www.americanlaundrynews.com
August 2024 • Volume 50, Number 08
The Newspaper of Record for Laundry & Linen Management
How sustainable practices can transform laundries
1974 - 2024
The missing piece is finding the right partner that offers all the services and support you need (Photo: ©Aukidonphoto@hotmail.com/Depositphotos)
BY ARVIN VOHRA
W
e hear about environmental friendliness and energy efficiency across the business landscape and everyday life (just look at the high-efficiency label on your home washing machine). Every industry recognizes the value of sustainability for cost savings, increased efficiency, and responsible stewardship— but laundry businesses face unique challenges. Let’s explore how to navigate the path
to sustainability and transform your laundry operations.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY CHALLENGES FOR LAUNDRY COMPANIES
The most significant energy efficiency challenges for laundry companies usually fall into two buckets: optimizing existing systems and technologies and installing new equipment to offset consumption. You can deploy holistic solutions to achieve your operational goals. Efficiency Solutions—Solving for sustainability comes down to balancing two things: conservation (using less energy) and efficiency (using equipment more efficiently). If we look back, LED lighting was the trailblazer for efficiency, but laundries have more opportunities to choose from today. High-performance industrial laundry machines run long hours, using substantial electricity and power. With the right improvements, a business can boost sustainability and safety, reduce power usage, enhance work conditions, and improve quality control. Additionally, investing in solar energy can offset electricity consumption. Rooftop solar installations offset up to 50% of electricity consumption per year, and some states offer incentives to fund these projects. Solution Spotlight—Because Cintas handles delicate products, energy efficiency is vital—from using the best equipment to reducing energy consumption. So, Cintas partnered with Redaptive to retrofit 115 of its 475 locations—7.2 million square feet—with LED lighting on its way to hitting net zero by 2050. The project yielded outstanding results, including:
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• $2.2 million annual gross savings. • An 18.7 million annual decrease in kilowatt-hours. • An annual decrease of 7,000 tons of CO2e. By partnering with Redaptive, Cintas improved its lighting efficiency and elevated morale and safety by providing work environments that help employees focus. Funding Solutions—Customized financing programs give you the resources to tackle large efficiency projects with best-in-class partnerships and interim funding. The right partner can support energy efficiency upgrades across your laundry business, such as: • Energy-as-a-Service Solutions: For lighting, HVAC, equipment upgrades and alternative power generation. • Equipment Financing: Traditional leases and loans for new and used equipment. Avoid large capital outlays, access multiple funding mechanisms and bypass hidden costs with usage-based, savingsbased or fixed-payment funding options. Data Collection—Leverage energy data to enhance sustainability reporting and performance analysis. By leaning on expert tools and partner support for reporting, your laundry business can dig into utility data for metered assets, compare performance with industry benchmarks, report Scope 1 and 2 emissions, and more. Plus, it’s easier to: • Monitor progress. • Identify efficiency opportunities. • Assess a project’s environmental
See Sustainable on Page 6
LATE NEWS Horsley promoted to VP operations at ALM RICHMOND, Ky. — The Association for Linen Management (ALM) reports Christina Horsley has been promoted to the position of vice president of operations. Horsley has been a member of the ALM team since 2012, previously serving as director of education and events. In this role, she successfully managed the Laundry & Linen College and notable events such as IMPACT, consistently delivering exceptional results, the association shares. She brings nearly 30 years of experience in association management to her new role with a history of building and leading teams that significantly enhance member experience and value. Throughout her tenure at ALM, particularly during the transition to new leadership, ALM says Horsley has demonstrated her ability to contribute positively to her areas of responsibility while showcasing skills beyond her initial scope. In her new capacity as vice president of operations, Horsley will take on a more strategic role, overseeing all aspects of internal operations to ensure alignment with the strategic goals set by the Board of Directors. “As I step into this new role as vice president of operations, I am excited to further contribute to ALM’s mission,” says Horsley.
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