Guess what? We love our planet! And we want to keep it beautiful for our kids and grandkids, and their kids and grandkids, and so on and so forth forever. That’s why we go green at Graham’s by minimizing our impact on our beloved earth.
We want to share with you some of our strategies for limiting our impact and encourage you to consider doing the same. Everybody can make a difference and it may be a lot simpler than you think.
Recycle your carpet pad!
Carpet pad recycling is safer for the environment because it keeps it out of the local landfill. It is estimated that around 125 million tons of carpet padding are thrown away each and every year in residential areas alone. This large amount of waste is unnecessary. Carpet padding can be recycled and turned into other products to help keep it out of the landfill.
Unfortunately, carpet pad recycling is not as widespread as you may think, or would like. Most people don’t think much about recycling their carpet pads because it is not widely discussed. So, let’s start now!
Check out this list of spots in Colorado to recycle your carpet pad.
We only install recycled carpet pads!
Not only does Graham’s recycle all the carpet pads we remove, but we also only install recycled carpet pads. Bonded polyurethane foam, or re-bond carpet padding, is the formal name for recycled carpet padding. You can’t mistake it. It’s the multi-colored padding made up of chopped and shredded pieces of used carpet padding combined with postindustrial polyurethane foam scrap.
So don’t worry, on all of our Northern Colorado carpet projects, we’ve already recycled your previous carpet pad and installed a new one made of recycled materials.
Reducing plastic waste
In 2020, we purchased an energy-efficient dishwasher for the office and discontinued using plastic silverware and disposable plates. There are so many options for reusable travel flatware, dishware, and glass or stainless steel food storage containers. They are easy to use, easy to clean, and they will help us reduce the 300 million tons of plastic waste that is produced each year.
Limit paper usage
Year after year we reduce our paper usage. We aim to have successfully reduced our office paper consumption by 15% each year since 2019. We will achieve this goal by switching our estimation process from paper quotes/estimations to an electronic/email process. In addition, we only use and print on recycled paper.
In this day and age, it is easy to switch to electronic means of filing and communicating. Yet, we do understand the need for the occasional note or personal memo. Here are some terrific options for recycled printer paper, recycled notebook paper, and even 100% recycled paper sticky notes!
Switch to energy-efficient bulbs
All of the lightbulbs in our office are energy-efficient. It is such a simple and cost-effective change. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “Lighting accounts for around 15% of an average home’s electricity use, and the average household saves about $225 in energy costs per year by using LED lighting. if you are still using incandescent light bulbs, switching to energy-efficient lighting is one of the fastest ways to cut your energy bills.”
Save some money, and some electricity, today by switching to one of these 5 Best Energy Efficient Light Bulbs.
Use Eco Mode
At Graham’s, we use only Kia Souls for all of our travels. Not only is Kia “committed to ECO-Friendly Management on a global scale,” but we always use the Eco Mode while driving. Eco Mode, or “economic” mode, burns less fuel, so you are saving money AND it’s better for the environment. When in Eco Mode, your acceleration will be slightly less responsive, but as we like to say, ‘Would you rather be going slowly in the right direction? Or really fast in the wrong one?’
Check to see if your car has an Eco Mode and then try it out. You’ll most likely increase your gas mileage by 5% while cutting down on your carbon footprint.
Always upcycle!
We have a very anti-landfill mindset here at Graham’s and choose instead to upcycle whenever possible. All leftover carpet (carpet remnants) and products are posted on Facebook Marketplace and Instagram for sale or even for free in order to reduce waste. We would rather give product away than have it end up in a landfill.
And if you don’t have the time or energy to post and sell the items you’re looking to get rid of, remember that there is always a Salvation Army Thrift Store, arc Thrift Store, or Goodwill near you accepting donations.
Keep good company
We love when we get the chance to partner with a brand that is eco-friendly. Here are a few of our favorites. Please be sure to check them out!
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Anderson Tuftex
“Achieving our sustainable business strategy is not just good for our company but is also good for our planet and our communities where we work, live and play.”
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Mohawk
“We believe in a better world—one in which products at the end of one useful life can be transformed into sustainable flooring products; businesses operate with respect for the planet; and we leave a positive handprint on the people and communities that our businesses touch. It’s a world that Mohawk Industries is proud to help build every day through purposeful action.”
https://mohawkind.com/corporate-sustainability/index.php
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Shaw
“The company’s 2030 sustainability goals include:
Reduce water intensity by 50 percent.
- Decrease energy intensity by 40 percent.
- Reduce waste to landfills and hazardous waste by 100 percent.
- Reduce non-biogenic GHG emissions intensity by 40 percent.”
Let’s all do our part to reduce our wear on the planet. And know that when you work with Graham’s, you are working with a company that cares about sustainability and you!
If you are looking for flooring in Fort Collins, Loveland, or the surrounding area, call us at Graham’s Flooring & Design for a free design consultation.
Check out our other blogs, including this one on All Things Green.
References and Resources
https://www.unep.org/interactive/beat-plastic-pollution/
https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/lighting-choices-save-you-money