planet. We're investing in long-term sustainable solutions as we continue to make small adjustments to the ways we work.
In the continuous dyeing process, carpet is rinsed with water that is heated in a gas fueled water heater to 140 degrees. Waste water is then collected and treated for reuse. Incoming water has to be reheated from around 65 degrees to the required 140 degrees so the process can begin again.
In an effort to make this process more efficient, Shaw has installed a Heat Recovery unit that transfers heat from the outgoing water to the incoming water. The heat exchanger heats the incoming water to 110 degrees – requiring only an additional 30 degree increase. What this amounts to is an annual fuel consumption reduction of up to115 billion Btu per plant. That's enough energy to fuel 2,800 households for an entire year!
Shaw currently has three facilities that are using the Waste Water Heat Recovery system, with plans to add the system to five other facilities in 2007. We're saving energy with every degree, and helping the planet as a result. That's a great Shaw Green Edge® solution.
