Greentransportationwaste

How to Minimize Your Transit Wash System’s Carbon Footprint

transit wash system - carbon footprintDue to growing environmental concerns, progressive businesses all over the world are striving to reduce their negative impact on the planet. This is especially relevant to companies in the vehicle washing industry, as resources such as power and water can easily be squandered if there are no efforts made to conserve them. Additionally, runoff from vehicle washing facilities may contain harmful chemicals and soaps.

Fortunately, there are ways to reduce your company’s carbon footprint without compromising the quality of your services. While some of these methods may require an upfront investment, you can recoup those costs over time by spending less on materials. Additionally, your company is likely to attract new customers who also want to do their part to go green, which can improve business drastically. Here are 4 ways you can minimize your transit wash system’s carbon footprint:

  1. Switch to Bubbles

While foam has long been the industry standard for soaping large vehicles, many of today’s most successful businesses are transitioning to bubble systems. A bubble system offers a variety of benefits, including better coverage, easier rinsing, and adjustable density and discharge. You can also clean an entire vehicle using as little as 1 gallon of water and 50 percent fewer chemicals, which is a massive leap forward. If your transit wash system is still relying on foam, now is the time to look into a more environmentally friendly option.

  1. Eliminate Waste

There’s a strong chance that you’re using more resources than necessary. Monitor how much water you use for every wash, how much power is consumed, water intensity, and chemical use, and then try to reduce those figures. You may find that using motors with lower horsepower, less water, and fewer chemicals allows you to continue offering high-quality washes while utilizing less essential resources. As an added bonus, this is an effective way to reduce operating costs.

  1. Educate Your Customers

One of the easiest and most powerful ways to reduce your company’s carbon footprint is to simply spread the word. If we want to see real global changes, we need to get people on board on a massive scale, as noted by CNN. Encourage your customers to reduce their environmental impact around the house. You can educate people with a basic pamphlet they can take home, and you can also provide information online. Going green can be an excellent marketing tool for attracting people with a similar mindset, so it’s really a win-win situation.

  1. Adopt Better Habits

One of the best ways to reduce your company’s long-term effect on the environment is to embrace better habits in the workplace. You can implement new ways of doing things that require very little effort and will help to reduce your organization’s carbon stamp. For example, you could install motion activated lights, give employees reusable water bottles, provide recycling bins, and use energy-saving settings on your computers.

5390928907_bc432bc712_nThese types of basic changes may not seem important, but they really do add up over time. Another way to reduce your carbon footprint significantly is to avoid travel whenever possible. These days, you don’t always need to fly across the country for a meeting – just arrange a video call. When traveling is absolutely necessary, using a train or bus is much better for the planet than flying, recommends Forbes. In fact, on average, taking five long flights in one year can amount to 75 percent of your total annual emissions, states The New York Times.

Go Green at Work Today

We have to start somewhere, and the first and most important step is to simply be aware of the impact that your business has on the planet. From there, you can start making changes. Some of these steps do take time, but nobody’s expecting a drastic change overnight. Awareness leads to natural improvements, so try to educate your staff and customers. If everyone does their part, it’s possible to make a big difference. Become a part of the solution today.

 

Author Bio:

Albert  is a solar technician and freelance writer with a passion for saving the planet. He’s always looking for new ways to go green at home and in the office, and he enjoys helping businesses to minimize their carbon stamp on the Earth. When he’s not working, Albert enjoys traveling, camping, and mountain climbing.

Clay Miller
the authorClay Miller
I am the creator/writer of Ways2GoGreen.com and Ways2GoGreenBlog.com. I'm an advocate for oceans, beaches, state parks. I enjoy all things outdoors (e.g. running, golf, gardening, hiking, etc.) I am a graduate of the University of Kentucky (Go Wildcats!!). I'm also a huge fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers. I was born and raised in the beautiful state of Kentucky.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.