Sapulpa Solar-Powered Laundry Picking Up Steam

The use of solar power is developing more quickly on the west and east coasts, but it's picking up steam around here too.

Out in Sapulpa, one business is using the sun to help people dry their clothes by powering the dryers.

Up on the roof of Sapulpa Laundry, a series of solar panels collects enough of the sun's energy to power the equipment in the laundry down below.

Eric Davis owns the Sapulpa Laundry and decided last spring that the price of solar power had dropped enough that he could install a system.

So, the folks from Harvest Solar installed 60 panels. They produce 255 watts each, so, together, more than 15,000 watts; bottom line, it saves money.

"Right now we've cut utilities by about 60 percent," Davis said.

He's also installed a tankless water heating system that eh says is much more efficient and cost effective.

"That alone cut my gas bill by about $100 a month," he said.

It’s a big investment, but he figures it'll pay for itself in about seven years.

Davis has also converted the lighting to LED's which are brighter and more efficient - he thinks it may be safer too.

At any rate, he believes all the improvements have helped his business.

"I've noticed, here recently, we've got people from Tulsa and Broken Arrow driving over here," Davis said.

The solar experiment has been so successful they are planning to add even more panels to the system.