A recent Cornell University report states that sustainability is revenue neutral for hotels. Will you continue to pursue green initiatives anyways?
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Sustainable summer construction wraps up at Boston University
As the summer quickly comes to an end, and as students prepare for another school year, college campuses around the nation are putting the finishing touches on summer renovation projects.
One campus, in particular, has been working around the clock to ensure there will be as little disruption as possible once students and faculty arrive in late August – Boston University (BU). At the moment, the university has more than 20 construction projects to complete in its Charles River Campus, summing up to a grand total of $70 million.
While BU’s renovations vary, from building a new athletic field to reupholstering living and dining room furniture in its high-rise ‘Student Village’ apartments, one principal remains the same – all of the projects aim to be as sustainable as possible. For example, the university has complied with green practices including using low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints, installing carpet made from recycled materials, and investing in both energy-efficient lighting and Energy Star-certified appliances.
For other colleges and universities looking to renovate before summer’s end – and before students and staff quickly shuffle back onto campus – a similar, cost-effective solution is available: furniture asset management. Through best practice services – like furniture refinishing, re-upholstery and remanufacturing – higher education institutions can create new sustainable looks in dormitories, offices and student lounges, but at a fraction of the cost and disruption when compared to buying new.
By investing in The Refinishing Touch’s award-winning furniture asset management services, our past collegiate clients have saved over 80 percent in total project expenditure, when compared to what they would have spent if they had purchased new furniture. In addition to the cost savings, our experienced team can complete up to 20 rooms per day using our safe, low VOC lacquers – meaning a campus can avoid significant downtime and continue housing prospective students during orientation and other visitors during the summer.
For more information on BU’s construction project, please read the article in its entirety here. To request a free quote for your college campus, email us today – we’d love to hear from you.
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Happy Fourth of July from The Refinishing Touch!
Independence Day is a time for many things: good food, family and friends, celebration, pride and remembrance – and as a company that has called the United States home for over 35 years, The Refinishing Touch find great importance in remembering our past and appreciating the milestones that are to come in the future.
So on this Fourth of July, The Refinishing Touch team would like to take a moment to thank our customers, employees, partners and blog readers for the opportunity to share our services, thoughts and ideas with you. We are proud to be able to provide you with the best furniture asset management services in the industry.
From all of us at The Refinishing Touch, have a safe, relaxing holiday. Happy Fourth of July!
The Refinishing Touch blog poll: Canada named the leader in North American recycling rates
Sustainability is universally imperative, not only for the future of our planet, but for business success and growth. At The Refinishing Touch, our expert production team works with hoteliers, government entities and universities to further their green initiatives through furniture asset management. Throughout our 35 years in the business, we understand that as consumers become more environmentally-conscious, property managers must also consider customer retention, ROI, and brand compliance when it comes to implementing new sustainable practices.
Each week, in an effort to hear the voice of our readers, The Refinishing Touch takes to our blog to ask some of the most pressing industry-wide questions in sustainability, renovations and cost-efficiency. Due to the latest increase in sustainable-minded individuals and businesses, we asked ‘Which North American country is perceived to be the leader in consumer recycling?’ Thanks to poll participation, we found the following:
- 71% of respondents believe Canada is the leader in regards to its worldwide recycling initiatives
- The remaining 29% of readers perceived the US to be at the top of consumer recycling
- All surveyors felt both countries were not equally green
With extensive experience working in the US and Canada, The Refinishing Touch is proud to have contributed to the decreasing rates of waste worldwide. By delivering furniture asset management solutions, including furniture refinishing, re-upholstering and remanufacturing during renovations since our inception in 1977, we’ve saved an estimated 2,250,000 pounds of wood from piling up in landfills across both countries. In an effort to boost recycling habits, organizations worldwide should consider furniture asset management, in partnership with other green tactics, to truly become a sustainable facility.
If you’re interested in The Refinishing Touch’s eco-friendly and cost-effective furniture renovation services at your own facility, visit our website today. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sustainable initiatives save $2 million per year for a Nevada resort
Resorts, hotels and motels worldwide are beginning to look deeper into the many realms of sustainability, dipping their toes into new initiatives that save money, help the environment, and secure a new range of guests who are looking to stay at green properties.
Similarly, whenever The Refinishing Touch sends our experienced and dedicated crew to a new project location, we are always thrilled to see hoteliers taking the necessary steps towards improved sustainability. By implementing our furniture asset management services, including refinishing, re-upholstery, and renovation services, customers are able to save time, money, and resources, in addition to reducing the amount of unnecessary waste that is sent to our country’s landfills.
Environmental solutions come in all shapes and sizes however, and the hospitality and travel industries are two that possess many opportunities for implementation. Once such hotel that has taken advantage of these opportunities is the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino in Reno, Nevada, which recently reported savings of $2 million per year by choosing to capitalize on natural energy.
Innovative technology allows water from a geothermal aquifer 4,400 feet underground to power the Peppermill’s massive heating and hot water systems, eliminating the need for harmful, and increasingly expensive, natural gas.
With the idea of geothermal energy still in the early stages in most regions, the project was certainly risky. Drilling was conducted for more than a month before an adequate aquifer was located. However, Dean Parker, the executive director of Facilities, knew the cost-efficiency and green benefits of the project would be worth it in the long run.
The Peppermill Resort proves that environmental preservation is possible, and companies, like us, can provide the hospitality sector with the tools it needs to create a greener future for their guests, communities, and country.
To learn more about the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino’s project, book your stay or read the full article here. To learn how sustainable furniture asset management can benefit your establishment, visit The Refinishing Touch’s website today.
Operational Update: Best Western Jacksonville Airport
During every renovation project, The Refinishing Touch comes prepared to deliver its award-winning refinishing, re-upholstery and armoire conversion services to meet property managers’ requests, without disturbing employees or guests. Whether you value efficiency, sustainability, cost savings or all of the above, our experienced production team aims to provide our customers with top-tier results and service.
Last month, an armoire conversion project led us to a Best Western branch located in the Jacksonville Airport, right in the heart of Florida’s travel district. The property’s location is ideal for visitors looking to attend annual nearby events, including The Players Championship Golf Tournament, Daytona 500 and the University of Florida vs. University of Georgia football game. Offering luxurious amenities to travelers from all over the world, the hotel boasts rave reviews from customers citing the property’s overt friendliness and delivery of traveler satisfaction.
In order to continue meeting the needs of its lodgers, Best Western Jacksonville Airport called on The Refinishing Touch to modify existing television armoires into dressers, an effort that avoids the need to buy brand new assets and reduces the amount of waste sent to our nation’s landfills.
The 21 original television armoires were converted into three-drawer dressers, ideal for showcasing flat screen televisions. By using The Refinishing Touch’s furniture asset management services, Best Western Jacksonville Airport was able to significantly save on renovation costs and demonstrate environmental responsibility by reducing its carbon footprint.
For more information regarding the benefits of our environmentally-friendly, cost-effective furniture refinishing, re-upholstery and armoire modification services, please visit our website. To learn more about what The Refinishing Touch can do at your own establishment, please request a free quote today.
If you’re interested in seeing our work first-hand while enjoying the Floridian sun, book a stay at Best Western Jacksonville Airport here.