March 23rd, 2012 by TRT Blog

A steadily growing trend among the hotel industry is the pathway to a greener and cleaner hotel. What most businesses in the industry may fail to realize is that making the move towards a green hotel is not only a popular move among the consumers, but can also be very cost effective. Here is The Refinishing Touch’s list of top tips for hotels looking to go green:

1. Rethink your flow: Installing low flow systems—toilets, sinks, and showers—in every bathroom not only lessens the amount of water used by guests, but it also lowers the monthly water bill that the operators have to pay.

2. Buy local: Consider buying organic and locally grown produce for kitchens and restaurants. This not only lowers gas emissions for transportation, but it supports local farmers and sellers. Plus organic foods stop pesticides from polluting the environment.

3. Offer incentives: Busy travelers don’t always remember to decline room cleaning or towel changes. Jog their memory with a well-planned incentive program. Offer five dollar gift cards to Starbucks or money off a meal at the hotel restaurant. This will be sure to entice distracted travels to participate in your hotel’s green programs.

4. Asset Management: Hotel furniture sees a lot of use, but sometimes all it needs to look and perform like new again is a new finish or new upholstery. Instead of buying new furniture consider refinishing and refurbishing instead. Not only does it save time and money, but it prevents tons of wood from ending up in landfills.

While there are many other ways for hotels to save money and the environment, these few tips not only help save money, but it reduces carbon emissions and environmental impact otherwise produced by manufacturing new pieces of furniture and throwing out the old. In the end, having a green hotel not only appeals to the interest of the consumer, but it helps to maintain budgets. A win-win all around!

budgets, environment, green hotel, low flow systems, organic, sustainable, tips, transportation

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

March 1st, 2011 by TRT Blog

There was an interesting piece in Stateline’s ‘Education Beat’ which looked at how some states  are looking to, if not increase spending to schools, to at least maintain it.  It’s an interesting challenge – states are under enormous pressure to cut spending in light of the slow paced economy recovery, reduced federal spending, and the impact on state budgets.

Yet there are pockets of resistance to cut K-12 education spending – from the President’s statement that education is critical to America “”winning the future” to policymakers in states such as California and Connecticut which will not cut K-12 school spending (though cuts are planned for higher education); and states such as Illinois and Iowa, which are proposing to increase K-12 education funding from 3.2 percent and 2 percent respectively.

It’s not all rosy. Consider Illinois which is at the center of a debate following a proposed consolidation of its 868 school districts into 300, and the potential closure of 45 education offices.  Illinois Governor Pat Quinn says this would save an estimated $14 million in the next year.  Though with strong local opposition, time will tell if these cuts will happen – the state has previously abandoned both proposed education consolidations and regional office closures.

Yet cuts need to be made – even in the face of popularity.  Idaho is a dramatic example, with hundreds protesting in the state capital last week.  The state has already made school cuts to the tune of $200 million –  with the knock-on effect of teaching initiatives being canned, salaries being frozen and a number of local district schools going to a four-day week.  And $200 million is not enough – the state needs to another $35 million worth of cuts.  It’s not alone – Texas is planning to cut $4.8 billion from school over the next two years – in total 35 states have made cuts in K-12 funding and 43 states have cut higher education funding.

With high unemployment, oil prices being driven up, and stimulus money drying up, it’s a tough call for education policymakers, decision makers and budget holders – both at K-12 and higher education.  How do you invest in America’s future when you have less to invest?

But there are ways that the budgets can be balanced.  One area that we think is an obvious start is to save on asset spend and protect existing investments through reuse.  At The Refinishing Touch we complete projects where budget spend is cut by up to 80 percent through practical and sustainable refinishing projects – a figure we see not only in the education sector but in the government and hospitality markets as well.  Any institution that has a sizeable spend on furniture can not only limit unnecessary landfill, they can limit budget spend.

Refinishing and reuse may not be a complicated lesson, but it’s a simple action that shows strong results.

budgets, education, Universities