EcoBusiness Success - Roy's Pools & Spas

Published on February 25, 2011

Cornwall, ON -- Roy's Pools and Spas has successfully completed the Cornwall Carbon Reduction Initiative project, EcoBusiness. This venture assists local companies as they adapt to the changing economic climate. Since today's market is rapidly changing as communities focus more and more on environmental sustainability, EcoBusiness provided guidance to several businesses in SD&G transition to this new economy. Mike Bedard, owner of Roy's Pools accepted the challenge and has enhanced his business' environmental sustainability and has big plans to further reduce his carbon footprint. EcoBusiness supported Roy's Pools to become aware of eco-friendly procedures and provided assistance towards integrating more environmentally sustainable practices into its business operations.

Roy's Pools, located at 1395 Rosemount Avenue in Cornwall, is on the right path towards maintaining and improving its new label as an EcoBusiness. Mike Bedard already had his mind set on developing his pool business into an eco-friendly establishment before taking the EcoBusiness challenge. After completing the self-evaluation, Roy's Pools had realized its current choices and has accepted new actions.

To reduce paper consumption, Roy's Pools encourages communication by email and keeps printing to a minimum. All phone and in-store messages are transferred into emails for employee contact. To further commit to paper reduction, Bedard is currently looking into a fax modem, which will allow documents to be faxed directly from a computer, and received directly onto a computer without requiring a printed hard copy. Also on the agenda is to switch to post-consumer paper in printers and photocopiers.

To add life to the store and to promote good health, Bedard will be adding more live plants to the interior of the building. Understanding that indoor tropical plants have a relaxing affect on people, clean the air, promote good health, and can make people more productive and awake by adding oxygen to the air, Bedard will also add greenery to the exterior as well. Planting trees and gardens in front of the building are on the long-term radar as well as enthusiastic plans to construct a green roof on top of the building.

There are many benefits to a green roof including reduced energy costs, longer roof lifespan, better soundproofing, reduction in city-emitted heat, and improved outdoor air quality. As Cornwall continues to develop and more structures are being built and less greenery is in existence in the Brookdale Ave. stretch of the city, a green roof will assist with the environmental well-being of the city's air quality.

The staff at Roy's Pools already recycles, and Bedard deals with some suppliers who take back packaging for re-use. Recycling bins are made accessible for staff and Bedard encourages staff to keep waste consumption to a minimum. To further support recycling and the elimination of plastic water bottles in the work place, staff will be treated with company-branded mugs and bottles. Styrofoam has already been eliminated from the work place.

Not only is office furniture reused before tossed to the curb, a lot of second hand or refurbished items are stored at Roy's Pools. If a customer is in need of an old part that's hard to find or prefers something second-hand, Bedard has an entire collection of used parts that would do the trick, which can be less expensive, at times, than brand new. Plus, products are being saved from landfills.

LED track lights are an option for Roy's Pools in the near future and there are plans to eliminate any incandescent bulbs left in the store. This complete switch will not only lower the electrical bill, but also lowers the store's carbon footprint. CFLs use 67% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last longer.

Additional initiatives include turning off equipment when not in use; maintaining a programmable thermostat; saving water by ensuring that leave taps are not left dripping and leaks are fixed immediately. To further preserve water, Bedard will be installing displacement toilet dams in toilet reservoirs in the near future.

Being a business that sells and installs pools, sometimes harsh chemicals are hard to eliminate, however Bedard has a good selection of products that are more environmentally friendly than your average pool chemical. The staff also ensures that hazardous materials including light bulbs, batteries, paints and chemicals are safely disposed of.

Cornwall Carbon Reduction Initiative is proud to announce Roy's Pools and Spas as an EcoBusiness.

EcoBusiness is a project of the Cornwall Carbon Reduction Initiative. This project has received funding support from the Eastern Ontario Development Program. The Eastern Ontario Development Program (EODP) is a $10-million Government of Canada initiative which promotes socio-economic development in rural Eastern Ontario, encourages a competitive and diversified regional economy, and contributes to the successful development of business and job opportunities and sustainable, self-reliant communities.