Small business conserves energy, saves money
Cleaner offers resource conservation tips at Everett demonstration site and tour
Even in a down economy, doing good things for the environment can do good things for your bottom line. That's
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Ernie Barbato receives a commendation on his resource conservation efforts from State Rep. Stephen S. Smith
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the conclusion at Mr. John's Cleaners in Everett, where an analysis of operations showed that reducing the business's environmental footprint also reduced operating costs. Ernie Barbato, owner of Mr. John 's Cleaners, investigated and implemented many improvements - some extensive, some nearly free - that have driven down costs while improving quality of service and winning new customers.
At a demonstration site and tour held on May 17, planners and local business owners heard about the many measures the owner took to reduce energy and toxics use, such as:
- a conversion from perchloroethylene-based dry cleaning to professional wet cleaning
- a boiler replacement that will reduce heating costs and pay for itself in less than four years
- equipment changes that reduce compressed air use by half
- installation of new lighting, pipe insulation, steam trap replacement
- changes to delivery vehicles to reduce fuel use up to 25%
Says Ernie Barbato of Mr. John's Cleaners: "I wish I knew then what I know now."
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Executive Housekeeping Today features article on the TURI Laboratory's testing program
The TURI Green Cleaning Laboratory's work was the
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TURI staff were featured on the cover of EHT magazine
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subject of the cover article of the April 2012 issue of the magazine "Executive Housekeeping Today."
Entitled "Making the world a safer place to live and work," the article provided an overview of TURA, and highlighted the lab's High Performance Cleaning Product program -- a voluntary, fee-based program that tests the effectiveness of green cleaning products. The program was created in a partnership with the International Executive Housekeeping Association (IEHA.)
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Apply for a TURI Community and Small Business Grant
The Toxics Use Reduction Institute is pleased to invite  | |
A member of the Brazilian Women's Group demonstrates how to make safer cleaners
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proposals from community organizations, municipal departments, small businesses, trade associations, and regional and statewide organizations for support under our Community and Small Business Grant Program. This year we are especially interested in supporting projects that elevate toxics use reduction ideas and projects to a regional or statewide level; however, we also welcome applications for more local projects. The maximum award amount for regional or statewide projects is $20,000. The maximum award amount for local projects is $10,000. Funding is contingent on availability of program funds. Applications must be received by June 29, 2012 at NOON. For questions at any time during the application process, please contact Joy Onasch, Community and Small Business Program Manager, at 978-934-4343. You are encouraged to contact the program to discuss project ideas sufficiently in advance of the June 29 deadline. Download the application package
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Staff Activities
After seven years as TURI's Library Manager, Jan Hutchins will be retiring on June 1. Prior to joining TURI in 2005, she served as Assistant Director of the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Jan plans to move to the mountains of North Carolina with her husband, Charlie. In retirement she looks forward to having much more time to read and to enjoy the outdoors. We thank Jan for her many contributions to the program and wish her the best!
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