Sunshine Laundry has been serving people in Southwest Washington since the early 1970s. When owner Peter Ammentorp bought the Battleground laundromat in 2011, he was well aware he inherited a retro time capsule. “The dryers were olive green and the only thing that was missing was shag carpet,” he joked.

Determined to modernize, Ammentorp renovated the space and eventually expanded to three additional locations. His goal was simple: create efficient, welcoming laundromats that offered not just clean clothes, but cleaner air and a better experience for customers. After years of equipment upgrades, he turned his attention to the next challenge – lowering energy use while maintaining performance.

That’s when he discovered ozone laundry systems.

Cold water, hot results

Ozone laundry systems use ozone gas to clean and disinfect laundry, allowing clothes and linens to be washed in cold water with less detergent. The result? Fresh, sanitized loads that save energy, reduce chemical use and extend fabric life. It’s an especially smart upgrade for facilities that handle large volumes of laundry.

After researching the technology for years, Ammentorp finally found the right supplier, and an opportunity to make it more affordable. “When I realized Energy Trust of Oregon offered an incentive, it suddenly became a real possibility,” he said.

As a NW Natural customer, Sunshine Laundry qualified for cash incentives from Energy Trust for making energy-efficient equipment upgrades. With $60,000 in Energy Trust cash incentives, Ammentorp installed an ozone system in 2023 at his Battleground location and more recently at his Vancouver location. He reprogrammed the machines for cold-water cycles, lowered the water heater temperature settings and added signage to help customers understand how ozone cleaning works.

Fresh, clean clothes meet savings

The results from the new ozone laundry systems were immediate. “My first month’s gas bill dropped by as much as $600. That’s a big deal for a small business,” Ammentorp said. “I didn’t realize how much of a savings it was going to be.” The upgrades are expected to save over $92,000 in energy costs each year.

Customers noticed the difference, too. Clothes came out fresher, even stubborn items like pet bedding smelled cleaner than before and the machines themselves stayed odor-free. Ozone systems also reduce wear and tear on clothes since they eliminate the need for hot water.

“Hot water destroys clothes. It just tightens the fibers, and they become more brittle,” said Ammentorp. “I’ve had people come in and I’ll see them firing up hot water. I’ll tell them to run their load on cold with the ozone system. I tell them if their clothes don’t come out smelling good, I’ll refund their money and I’ll rerun it on hot. But no one’s ever asked for that refund.”

A win for businesses and customers

Beyond energy and maintenance savings, the system helps Ammentorp keep prices steady for his customers. “I don’t have to raise prices just to maintain my business,” he said. “It’s a cost savings for customers—they’re getting better quality laundry, and their clothes will last longer.”

Saving energy keeps costs down for customers but it also helps with the laundromat’s bottom line.

Ammentorp adds: “There are opportunities out there to improve efficiency,” he said. “You’ve just got to be willing to look and learn.”

Customers of NW Natural in Washington may be eligible for cash incentives for upgrades like ozone laundry systems. Explore available cash incentives or email us at existingbuildings@energytrust.org.