Published 09-15-08
Submitted by Mac-Gray Services, Inc.
WALTHAM, MA. - September 15, 2008 - Mac-Gray Campus Solutions, North America's premier contract operator of card- and coin-operated laundry facilities in college and university residence halls, has announced that it is partnering with Carbonfund.org, one of the country’s leading carbon offset organizations, in an effort to make its college and university accounts carbon neutral. By joining Carbonfund.org's CarbonFree Partner program, Mac-Gray is now part of a national movement of businesses and organizations that are leading the fight against global warming.
Carbonfund.org's CarbonFree Partner program supports renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects in the United States and abroad to reduce CO2 pollution and help hasten the country’s transition to a clean energy future.
The partnership is part of Mac-Gray's "Lighten the Load' program which is offered to college and university accounts. This year, Keene State College in Keene, N.H., Salisbury University in Salisbury, M.D. and Stonehill College in Easton, M.A. are all participating in the program and are among the first institutions in the United States that are operating "carbon neutral" laundry rooms.
"Managing our impact on the environment has long been a part of doing business at Mac-Gray; it is yet another dimension of what we call "Intelligent Laundry." We will continue to make this a serious priority for our company in the future and will work to involve our customers and partners in our efforts," said Stewart G. MacDonald, Mac-Gray's chairman and chief executive officer.
"Campuses are one of the best places for cutting carbon footprints," said Eric Carlson, Executive Director of Carbonfund.org. "Students are engaged and aware of climate change and they understand the need to make an individual difference. Mac-Gray already let's them do that with its energy efficient washers and dryers. Now, thanks to our new partnership, they are taking an extra step and making their campus accounts carbon free."
The program is in sync with Mac-Gray’s Clean and Green Vision supporting environmental sustainability through the use of high-efficiency front-load washers and dryers, which can cut water and energy usage up to 50 percent compared to traditional top-loading machines. To learn more about Mac-Gray's Clean and Green Vision, please visit cleanandgreenvision.com.
About Mac-Gray Corporation
Founded in 1927, Mac-Gray derives its revenue principally through the contracting of debit-card and coin operated laundry facilities in multi-unit housing facilities such as apartment buildings, college and university residence halls, condominiums and public housing complexes. Mac-Gray manages approximately 80,000 laundry rooms located in 43 states and the District of Columbia. Mac-Gray also sells, services and leases commercial laundry equipment to commercial laundromats and institutions through its product sales division. This division also includes Mac-Gray's MicroFridge business, where Mac-Gray sells its proprietary MicroFridge line of products, which are combination refrigerators/freezers/microwave ovens utilizing patented Safe Plug circuitry. MicroFridge and Maytag products bear the ENERGY STAR(R) designation. To learn more about Mac-Gray, visit the Company's Web site at www.macgray.com.
About Carbonfund.org
Carbonfund.org is one of the country's leading carbon reduction and offset organizations, making it easy and affordable for individuals, businesses and organizations to reduce their climate impact. Carbon offsets enable individuals and business to reduce carbon dioxide emissions they are responsible for in their everyday lives by supporting renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects where they are most cost effective. Carbonfund.org works with over 700 corporate and nonprofit partners including Discovery, Volkswagen, Amtrak, Dell, Orbitz, Staples and JetBlue.
About Mac-Gray Services: Founded in 1927, Mac-Gray derives its revenue principally through the contracting of debit-card- and coin operated laundry facilities in multi-unit housing facilities such as apartment buildings, college and university residence halls, condominiums and public housing complexes. Mac-Gray manages approximately 80,000 laundry rooms located in 43 states and the District of Columbia. Mac-Gray also sells, services and leases commercial laundry equipment to commercial laundromats and institutions through its product sales division. This division also includes Mac-Gray's MicroFridge business, where Mac-Gray sells its proprietary MicroFridge line of products, which are combination refrigerators/freezers/microwave ovens utilizing patented Safe Plug circuitry. MicroFridge and Maytag products bear the ENERGY STAR(R) designation. To learn more about Mac-Gray, visit the Company's Web site at www.macgray.com. About Mac-Gray's Clean and Green Vision(TM): As America's premier laundry facilities contractor, we make it a priority to foster environmentally responsible behavior among our customers, partners and employees. You might say it's in our DNA. For example, back in the 1960s, we introduced the first cashless laundry systems, the precursor to today's Smart Cards. We did this not just to improve convenience for our customers, but to cut the number of trips needed to collect money and service equipment - the first of many Mac-Gray programs that were both planet friendly and business smart. Our commitment to energy efficiency goes well beyond the machines we offer. A glance at some other laundry initiatives shows the scope of our green program.
Simply stated, managing our impact on the environment has long been a part of doing business at Mac-Gray; it is yet another dimension of what we call "Intelligent Laundry." We will continue to make this a serious priority for our company in the future and work to involve our customers and partners in our efforts. Please join us in helping to preserve the fabric of our planet.
Mac-Gray's Corporate Web site: www.macgray.com Mac-Gray Campus Solutions: www.campus-solutions.net Mac-Gray's Clean and Green Vision(TM): www.cleanandgreenvision.com
More from Mac-Gray Services, Inc.