The uniform services company loves sharing new projects happening at our facility. If you have recently passed by our location at 3535 W. Harrison you would have noticed our bright signs with the prideful lion hanging outside our building. That was a project intended to beautify the building, but also to update to our current branding.
Inside our building, the Chicago uniform company installed LED (light emitting diodes) lighting in our production areas. We are excited to have completed this project as it is in line with our overarching effort to reduce energy consumption throughout our facility. In 2008, we consolidated operations to one building and with that updated the technology and equipment to achieve maximum energy efficiency. During the consolidation, Roscoe added skylights and motion-sensored overhead T8 fluorescent lights to reduce energy consumption.
With the addition of the LED lights, this laundry service is able to reduce kilowatts consumed for lighting by over 40%. Energy-efficient lightbulbs like halogen incandescents, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and LEDs typically use about 25%-80% less energy than traditional incandescents and can last 3-25 times longer. Besides being more efficient and long-lasting there are several other benefits. Durability is an important factor, especially in our stockroom where high and long rows of work uniforms are being moved around often. LEDs do not have a filament and therefore increases its overall durability. Furthermore, these bulbs do not cause heat build-up as they only produce 3.4 BTUs/hour compared to 85 for incandescent. If there is no heat build-up, it reduces air conditioning and other maintenance costs in the plant. It also provides a comfortable and safe working environment for the uniform services team members.
Roscoe is also concerned with the environmental impact of our operations and LED lights are not manufactured with mercury which is a toxic. Finally, LEDs are cost-effective as it equals savings over time; having to replace infrequently and upkeep is very minimal. Lighting improves the safety, quality and productivity of our operations overall.
The uniform company was able to complete this project with the help of SomerCor 504 – a non-profit development company certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Through SomerCor’s Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) eligible participants can receive reimbursement grants for qualified permanent building improvements. Roscoe is eligible because our location is in a TIF (Tax Increment Financing) district and our LED project falls under the guidelines.
We are proud to provide a safer environment that leads to higher quality and productivity to our team members and stay true to our efforts of reducing energy consumption. Consider replacing the lighting system in your workplace for benefits all around.
Contact a laundry services representative to get a tour of our state-of-the-art system and facility.
Take Pride!
Contact us to learn more about Roscoe: The Chicago Work Uniform Company
