Editorial: Going green saves green

As if cleaning the environment and helping stave off devastating climate change weren't incentive enough to go green, here's another reason: It will save you money. Lots of money.

Fall River-based manufacturer Lightolier has shown just how significantly going green can impact the bottom line. The manufacturer of energy-efficient lighting fixtures has saved millions by eliminating the use of trichloroethylene, a toxic chemical used for degreasing metal parts. The liquid solvent, known as TCE, is a nasty chemical that can cause damage to the nervous system, heart, lungs, kidneys and liver. It is also blamed for causing cancer and immune system diseases. Released into the environment, TCE evaporates into the atmosphere. It can also trickle into ground water, potentially contaminating the water supply.

To its credit, Lightolier recognized the problem and set to work on finding a solution. An in-house engineer designed machines that worked without chemical solvents, allowing the company to eschew TCE. Eliminating the 1.25 million pounds of toxic chemicals the company had emitted over a decade saves the environment and more than $2 million for the company.

But Lightolier didn't stop there. The company embraced the energy-efficient philosophy at work in the creation of its product, switching to high-efficiency motors and initiating an in-house green campaign, encouraging employees to conserve by doing simple things like turning off the lights when leaving a room. As a result, Lightolier saved $140,000 in electricity costs in the last year.

"It means a lot to us that all our employees were able to achieve this," said Ronald Westgate Jr., plant engineer. "It's something to be proud of."

Indeed it is. Lightolier should serve as a model for other manufacturing plants. The company has shown how it is done. There's no reason every other manufacturer can't do the same thing. Refusing to do so hurts everyone, including themselves.