CHICAGO — If you manage or oversee a laundry, do you believe your operation has emerged as an energy-efficient model that makes other managers “green” with envy, or are you more reserved as you conserve?
Nearly two-thirds of respondents to this month’s Wire survey say their laundry is among the "greenest operations in the country" (36.4%) or "greener than most" (27.3%). Roughly 9% say their laundry is no more or less green than others. Approximately 27% say their laundry is green in small ways but could do more. No respondents described their laundry as not green at all.
Heat reclamation is the most popular green practice utilized by our respondents, chosen by 81.8%. Other notable ways in which the survey-takers incorporate green practices is through efficient plant lighting (72.7%), water reuse (54.5%), energy-efficient washers/dryers (45.5%), vehicle/route optimization (45.5%) and biodegradable detergents (36.4%).
Nearly 55% of respondents rate the effectiveness of their green practices as being "good," with another 27.3% calling their efforts "great." The remaining 18.2% described them as "fair."
About 73% of respondents market their laundry’s green practices, but they emphasize other points first. Roughly 9% say these practices are their biggest selling point. The remainder is split evenly between marketing other factors but not green practices, and not marketing their services at all.
Some manufacturers and suppliers promote their products as being green. Roughly 73% of respondents say they weigh such claims when considering a purchase but also consider other factors. The remaining 27.3% only care about a company’s products if they can “meet our needs.” No one who took the survey said they choose products strictly for their environmental profile.
Subscribers to American Laundry News’ Wire e-mails—distributed twice weekly—are invited to participate anonymously in a brief industry survey each month. While it presents a snapshot of readers’ viewpoints at a particular moment, the survey should not be considered scientific.
The entire American Laundry News audience is encouraged to participate, as a greater number of responses will help to better define operator opinions and industry trends.
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Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Matt Poe at [email protected].