Since 2001, WearGuard-Crest, a designer, manufacturer and distributor of corporate uniforms and customized work apparel, has been reducing its carbon footprint by implementing a stage-by-stage sustainability program. Seven years since installing an energy management system (EMS), the ARAMARK Facility Services team has continued to design solutions to keep the company, comprised of three building locations in Norwell, Mass., running as efficiently as possible with an eye toward being environmentally sensitive.

WearGuard-Crest is making great strides in becoming a more socially responsible member of the greater Norwell business community. Below are the documented measures ARAMARK Facility Services have taken in an effort to lessen the company’s environmental impact.

Energy Management System

ARAMARK Facility Services has installed a Honeywell Energy Management System (EMS) to control the lighting schedules throughout the company’s headquarters. The system also monitors the entire building’s heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) set points and reduces energy consumption during high-demand periods. Installed in 2001 and with a return on investment of about two years, the system automatically monitors outside temperatures and brings HVAC units online at optimum times to reduce energy usage.

Demand Control Lighting system

In conjunction with J & R Industrial Wiring and National Grid, ARAMARK Facility Services began a five-month project in October 2007 to install a system from Universal Lighting Technologies (ULT). Most lighting control systems consist of circuits being turned on or off by an EMS. This type of system is currently being replaced at WearGuard-Crest.

The ULT’s direct control lighting (DCL) system being installed combines many features not found in a standard EMS. Using sensors along the windows, the DCL system harvests the daylight and dims fixtures as desired, or automatically increases the lighting in user-designated areas around the windows as the daylight becomes unavailable. Existing schedules are extended under the old system for cleaning and other after-hours projects. With the DCL, the lighting can be adjusted to 50 percent for these purposes. The software allows an authorized user to change the lighting level from 50 percent to 100 percent in 1 percent increments. (See diagram on next page.)

Water Use Reduction Initiatives

ARAMARK Facility Services has been striving to cut energy and water consumption as well as minimizing environmental impact. The first step was to replace all showerheads and aerators with low-volume devices rated at 2.0 gallons per minute (GPM) or less. This action reduces water usage by 20 to 30 percent. The use of auto flushers in conjunction with low-volume toilets and urinals also reduces water waste substantially. In addition, Facility Services utilizes its cleaning staff to find potential areas where waste can be stopped. Every leaking toilet can waste tens of thousands of gallons of water per year. Multiply that figure by dozens of toilets, and the potential for wasted resources and money increases not only in water usage but in sewerage charges as well.

Enlarge this picture Universal Lighting Technologies developed DCL to provide immediate, wireless control of every lighting fixture in a building or multiple buildings.

Green Restrooms

ARAMARK Facility Services is in the initial stages of converting one set of restrooms into totally green facilities. In addition to the standard low-volume toilets and urinals, hands-free faucets and soap dispensers in restrooms, some lavatory upgrades are in the planning stages.

One is an ultra-low volume urinal made by Zurn. It uses 1/8 gallon per flush (GPF) — compared to the normal 1.0 GPF for a low-consumption urinal — and has built in auto flush.

The next step being taken in the plan is to add a Dyson or similar hand dryer. The Dyson unit will dry hands in 12 seconds compared to 22 seconds for a conventional dryer while using up to 80 percent less energy. Green Cleaning

ARAMARK Facility Services employs environmentally sensitive cleaning techniques and products, supplied by Kaivac, to avoid the use of chemically reactive/toxic cleaning products. Toxic chemicals emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These cleaners may cause respiratory and dermatological problems among cleaning staff and clients’ employees. ARAMARK Facility Services type of cleaning, in a commercial/industrial setting, can mean a holistic approach to facility cleaning and maintenance that can provide health benefits, improved productivity, reduced liability and cost savings.

Toxic Materials Source Reduction

ARAMARK Facility Services purchases lamps (manufactured by SLI Sylvania) that contain low amounts of mercury, and ballasts (manufactured by Universal) that do not contain hazardous polychlorinated biphenyls. These purchases help keep energy usage low and limit hazards waste streams. Proper disposal methods are then used — lamps are placed in shipping containers and labeled per Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection guidelines; containers are collected and properly disposed of by Triumvirate Environmental. Using chemical introduction processes, new chemicals must be evaluated and approved before being brought on-site. This process prevents unnecessary use of chemicals that may already have an alternate in place and reduces waste generated by having redundant chemicals in the inventory.

Building Operations Maintenance

ARAMARK Facility Services uses a customized computerized maintenance management system software package that helps schedule equipment maintenance to ensure optimum performance and efficiency. Machinery run times are tracked and equipment can be put on a schedule based on run time rather than a calendar-based schedule. They can also be scheduled due to recurring or persistent problems. Reporting can determine whether machine down time is caused by machinery problems or operator error.

Recycling and Waste to Energy

Collection receptacles are made available to collect glass, aluminum and other recyclable materials. White paper is collected in recycle bins throughout all areas and recycled by Iron Mountain; ARAMARK Facility Services recycles 100 percent of office paper every other week. On average, 18 large bales of corrugated cardboard are recycled per month. Lastly, 364 tons of garbage is sent to SEMASS instead of landfills two to three times per week. There, it is incinerated in a process that helps SEMASS to produce 650,000 megawatts of electricity per year and supplies about 75,000 homes with electricity in local area. (See above.)

Building Operation & Maintenance Staff Education

ARAMARK Facility Services provides continuous training of its people to keep WearGuard-Crest’s waste streams to a minimum. Proper chemical usage and dilution rates for the cleaning staff, strict adherence to EPA rules and proper work practices by our in-house HVAC technician keep ozone depleting refrigerants out of the atmosphere.

Attention to proper upkeep of HVAC systems contributes to lower energy usage, lower fuel usage, and better indoor air quality. The department electrician keeps on top of electrical systems and components by using infrared camera technology; infrared electrical scans quickly and accurately pinpoint hot spots in electrical systems. Thus, this process reduces electrical energy costs by increasing energy efficiency. Training for the entire staff helps reduce chemical inventory, consumables usage, and over-usage, reducing the yearly amount purchased and a reduction in waste disposal.

ARAMARK Facility Services’ staff at WearGuard-Crest receives annual training in proper handling techniques of lamps to prevent breakage and the release of mercury into the atmosphere.

Building Operator Certification

Key members of the ARAMARK Facility Services team at WearGuard-Crest have attended Building Operator Certification (BOC) training provided by Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership. BOC is a competency-based training and certification for building operators offering improved job skills and more comfortable, efficient facilities. Training topics include facility electrical, HVAC and lighting systems, indoor air quality, environmental health and safety, and energy conservation. ARAMARK Facility Services can do its part to maintain and improve the environment and save operating costs as well. Plans are in the works to take advantage of a one day BOC class on Operations & Maintenance for sustainable buildings, which provides an overview of best O&M practices for green or high-performance buildings.


Resource Recovery Process

Step #1
Reuse, Recycle & Compost to Recover Resources

Step #2
Recover Metal and Produce Processed Refuse Fuel

Step #3
Generate Clean, Efficient Energy

Step #4
Recover Metals and Produce Aggregate from Bottom Ash


All trash generated by WearGuard-Crest at any of its three Massachusetts facilities goes to the waste energy plant at SEMASS instead of landfills. For a diagram illustrating the above Resource Recovery Process, visit this article online at www.SustainableFacility.com.