National Lumber uses "Green" Operating Methods
In our offices:
Office functions have been converted to paperless wherever possible. Reports are sent electronically. We are encouraging customers to convert to emailed invoices and statements. Newsletters and advertisements are sent out via email when ever possible. Vendor invoices, quotes and other inquiries are handled via electronic communication.
Autotimers are used for more efficient heating and cooling of our offices. Winter office temperatures are kept just comfortable enough so employees may wear their National fleeces.
Paper and cardboard recycling is reducing our waste significantly. Paper is used on two sides whenever possible.
Computers: Computers are turned off every night to save energy. Computers and printers, when un-repairable or obsolete, are recycled through a specialized vendor so that useful material may be recovered and recycled.
Office ink and copier cartridges are recycled to benefit non-profits' (local schools and animal shelter) fundraisers. Printers are set to the draft setting and color used only when absolutely necessary to extend the life of the cartridges.
Office supplies are carefully managed. Interoffice envelopes are always used and folders and other envelopes reused whenever possible.
Employees can also look around at what they may have accumulated at home and
bring in extra pens, markers and other supplies for use in the store and office.
Lunchroom: Soda and coffee cans are recycled.
In regard to lighting:
Yard lights are on timers.
Store, office and warehouse light usage is monitored and staff assigned to ensure they are off when not needed. We are in the process of installing more motion detectors throughout our facilities.
Equipment improvements: Newton and New Bedford have undergone complete lighting retrofits in 2008 to energy efficient lighting. Salem and Berlin are currently quoting for the same.
In our lumberyards:
In the yards, metal banding, plywood lift wraps and plastic banding are recycled. We use a trash compactor in Mansfield and a compactor for paper and plastic in New Bedford. Compactors save diesel fuel by requiring less trips to empty them. One full compactor equals 3 open-top dumpster and 1 bale of plastic or paper equals 5 bins of the same.
Our fleet of vehicles:
Waste oil from vehicle maintenance is collected and used to heat the maintenance shop. This "cradle to grave" concept offsets the heating expense as well as voids any waste oil removal costs.
Trucks are kept at optimal operating condition with proper tire inflation and tread.
No Idling: Drivers of both trucks & forklifts have a "no idling" directive and truck idling is tracked via Teletrac (company GPS) reports.
Efficient planning of deliveries has always been focus for National Lumber's Shipping division. The shippers use a combination of software and reporting with creative thinking and experience to keep both travel distances and traveling empty to a minimum between our six shipping locations. All delivery vehicles use navigation devices (Garmin) for shortest point-to point distances.
As our grandparents taught us, "Waste not, want not."
