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October-November 2005
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CAMPUS NEWS |
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Students Wash Away Old Laundry Problems with High-Tech E-Suds  Remember the days of lugging your over-stuffed hamper and heavy bottle of detergent to the opposite end of the hall only to find that every washer and dryer was in use? AU students will never have to worry about such a scenario again. This fall, AU began using technology to its fullest by implementing e-Suds, a laundry service provided by USA Technologies that electronically monitors the status of each washer and dryer in every residence hall on main campus and at Tenley. Students simply go to the e-Suds Web site to check the status of or time remaining on any machine. “If all the machines on my floor are in use, I can check online to see if the second or third floor machines are available,” says Kogod and SPA sophomore Megan Schultz. “I love the convenience and not having to guess if a washer or dryer is open.” Between writing a report, grabbing a bite to eat, and being distracted by friends, students often forget that they began a load of laundry. For this reason, e-Suds also gives students the option to receive an e-mail notification when a specific machine has finished its cycle. Each laundry room received a facelift this past summer with new floors, lighting, and fresh paint. In addition, facilities were equipped with brand new washers and dryers, supplied by Virginia-based Caldwell and Gregory, Inc., winner of the Maytag Commercial Laundry Red Carpet Service Excellence Award in 1992, 1999, 2000, and 2004. The on-campus hype about the new machines isn’t just from the aesthetic appeal of dent-free washers and dryers that don’t shake wildly during use, either. All of the 279 new washers and dryers are designed to be earth-friendly, saving 18 gallons of water per load. They are also bigger to accommodate more clothes. In fact, two separate washer loads can fit in one dryer; and after the hour cycle, every article of clothing is surprisingly hot, and completely dry. “The new machines are much more efficient,” says SIS sophomore Michael Bouffard. “They clean and dry clothes more thoroughly and require less detergent than the old ones.” One more bonus: there’s no need to keep rolls of quarters handy. Like AU’s old system, e-Suds operates solely on EagleBucks. USA Technologies estimates that approximately 120,000 students at more than 10 U.S. colleges have access to e-Suds this fall. Some universities using the laundry service include: Carnegie Mellon, Rutgers, Case Western Reserve, and the University of Cincinnati. Now if only there were a machine that would fold and bring your clothes to your room for you... -Tara
Shlimowitz '08 |