6 easy ways to ‘green’ your laundry business

Your laundry business doesn’t just have to get your customers’ clothes clean – it can clean up the environment as well.

If you are in the mood for an eco-friendly and sustainable laundromat, then going green may be the right choice for you. A “green” business involves smart design and valuable business decisions, and at the end of the day you may be able to save money, improve your brand and grow your customer base.

Here are six easy ways you can green your laundry business today:

1. The right equipment
The easiest way doesn’t have the lowest up-front costs, but it can really pay off in the long run – new equipment. Replacing your old washers and dryers with new, energy-efficient models will result in immediate savings, including less water, waste and electricity. The biggest impediment to a store full of energy-efficient equipment is the cost of the machines. However, there are financing options out there that can offset these expenses and jumpstart your business on the path to being green.

2. Change your lights
Naturally, your electricity isn’t only used up by your washers and your dryers. Your lights can rack up a bill too, especially if you are open late or around-the-clock. To help make your business a bit more green, try to replace all your light bulbs with more eco-friendly options. Bulbs like compact fluorescents can use up a lot less energy, which means more money in your pocket and less of an impact on the environment.

If you are open late, you could even add a timer on some lights so they turn off when nobody is around. Or, you can keep the lights dim during the day and brighter at night.

A green business is a smart move.

3. Carpool the clothes
A green business is a great opportunity to connect with your community. For example, you can help the environment by implementing a pick-up and delivery laundry service. For a fee, customers can have their clothes picked up by your employees, washed in your laundromat and dropped off at their homes. This way, they don’t have to drive to and from your store.

4. Reuse and recycle
Naturally, trash takes its toll on the environment. If you want a real green business, you’ll have to find ways to reuse and recycle. One solution is to use technology. If you offer promotional coupons at the door, you can instead have one email sign-up sheet. Customers enter their email addresses and you send promotions over the web, saving paper. You should also place recycling bins around your store, so any waste can be reused later.

5. Check your HVAC use
Do you tend to run the heat or air conditioning a lot during the summer and winter? If so, then it may be time for a new habit. In the winter, try to drop the heat by a few degrees when you close, instead of turning it off. This way, you won’t spend a lot of energy heating back up the store in the morning. In the summer, you can open the front doors instead of running the A/C to save some more money. Look for alternative ways to heat and cool your laundry business.

6. Practice what you preach
Finally, you should make sure your laundromat leads by example. The last thing you want is for your customers to see your employees throwing recyclables in the trash or engaging in similar types of behavior. Talk to your team about the ways to go green and get them on board. You can offer perks and incentives for eco-friendly behavior and reward the top employees in your store.

All in all, a green business has its benefits. Not only will you help the environment, but you can also improve public perception of your laundromat and save money at the same time.