City’s Energy-Efficient Focus (Earth Day)

OELWEIN, Iowa — Corporate sustainability and social responsibility are important factors for City Workplace Uniforms and Mats according to Vice President and General Manager Colin Wetlaufer. As a uniform and mat rental business, many of City’s processes and operations impact the environment.

“We do our part and hope others do the same. There is a lot of benefits when you focus on sustainability,” Wetlaufer said. “At City, we are always thinking about the future and our impact on it.”

City recently completed a light conversion changing over 900 light blubs to LED lighting. This has reduced City’s watt usage by almost 50 percent Maintenance Engineer Jamie Randall said.

“The lighting is more crisp, clear and more natural and it does have a positive effect on how everyone works.” Randall said. “Over all, LED lights consume less and cost less to operate. This conversion makes sense all around.”

Randall worked with Sitler’s Supplies, which is a specialty lighting company out of Washington, IA.

“In the last 10 years, Sitler’s Supplies has focused on energy efficient lighting technologies, sharing with customers the latest in LED lighting,” Lighting Consultant Renford Miller said.

City’s environmental benefit will save 45,630 kWh and reduce 57,991 pounds of CO2 annually according to Miller, which is equivalent to removing five cars off the road and planting eight acres of trees every year.

With these savings, City is helping support the  Oelwein’s Hometown Rewards Program.

“We have to think about the next generation and know what kind of example we are setting,” Oelwein Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Deb Howard said. “If we all just do a little part then it paints a bigger picture for all of us.”

The Oelwein Hometown Reward Program’s goal is to educate businesses and residents on different ways to be more energy-efficient.

“We are always looking for new ways to reduce our carbon footprint and act as a steward for the environment,” Wetlaufer said. “We take it upon ourselves to educate our employees about City’s green efforts and how it can help them.

On Earth Day, City raised awareness by giving each employee a City organic cotton T-shirt along with the benefits City has experienced from their green approach.