Carwash mentions that, in the past, you didn’t have to worry about what chemicals or how much water you used in car cleaning. Today’s environmentally sensitive reality means that we have to pay attention to these details. Technology has grown and increased the efficiency with which car washes consume water and detergent. Advances in material science and chemistry have made it easier and cheaper to get a car clean today than it ever has before. But what about the environment?
Consumers have started looking at businesses from an environmental perspective long before the green revolution of the 60s and 70s. Today’s buyers are more informed about where their products come from and are more likely to penalize a company for investing in non-environmentally-sustainable products. Even owners of a mobile car wash need to be careful of their chemical usage and emissions. Eco-friendly car-wash solutions seem too expensive for many companies to invest in, but what if they could pay for themselves?
Monetary benefits from Power Load Reduction
CNBC noted that electricity bills are set to rise by a whopping 10% in many major American cities this summer. For a car wash, this might mean excess overhead as you pay for the power to run everything in your location. There are ways around this, and one of them is a handy invention called a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD). A VFD can be compared to a dimmer switch, lowering the motor’s power consumption until it needs that extra boost. They’re not a new technology, but they’re slowly gaining acceptance in industries thanks to their energy-efficient design. A carwash can easily save on its power consumption by combining a VFD with reasonably inexpensive and technologically advanced controls (like a Raspberry Pi, for example). It’s a lot easier than trying to scale back your operations to deal with your increased overhead.
Reduce Reuse Recycle
Carwashes are actually the most efficient way for a consumer to get their car clean while saving money. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection notes that most commercial car washes consume about two-thirds less water than if the consumer were to wash their cars themselves. Water recycling increases this efficiency even more. Most commercial water recycling equipment is already on the market, just waiting for businesses to realize a more extensive bottom line by purchasing them.
Cost Vs. The Benefits
As with any commercial enterprise, there’s always a concern whether it makes sense to put money into an investment. How long will it take for the benefits to kick in? Going eco-friendly not only allows a business to deal with its civic duty and do its part to slow climate change, but it also appeals to consumers. Most individuals today have strong opinions on several issues, and standing up for one of them is likely to net more customers on principle. As with everything, a business should undergo a cost-benefit analysis before investing a significant amount in new technology. However, based on what we know about consumers, they’re likely to see considerable returns in less time than they expect.