Coin Meter Company Blog

2011-05-17T11:42:00.000-07:00

I would like to say that I am very pleased with the Coin Meter Company. The installation of the new dyers and washers was fast and only had a small impact on our residents. I was very pleased with the presentation by Susan Sabala to our residents. She was very kind as well as informative and explained the new system very well (moving from coins to the card payment system). The service team was very fast and responsive to any requests made our office or a resident...sometimes coming to our property in a few hours after the call was made. I really appreciate such fast and professional yet personal service Coin Meter provides. Thank you very much for all your assistance and we look forward to working with at our property.

Lindsey Fry
Housing Authority of Portland

Folding Clothes

2011-03-03T10:32:00.000-08:00

The perfect way to fold your clean clothes...

Can you do it?

College Students: How they are moving our industry forward

2011-02-24T14:35:00.000-08:00

College students have proven to be a wild card when it comes to expectations from their living situations. It's not their fault though. They are always at the forefront of technology and expect that everything they come in contact with to be the same. They want to play their iPod in their car, watch TV on their cell phone, have a GPS in their music player. And they want internet. All the time and everywhere.

The great thing about this generation, is that you can communicate with them on many different platforms. Property management companies are learning that they are going to have to be more innovative and creative in their communication. Although it may seem difficult to figure out what they want, it's not! They want what is cool and different, and to feel like they have an intimate connection with every person and business they come in contact with. Social media is what can bridge this gap. MHN Online explores a company called Campus Advantage in a report called "Student Housing, A Different Kind of Property." Campus Advantage has found ways to engage and communicate with college students on Facebook and other social network sites, to figure out what it is they want from a housing unit.

One very important utility that college students have insisted is a necessary for their living situation is explored in the article called "Internet Is the New ‘Location’ in Student Housing." MHN Online looks at students' expectations for internet availability in their apartment complex. They want to know if you provide internet and don't want to pay for it if you do. This is a generation that grew up online, downloads their class syllabus from a website, has classroom discussions in an internet forum, and not to mention the wild addiction to social networking. Having access to internet is described in this article as more of a necessity than running water to these residents.

At Coin Meter Company, we have not only recognized this demographic's dependence on internet and their cell phones, we've learned how wireless they really are. Our company is operated on quarters and this particular resident runs on their credit card. Not only is it hard for them to find quarters, they really don't want to. Can you blame them? So in order to meet the needs of this market, our company is now able to offer smart card systems to our college clients, and with this comes a wide variety of options!

OneStop Add Value Stations: This system accepts credit/debit cards and cash to add value to a resident's laundry card. No quarters needed!

Code Based Revalue: Residents can add value to their smart chip laundry card via RevalueMyCard.com or use their cell phone to add value to their cards!

WaveRider Laundry System: This innovative system is wireless and cashless. A simple swipe of their credit/debit card right at the laundry machine and residents can take care of their laundry needs instantly. With this system residents can also monitor the availability of laundry machines online before leaving their apartments.

This market will always be changing, may never be satisfied, and we all may spend a lot of time and money to keep up with them. However, it's proven that this demographic is recession proof... so there is value in giving them what they want!

How Do We Create More Jobs for Oregonians?

2011-02-17T14:56:00.000-08:00

It's no secret that Coin Meter Company prides itself on being a locally grown Oregon company. However, Coin Meter was started 40 years ago and the Portland market has become a very different one for startups. One thing we can't ignore, is that Portland's economic health isn't going to get better without creating an environment that welcomes startups and companies who are interested in relocating here. The Portland Business Alliance recently held a Jobs Summit that created an action plan for our community to "create a vibrant and prosperous regional economy that generates family-wage jobs and sufficient tax revenues to support critical public services." This action plan outlines short and long term goals and ways to measure if these goals our met. The plan is designed to support the residents of Portland we have now, and to encourage the prospect of Portland being a key building block in a company's structure. Our company sees the value of growing a community from within, reaching out to other entities to show them what a great place Portland is to run a business, and that we have the personnel here to sustain a company for 40+ years!

The Portland Business Alliance Jobs Summit action plan can be found here.

Click here to read why Jive Software moved it's headquarters from NYC to Portland.

A testimony to our service...

2011-02-08T12:11:00.000-08:00

"When it comes to Coin Meter’s response and professionalism to any problems I have with their machines it’s just perfect. I cannot remember the last time that I had to wait more than 24 hours to have somebody come out, if not the same day. That 24 hours depends … if the work order comes in toward the end of the day. If the work order comes in the morning they are usually there by noon or 1:00 taking care of the situation."

- Dan Addis, The Morrison

Laundry 101: How to properly use a dryer

2011-01-20T12:19:00.000-08:00

We had a resident chat with us about a common issue laundry users have: how much of my washed clothes can I load the dryer with?

A Speed Queen frontloading washer has a stainless steel tub with an 18lb capacity. Comparatively the Speed Queen single dryer also has an 18lb capacity, although it appears to be bigger. The reason for this is because clothes need space in the dryer to tumble and get dry. If you pack your dryer with several loads of wet clothes, a few issues may occur:
- Your clothes won't get dry
- They will come out wrinkled and damp
- You will end up spending more money on another dry cycle
- Packing your clothes in the dryer is a common way that dryer fires start

So be safe and smart, and let the dryer do it's job!

Water Costs in Portland-- How do we rank?

2011-01-17T11:44:00.000-08:00

How Portland ranks (Statistics From The Oregonian)

The city’s average monthly combined sewer/water bill is the fifth-highest among the nation’s 50 most populous cities. Separated, Portland ranks No. 4 by residential sewer charges and No. 18 by water rates.

1. Atlanta: $154
2. Seattle: $135
3. San Francisco: $108
4. San Diego: $93
5. Portland: $92
6. Boston: $88
7. Honolulu: $85
8. Austin, Texas: $78
9. Virginia Beach, Va.: $76
10. Colorado Springs, Colo.: $68
Source: Black & Veatch Management Consulting

How can you help decrease your water bill? Common area laundry rooms use 330% less water than in unit machines. It has been described as the easist way to cut your utility bill.

Too Much Detergent Might Be Your Problem

2010-12-23T11:14:00.000-08:00

Americans have a problem...oversudsing. It's that moment when you have something that is so dirty and smelly that you are positive that half a cap of soap just won't do the trick! What you might not know is that filling the soap cap to the top is not only damaging your clothes, you're killing your washer! Don't believe us? The Wall Street Journal explored this topic in "The Great American Soap Overdose."

Keep Up to Date on Portland Businesses

2010-12-07T13:31:00.000-08:00

As a fellow locally owned Portland business, Coin Meter Company likes to keep up to date on other local businesses and how our community continues to grow. Check out Neighborhood Notes, a website designed to keep us informed on our neighborhoods in Portland. It not only covers business news, but events, culture, food & drink, home & garden, style and local news. Check out the business section of the website here.

Did You Know?

2010-10-12T10:31:00.000-07:00

Apartment communities can save 330 percent more water, equating to a savings of 8,216 gallons of water per year per unit, by utilizing a common-area laundry room instead of an in-unit washing machine?

Learn more about water conservation and common area laundry rooms at Laundrywise.

Do Residents Prefer Cards Over Coin?

2010-09-20T15:28:00.000-07:00

Do your residents think it's a pain to find quarters? This one does!

Luckily Coin Meter Company now offers a wide variety of card systems for your convenience. Let's give our residents what they want! Click here to learn more about our card systems.

Water Saving Practices in Multifamily Housing Units

2010-09-14T15:31:00.000-07:00

"In-unit laundry washers use an average of 11,810 gallons of water annually; equipment in common-area laundry rooms uses an average of 3,595 gallons a year per apartment. This is a 3.3 to one ratio."

Water is becoming a scarce resource in the world and eventually in the United States. Multifamily properties are large contributors to excessive water consumption. This article explains the economical and financial advantages of green practices and water conservation to multifamily properties, including switching to a common area laundry room.

Click here to access article.

Front Load Efficiency Study

2008-08-19T12:51:00.001-07:00

City of Portland Washer Efficiency Study
A recent study conducted by the City of Portland's Office of Sustainable Development, in collaboration with the Portland Water Bureau, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, Oregon Department of Energy, and Coin Meter Co.

The study result at a glance: Average WATER Savings from Front-Load Washers:8 gallons/load $0.01/load (includes sewer)

FRONT LOADING MACHINE DISADVANTAGES"Front loading machines often require more maintenance. One of the advantages of front loading units is that they need less detergent. However, communicating this fact to users can be difficult and detergent overloading is common which leads to oversudsing. Too much detergent will clog fill lines and render the washer inoperable leading to user complaints. This in turn leads to additional service calls to repair the unit."

"Another challenge with front-loading machines is that, by the nature of their design, the loading door must lock after the machine has filled with water. Opening the door after it has filled will result in water spilling out of the unit (Top loaders can be opened at any time during the washing cycle). Sometimes the door will be forced open so that a missed item can be included in the wash. This action allows water to discharge to the floor creating a hazard and requires the door to be repaired.""The front-loading door swings open out over the floor area. In doing so, any residual water left on the door can potentially drip off onto the floor creating a hazard."

Developer reaps savings on sewer access charges with Common Area Laundry Rooms

2008-01-11T12:04:00.000-08:00

Green Advantage: Common area laundry rooms on water conservation and building ”green”. Steve Minn - principal of Lupe Development Partners, Minneapolis

Minn has embraced the concept of building “green”. He has incorporated common area laundry rooms into the new Stone Arch Apartment complex. By including this water saving amenity, Minn qualified for a 20 percent discount on sewer access charges from a regional waste treatment organization. Like many other developers, Minn has taken advantage of not only green building credits, but also provided a conservation opportunity for both the property owner and residents at the Stone Arch Apartments.
“We estimate that our buildings use about 70 percent less water than those buildings having in-unit laundry options”, said Minn. The Stone Arch Apartments uses this water-saving effort as a marketing tool to prospective residents concerned about conservation.
View this beautiful property with many amenities – including central laundry rooms at: http://www.stonearchapartments.com/

Do 'Green' Appliances Live Up to Their Billing?

2008-01-11T11:54:00.000-08:00

The Wall Street Journal
Energy-Efficient Devices Flood Market, but Some Owners Find Results Fall Short of Promises
By SARA SCHAEFER MUÑOZ
August 2, 2007

Amid concerns about energy consumption, Americans are increasingly encouraged to buy energy-efficient appliances. But while some of the latest products can offer significant energy and water savings, they can be double the price -- or have kinks that can result in clothes and dishes needing to be washed twice.

While most energy-saving appliances perform well, some can pose problems. For example, many consumers don't know they need to use high-efficiency soap or half the amount of regular detergent with front-loading clothes-washers.... Regular detergent creates extra suds in this type of washer, and is tougher to rinse. Also, the machine senses the suds and uses extra water, offsetting savings.

Environmental advocates point out that the biggest energy sucks aren't washing machines and dishwashers. Many consumers don't realize that an energy-guzzling plasma TV can off-set the energy-savings of kitchen appliances. A conventional TV consumes about 130 watts of power per hour, while a 42-inch plasma consumes more than twice as much, or around 350 watts per hour, according to Tom Reddoch, manager of energy use for the Electric Power Research Institute, a Palo Alto, Calif., nonprofit organization that promotes the adoption of energy-efficient practices. And one of the largest energy-savings measures is replacing light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, which use about 75% less energy than standard bulbs.

Energy-efficient builders and energy-saving advocates advise that if people want to upgrade to energy efficient appliances, they should focus first on refrigerators, because unlike a dishwasher or clothes washer, they run all the time.

Green Isn't Clean in the Laundry Room

2007-06-02T13:26:00.000-07:00

Monday, May 21, 2007
Science
Green Isn’t Clean In the Laundry Room
By John Tierney
Tags: behavioral economics, cars, energy
In the battle against global warming, there is no more beloved phrase in Washington than “energy efficiency.” Mandating energy-efficient appliances costs nothing in the budget and sounds painless to voters. Who could be in favor of energy inefficiency? Congress is working on legislation now to tighten standards further — and touting all the money that consumers will save.
But if these efficient appliances are such a great deal, why do people have to be forced to buy them? The usual justification is that consumers are too shortsighted to factor in the energy savings — and you can support that with theoretical arguments from behavioral economists. People can indeed make dumb short-term decisions about long-term investments.
But when it comes to picking washing machines, it looks as if consumers are less shortsighted than the energy experts in Washington. Thanks to new federal standards, washing machines are using less energy — but as a result they cost more and clean less, as Consumer Reports concludes in its new issue:
“Not so long ago, you could count on most washers to get your clothes very clean. Not anymore. Our latest tests found huge performance differences among machines. Some left our stain-soaked swatches nearly as dirty as they were before washing. For best results, you’ll have to spend $900 or more.”
In the battle against global warming, there is no more beloved phrase in Washington than “energy efficiency.” Mandating energy-efficient appliances costs nothing in the budget and sounds painless to voters. Who could be in favor of energy inefficiency? Congress is working on legislation now to tighten standards further — and touting all the money that consumers will save.

But if these efficient appliances are such a great deal, why do people have to be forced to buy them? The usual justification is that consumers are too shortsighted to factor in the energy savings — and you can support that with theoretical arguments from behavioral economists. People can indeed make dumb short-term decisions about long-term investments.

But when it comes to picking washing machines, it looks as if consumers are less shortsighted than the energy experts in Washington. Thanks to new federal standards, washing machines are using less energy — but as a result they cost more and clean less, as Consumer Reports concludes in its new issue:
Not so long ago, you could count on most washers to get your clothes very clean. Not anymore. Our latest tests found huge performance differences among machines. Some left our stain-soaked swatches nearly as dirty as they were before washing. For best results, you’ll have to spend $900 or more.
Which is precisely what Sam Kazman of the Competitive Enterprise Institute predicted six years ago when the Bush administration enacted the new efficiency standards with promises that new technology would clean clothes better and save money. Mr. Kazman forecast dirtier clothes and pointed out the dubious assumptions in the cost calculations, but he was no match for the coalition of environmentalists and manufacturers eager to mandate expensive new machines.
Mr. Kazman and CEI are now urging consumers to register their displeasure by sending their underwear to the Department of Energy. But it would take a lot of underwear to prevail against the forces on Capitol Hill currently working to impose still higher energy-efficiency standards on washing machines and other appliances — and on the biggest target of all, the automobile.
When the federal government imposed automobile fuel-efficiency standards three decades ago, the unintended consequence was an additional 2,000 deaths annually as a result of downsized cars, according to the National Research Council. As Congress debates new fuel-efficiency standards for cars, some engineers say that safety problems can be overcome with new technology.
But I’m skeptical. Sure, there’s better safety technology today, but rigid standards can force engineers to make compromises, and every dollar invested in fuel economy is one less dollar to invest in safety. I think a gas tax is a far better way to save energy — quicker and more efficient — than rules mandating what kind of automobiles can be built.
If you disagree, here’s a question from Mr. Kazman for you to answer: “If the feds can mess up something as simple as washing machines, why trust them with cars?”

Washers & dryers
Dirty laundry

LUXE LAUNDRIES Kenmore’s Laundry Plus coordinating accessories include a storage bin and a folding surface. But $500 to $560 for just those add-ons is pricey.
Not so long ago you could count on most washers to get your clothes very clean. Not anymore. Our latest tests found huge performance differences among machines. Some left our stain-soaked swatches nearly as dirty as they were before washing. For best results, you’ll have to spend $900 or more.What happened? As of January, the U.S. Department of Energy has required washers to use 21 percent less energy, a goal we wholeheartedly support. But our tests have found that traditional top-loaders, those with the familiar center-post agitators, are having a tough time wringing out those savings without sacrificing cleaning ability, the main reason you buy a washer.On the other hand, dryer technology hasn’t changed much in the last 10 years. Plus dryers tend to outlast washers. That’s why we offer buying tips and highlight only dryers that combine performance, value, and reliability instead of showing full Ratings.Today most top-loaders only get a good washing score, and some had the lowest scores we’ve seen in years. One washer, with an overall score of 19 (out of 100) is one of the lowest-scoring washers in this and past reports. Several major manufacturers are meeting the new energy standard by lowering wash water temperatures. But doing this often lowers the washing performance.Top-loaders without agitators, often called “high-efficiency” or HE models, work somewhat like front-loaders, filling partially with water and spinning at very high speeds. While some match front-loaders’ washing ability, our tests have found those HE washers are less energy- and water-efficient than front-loaders. And Kenmore’s and Whirlpool’s HE washers, a sizable share of the market, haven’t been as reliable as their regular top-loaders. At $900 to $1,000, HE top-loaders are as expensive as front-loaders. For all of those reasons, none of our Quick Picks are top-loaders. More news:
More features and style. To soften the blow of higher prices, manufacturers have added special settings such as Bedding and Active Wear, which minimize sorting. Whirlpool and Kenmore have added coordinating accessories such as storage drawers that fit under or between the washer and dryer and countertops that fit over them. Also upping the “wow” factor are curved fronts, glass tops, and colors such as midnight blue, deep red, and champagne. But if you’re on a beer budget, you might balk at the extra $100 to $200 color adds to cost.Rough tumbles. Front-loaders have typically been gentle on clothes in past tests, but three models scored only a fair in gentleness. Longer wash cycles--almost double that of their predecessors--could be the cause.HOW TO CHOOSEConsider replacing your washer or dryer when a repair will cost more than half the price of a comparably equipped new appliance. Our repair data also show that it often doesn’t pay to repair any dryer or top-loading washer that’s more than six years old or any front-loading washer that’s more than seven years old.Weigh cost vs. cleaning. Most front-loaders offer superior performance and efficiency. Better moisture extraction on the spin cycle also means shorter drying times. But at $900 or more, those machines are not for every budget. Bypass high-efficiency top-loaders. They’re as expensive as front-loaders, but usually not as efficient or reliable. Conventional top-loaders are the least expensive and have shorter cycle times but are mediocre at washing. To offset their so-so performance, try some of the tips offered in Doing It Right on the facing page.Location is critical. As laundries migrate closer to living spaces, noise and vibration matter more. Look for machines with very good scores for noise, and end-of-cycle signals that can be turned off or down, so as not to disturb the household. Top-loaders tend to make noise throughout the wash cycle. Front-loaders are quieter overall but make a high-pitched sound and vibrate during spin cycles.Weigh the features. Auto temperature control balances hot with cold water, giving you consistent water temperatures every time you pick a setting. Automatic dispensers release detergent, bleach, or fabric softener at the right moment. All front-loaders automatically set correct water levels. Extra spin cycles don’t extract much additional water. In general you probably don’t need more than four to five wash cycles, including heavy duty, normal, delicate, and whitest white. A feature that’s nice but not necessary: a porcelain top, which is more scratch-resistant than a painted one.Use CR’s efficiency Ratings. The estimated annual energy cost on the yellow EnergyGuide labels can be misleading because it doesn’t take into account how much water the washer spins out of a load. The wetter the laundry, the more time and money it will take to dry. Though Energy Star designations are a better measure, our efficiency Ratings are more detailed.

Check warranties. Many manufacturers have shortened warranties in the past 18 months. Most now cover parts and service for only one year from purchase. Nevertheless, we don’t recommend buying an extended warranty. Our survey data show that major appliances usually don’t break within three years, and when they do, repairs on average cost about the same as the extended warranty. Check whether purchasing the appliance on your credit card extends the manufacturer’s warranty.Skip the matching dryer. You’ll save hundreds by purchasing one of our Quick Picks instead. Remember there’s no need to replace a working dryer. But if yours is broken, look for a dryer with a moisture sensor. Those automatically shut off the machine when laundry is dry, so they use less energy and are easier on clothes.

A New Regulatory Wringer: Kazman, Lieberman NY Post Op-Ed
by Sam Kazman and Ben Lieberman
April 23, 2001

Published in The New York Post
April 23, 2001

They’ll save us trillions of gallons of water and billions of dollars on our energy bills. They may cost more, but their lower operating costs will more than make up for it. They're supported by an alliance of both manufacturers and conservationists, and on April 12 the Bush administration gave them its formal approval.

They're the new generation of high-efficiency clothes washers, and they're so good that federal law will now force consumers to buy them.

If that last wrinkle makes you doubt the hype about these new machines, you're not alone. A dozen-plus organizations, among them senior citizen and consumer groups, had asked the Department of Energy (DOE) to reconsider the regulation mandating the washers.

The rule, which will take effect over the next six years, will supposedly increase clothes washer efficiency by 35 percent. New sensors will monitor the machines' use of hot water, and faster spin cycles will wring out more moisture from laundry before it's dried. The new machines will cost more, of course - about $670, compared to the current average of $421. DOE estimates that this price hike will be fully offset by the machines' higher efficiency within five years of purchase.

But that depends on some very questionable assumptions. DOE used an extremely high estimate of more than seven laundry loads per week per household, yet a Mercatus Center survey found that less than a third of US households do this much laundry.

More dubious still is the assumption that these new models will be as reliable as the time-tested machines they'll replace. Consumer Reports regularly warns against newer, "ultra-high efficiency" major appliances - because they tend to be trouble-prone.

Sears recently recalled 25,000 of its new high-efficiency Calypso washing machines because of a safety problem. And those new sensors don't work all that well; the latest issue of Consumer Reports finds that, for dishwashers, the "least energy-efficient models tended to be those with dirt sensors"!

The new rule is likely to restrict the availability of low-priced top loading clothes, replacing many with European-style frontloaders. Yet many people hate bending down to load laundry, and like being able to quickly open a machine in mid cycle to add a misplaced sock. Low-income families will also lose out, given their difficulty financing the new washer's higher prices.

Why did the Bush administration OK this rule? Well, it was already being painted as anti-environment for opposing the global warming treaty and reopening the Clinton rule on arsenic in drinking water. The science behind those initiatives was weak, but the administration may nonetheless have wanted to do something green.

Then, too, industry actively supported the clothes washer standard. The manufacturers likely see these high-tech models as the key to higher profits - but if they'd gotten together on their own and agreed to offer only these new washers, both the public and the Justice Department's Antitrust Division would be up in arms. Instead, they helped fashion a law that wipes out low-priced competition.

When industry teams up with regulatory advocates to create a legal lock on the market in the name of serving the public, people had better start counting their silver. In this case, they better start counting their socks as well.

Sam Kazman and Ben Lieberman are attorneys with the Competitive Enterprise Institute in Washington.

Copyright 2001 NYP Holdings, Inc.

Send Your Underwear to the Undersecretary
Dennis R. Spurgeon, U.S. Undersecretary of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20585
by Sam Kazman
May 16, 2007

Top-loading laundry machines have long been a low-priced, dependable home appliance. But no more—the federal government has wrecked them with its energy-efficiency regulations.

That’s the finding of the June 2007 issue of Consumer Reports. In its words: “Not so long ago you could count on most washers to get your clothes very clean. Not anymore. …What happened? As of January, the U.S. Department of Energy has required washers to use 21 percent less energy, a goal we wholeheartedly support. But our tests have found that traditional top-loaders … are having a tough time wringing out those savings without sacrificing cleaning ability, the main reason you buy a washer.”

Some of the top-loaders tested had “the lowest scores we’ve seen in years.”

In fact, out of the 21 new top-loader models that Consumer Reports tested, it couldn’t pick a single one as a “Best Buy”: “[F]or the first time in years we can’t call any washer a Best Buy because models that did a very good job getting laundry clean cost $1,000 or more.”

Government mandates for higher efficiency are almost always accompanied by claims that the higher prices they cause will be more than offset by their alleged savings from lower energy costs. But that raises a fundamental question—if these new technologies are so good, then why do we need laws to force consumers to buy them?

In fact, efficiency mandates often flop, and in some cases they flop disastrously. Government fuel efficiency rules for cars, for example, already contribute to thousands of deaths each year due to vehicle downsizing. Many people dislike compact fluorescent bulbs for perfectly valid reasons, but there is now a push to mandate their use by banning incandescent bulbs.

The risks of the laundry washer rules were pointed out long ago. But despite the fact that these problems have now developed, Congress may well boost efficiency requirements once again—not just for washers (as if they haven’t done enough damage already) but for cars, trucks and a huge range of appliances and machinery.