Small Steps Equal 10% Savings Per Month For First Impressions Dental Lab
Posted Apr 28, 2011 in Labs & Profiles
"We've been implementing numerous green programs and changes to our operations over the past two years and, as a result, we're saving approximately 10% per month on our entire operating budget," says Sandy Stuart, president, First Impressions Dental Lab, Inc., Mount Vernon, Washington.
The lab's many green practices include:
- A recycling program that's cut the lab's waste and waste management costs by 75%.
- With hot water being the lab's second largest source of energy consumption, it reduced the temperature of the hot water tank to 110°F and, during long weekends, uses the "vacation" setting which turns down the temperature.
- Burnout ovens are turned on for assigned blocks of time instead of leaving them on all day long.
- The last person out is responsible for unplugging all the printers, radios, etc. "Anything with an LED eats electricity overnight," says Stuart.
- A switch to energy-efficient lighting. Her energy provider recently implemented a short-term...
