December 30th, 2011 by TRT Blog

Every year, it’s important to look back and appreciate all that took place, both good and bad. This year, while many companies and individuals continue to struggle as America slowly finds is economic footing, The Refinishing Touch is thrilled that we were able to help organizations across the country reduce carbon foot prints, decrease spending, and stay committed to saving the environment through refinishing, refurbishing and asset management. We are so proud that our work continues to increase our country’s overall environmental sustainability year to year.

As you look back on the happenings of 2011, we wish you and your loved ones a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. As we quickly move into 2012, we hope that you will join us in making at least one New Year’s resolution: be conscious of how we treat the environment and work towards becoming a more sustainable, environmentally friendly country.

Happy New Year!

2011, 2012, environmentally friendly, new year, New Year resolutions, resolutions, sustainable

December 27th, 2011 by TRT Blog

The Refinishing Touch works with businesses across multiple industries to achieve the same goal—reuse and repurpose what they already own. In our most recent Lodging Hospitality online article, we discuss how seemingly different industries can come together and share successful solutions to meet industry standards, maximize customer service and maintain commitments to sustainability.

By naming some of the overlooked similarities between the education, hospitality, and government industries, such as time pressures and budget constraints, it makes it clear that cross industry transparency and communication is more important than ever. 

In the article, we stress that by refinishing and refurbishing furniture and paying close attention to proper asset management, industries can benefit both economically and environmentally.

To read the entire article or to share your thoughts on the topic visit LHonline.com. To learn more about The Refinishing Touch visit www.therefinishingtouch.com.

article, communication, Lodging Hospitality, Mario Insenga, similarities, Sustainability

December 23rd, 2011 by TRT Blog

The holiday season has arrived and it’s time to relax, eat good food, and spend quality time with loved ones. Every year at The Refinishing Touch we take to heart the notion, ‘it is better to give than to receive’. We take pride in the work that we do and strive to make sure that every one of our projects continues to benefit our clients for a long time to come.

As we look back on this past year we are thrilled to see that the hospitality, education, and government industries are all dedicated to becoming more sustainable, because there is no better gift than saving the environment.

On behalf of our entire team, The Refinishing Touch wishes you and your loved ones a cheerful, safe, and peaceful holiday season.

environment, holidays, sustainable

December 20th, 2011 by TRT Blog

Sustainability is the buzz word across college campuses these days. College students across the nation are making efforts to reduce the carbon footprints of their schools in various ways.

In a recent Collegiate Times article, Virginia Tech student Neetu Deo discussed the ways his school was making changes, particularly in their dining halls. For example Virginia Tech has eliminated trays from most dining locations, decreased water use, and minimized food waste. In 2009, the school began its “Farm and Fields” initiative that supplies the school with organic, locally grown food. VA Tech also maintains a garden at a local farm, supplying students with fresh produce and herbs.

Deo details the ways other university dining halls can become sustainable with little effort:

1.     Eliminate trays. Students will pick up less food without trays and therefore, waste less. Schools will also save money on the water previously used to wash trays.

2.     Limit Condiment and Napkin Use. Provide only what students need. Encourage them to pay close attention to how much they use to reduce waste.

3.     Promote Locally Grown Food. Locally grown food is eco-friendly, healthy, and supports local businesses.

4.     Opt for real silverware, cups, and plates (or biodegradable products). Styrofoam products can spend thousands of years in a landfill, use products that can be re-used or break down easily.

As a company devoted to providing environmentally friendly services, The Refinishing Touch applauds the efforts of colleges and universities looking to reduce their carbon footprints and provide students with more sustainable services and choices.

carboon footprint, Collegiate Times, dining halls, Neetu Deo, Sustainability, Universities, Virginia Tech

December 16th, 2011 by TRT Blog

As the temperatures begin to drop across most of the country, we were lucky enough to spend a few days last week in sunny Palm Beach, Florida attending the first ever BITAC Owners event. The event brought hotel industry executives and suppliers together to discuss thoughts and ideas on the current state and future direction of hotel branding.

The event combined panel discussions, attendee polling, and industry speakers. We were particularly interested in the panel discussion that tackled asset value for hotel brands, touching on social media, new technology systems, and the evolution of green hotels:

• 44% of attendees said that social media was the biggest challenge for them to keep up with, 38% said it was the ever-changing technological systems.
• 12% of attendees thought that half of hotel guests want green hotels, while 58% said the drive for green hotels is still in early stages.

We also had the opportunity to listen to Bruce Ford from Lodging Econometrics, a hotel industry project research firm, discuss the state of the industry, including lodging trends and markets, why top markets continue to dominate, and how brands and banks are forcing hotel owners to renovate.

The BITAC Owners event was a great experience for The Refinishing Touch, and we thoroughly enjoyed the event. We always love the opportunity to meet with hotel owners directly and create relationships across the industry.  We can’t wait for next year!

2011, BITAC, BITAC Owners event, Bruce Ford, event, hospitality, hotel industry, Lodging Econometrics, panel discussion

December 14th, 2011 by TRT Blog

The Refinishing Touch is pleased to announce its most recent article about the benefits of refurbishing and asset management has appeared in the newest edition of American School and University. The Refinishing Touch has worked with over twenty schools around the U.S., and many institutions have experienced the environmental and fiscal advantages of reusing furniture instead of buying new pieces.

Tight budgets and pressure to increase sustainability are two driving factors for schools when choosing between refinishing and buying new.  As assets under regular use begin to age, schools must weigh their options. When it comes time to replace those assets, it is important for schools to consider all of the option and to understand the many benefits of refurbishing and refinishing. 

Not only does refinishing save money, but it also saves the environment. The Refinishing Touch provides schools with a simple way to use what they already own, save money, and move towards the goal of sustainability. To read the entire article, go to the story or pick up the newest edition of AS&U on newsstands now.

American Schools and Universities, AS&U, asset management, budgets, refinishing, Sustainability

December 13th, 2011 by TRT Blog

During this year’s 11^th annual Green Power Leadership Awards, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gave out awards to 19 EPA Green Power Partners. The partners, located all across the country, were chosen based on their use of clean, renewable energy sources, energy security and reducing pollution.

The awards recognize everything from green buildings to green communities, across four different categories, including ‘Green Power Partner of the Year’, ‘Green Power Community of the Year’, ‘On-site Generation’ and ‘Green Power Purchase’. Among the winners were: the Empire State Building, Google, Portland Oregon, Santa Clara University, State Street Corporation and many others.  For the full list, please check here.

The EPA, through its work with the Green Power Partnership and other opportunities, helps 1,300 organizations to achieve their goals in reducing environmental stresses and reliance on conventional electricity use.

Through the goals of the EPA, its Green Power Partners, companies and individuals across the country, America can begin to understand the importance of long-term environmental sustainability commitments as well as turn it into a reality.  That’s something we can all support, and here at The Refinishing Touch we’d like to congratulate all the Power Partners, as well as the organizations across the globe that are working to reduce their environmental impact, and, of course, the EPA for hosting the awards.

electricity, energy security, EPA Green Power Partners, green, Green Power Leadership Awards, Green Power Partnership, renewable energy sources, Sustainability, US Environmental Protection Agency

December 9th, 2011 by TRT Blog

When you think of cruises, you think of beautiful waters, fresh air and exotic destinations. But what people don’t tend to think about is the effect large cruise ships have on the pristine environments they’re traveling to.

However, Royal Caribbean has now committed to do that type of thinking for their passengers. The hospitality company has begun to convert all of their 42 ships, across five different brands, into sustainable, environmentally conscious vessels.

To do this Royal Caribbean has concentrated in three key areas. First, energy and air—each vessel has its own power plant on board, making efficiency a high priority. Over the last decade or so, Royal Caribbean worked to use 50% less energy per guest. Second, water—each boat purifies its water discharge before putting it off the boat. The company invested more than $100 million in this technology. And third, waste—Royal Caribbean estimates that each passenger produces 1.1 pounds of trash per day, which is about three pounds less than if they were to stay at home.

While such efforts often go unnoticed by traveling passengers, these are the type of steps that more companies should be taking to decrease their operational environmental impact and their carbon footprint. Because who wouldn’t want to go on a green vacation if they could?

carbon footprint, environmental sustainability, Royal Caribbean Cruise, Travel

December 6th, 2011 by TRT Blog

image via UNDP

The United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) rankings were released recently. Each all-purpose HDI score is intended to represent a country’s success at providing quality of life to its citizens. The index takes into account traditional factors of life including life expectancy, adult literacy and per-capita purchasing power.

However, some feel that these HDI rankings continually miss out a critical component: sustainability. This year, Chuluun Togtokh of the National University of Mongolia points out that by not factoring in per-capita carbon emissions, HDI rankings might reasonably deter smaller, less developed countries from continuing their focus on growing sustainably.

Interestingly, when carbon footprints are included to find the proposed Human Sustainable Development Index, many of the world’s top countries drop considerably in the rankings. Australia, the United States and Canada all fall out of the top 10, while Hong Kong, Sweden and Switzerland take over those top spots, and Norway remains at number one.

While both the current indexing system and Togtokh’s proposed system are each an oversimplification of a complex problem, sustainability is certainly an important aspect for our strained environment that should definitely be considered when analyzing quality of life.

carbon emissions, carbon footprint, Chuluun Togtokh, HDI, National University of Mongolia, Sustainability, United Nations, United Nations Human Development Index

December 2nd, 2011 by TRT Blog

This year, November 15 was a huge success. For all of those who are wondering why that date is so special, it’s because for the past 14 years, November 15 has signified America Recycles Day. It’s a day that brings communities across the country together to raise awareness, increase commitment and motivate everyone to recycle. Although the day falls on only one of 365, big name sponsors such as Keep America Beautiful, Johnson & Johnson, LG, PepsiCo and others, support the effort to make recycling a year-long, life-long commitment.

As a refinishing and refurnishing company, we realize the importance of recycling. At many of our work sites, we’re faced with the task of making sure that old televisions and unusable woods are disposed of responsibly. That’s why we follow a strict no-landfill policy for the electrical components we deal with as part of our Television Recycling Program in conjunction with our Armoire Conversion Program. Our recycling and refurbishing tactics can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 95 percent compared to buying new.

Events such as America Recycles, as well as company programs such as our own, prove that every little step brings us closer to a better, healthier environment.

America Recycles Day, Armoire Conversion Program, landfill, recycle, The Refinishing Touch