WALTHAM, Mass. — In recognition of Earth Day 2011, Mac-Gray Campus Solutions, a division of Mac-Gray Corp., has launched its fourth annual student environmental-awareness initiative, which challenges students to “Green Your Laundry Routine.”
Mac-Gray Campus Solutions provides laundry services on more than 600 campuses and takes a proactive approach in educating students and generating awareness of environmental issues related to laundry, the company says.
Students across the country were encouraged to participate by viewing a short animated video outlining 11 easy ways to incorporate green laundry techniques into their routine on Earth Day and throughout the year. In exchange for their pledge, the first 5,000 respondents were given a “Green Your Routine” t-shirt, which will help raise awareness among their classmates, the company adds.
The initiative reached thousands of students on more than 1,300 campuses nationwide, with more than 7,500 pledging to green their laundry routine, which will likely translate into significant water and energy savings and an improved understanding of eco-friendly laundry practices, Mac-Gray Campus Solutions claims.
Laundry video tips included selecting cold-water wash cycles, using the proper dose of high-efficiency detergents and cleaning the dryer lint screen to maximize airflow and efficiency.
“Through our various surveying efforts and targeted environmental initiatives throughout the year, we know that students are passionate about sustainability and we look forward to our dialogue with students in celebration of Earth Day each year,” says Kourtney Barnes, director of sustainability initiatives.
“Educating students on the importance of considering the environment in all of the choices they make, including those made in the laundry room, helps to ensure our future leaders and neighbors understand how to preserve the planet for generations to come,” says Stewart G. MacDonald, Mac-Gray’s chief executive officer.
“It remains a top priority at Mac-Gray to continue to remove inefficient top-loading washers and to replace them with ENERGY STAR®-rated machines that will reduce water and energy consumption in all of the laundry rooms we manage for our partners.”
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