Magazine for the professional nail industry.
Issue link: http://nailsmag.epubxp.com/i/271273
158 | NAILS MAGAZINE | APRIL 2014 GREEN RESOURCES Check out the following links to learn more about reducing your salon's carbon footprint: GREEN SALON-SPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONS: > The National Association of Eco-Friendly Salons & Spas (NAEFSS) www.naefss.org > The FAB PRO Green Conscious Salon Certifi cation Program fabprofessionals.org/fab-pro-green-program > Green Circle Salons in Canada www.greencirclesalons.ca > Green Spa Network greenspanetwork.org GREEN BUILDING: > The U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) www.usgbc.org/leed > Bob Vila www.bobvila.com RECYCLING AND GENERAL SUSTAINABILITY: > Earth911 earth911.com > UGA GreenWay www.fcs.uga.edu/green > Personal Care & Beauty Brigade at TerraCycle www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades.html GREEN PRODUCTS: > Energy Star www.energystar.gov > Responsible Purchasing Network www.responsiblepurchasing.org > Greenhome www.greenhome.com > Rainforest Alliance Certifi ed Marketplace ra.eximware.net/RA A simple way to start seeing a lower electricity bill fast is to replace all of your salon's conventional light bulbs with compact fl uorescent bulbs (CFLs). CFLs last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, provide the same amount of light, use 75% less energy, and generate less heat. Remember to turn off break room and bathroom lights when not in use. Solar powered options are a great choice for outdoor lighting, as are motion-detector lights. Motion-detector lights will illuminate only when employees or clients are walking to and from the salon, thus saving energy. Upgrading HVAC (heating-ventilation-air conditioning) systems can also save money in the long run. Consider installing an Energy Star-qualifi ed programmable ther- mostat. These thermostats make it easy to automatically adjust temperature settings and save energy when your salon is closed. The latest trend in heating and cooling is the "smart thermostat." According to www.kootenyabiz. com, smart thermostats transmit accurate, up-to-date utility data about live energy use via your smartphone. Have the salon's HVAC system checked for effi ciency once a year and clean or change its fi lters every month during peak cooling or heating season. Another cooling option is to use a ceiling fan in the summer and turn down your salon's thermostat. Each degree of higher temperature will save about 3% on cooling costs, but be sure to turn the fan off when your salon is closed. Make sure your salon is adequately ventilated. Indoor air can be polluted by chemicals used in nail care products and cause health problems when inhaled. "Indoor air quality is a big concern in nail salons," says Tamara Jercha, presi- dent and founder of National Association of Eco-Friendly Salons & Spas (NAEFSS). "Exploring HVAC operations and air cleaning alternatives will not only create a safe working environment, it will also cut down on the spread of everyday viruses that impact employee attendance." Remembering to shut down and even unplug computers and other equipment at the end of the day will save a lot of energy too. And the quality of your appliances counts as well. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star-qualifi ed products are the way to go the next time you buy an appliance for the salon, such as a television, refrig- erator, computer, or printer. They cost more, but over time your energy and water savings will make up for the initial investment, as these appliances use 10%-50% less energy and water than standard models. If you're really committed to saving energy and don't mind paying a slightly higher electricity rate, you may be able to use electricity from renewable energy sources such as the wind and the sun. Call your salon's electricity provider to learn about your options. ENERGY Crave Nail Spa, Tampa, Fla. This salon was created using eco-friendly design materials, including bamboo fl ooring, low-VOC paint, and energy-ef cient lighting. Crave features toxin-free services and products such as water-soluble Piggy Paints for children, and a variety of polish brands for adults that are free of parabens, toluene, formaldehyde, and DBP. Owner Jozette Hite also creates sugar scrubs from scratch and incorporates a variety of natural, essential oils into Crave's private-label, paraben-free creams and whipped lotions. E A R T H D A Y H O N O R R O L L >>> n a 0 4 1 4 e c o . i n d d 1 5 8 na0414eco.indd 158 2 / 2 5 / 1 4 3 : 5 9 P M 2/25/14 3:59 PM