A free way to green up your business

DAYTON, OH (WDTN) - Getting a haircut or massage may not seem very Earth Day friendly ... But if you've ever been to Square One Salon in Downtown Dayton, you would know differently.

"We recycle everything that we can here, from the glass to the aluminum, to the paper products said Laura Belle", Square One Salon and Spa Manager.

However at this Salon that is only the tip of the proverbial "melting iceberg". Ordinary light bulbs have been converted to Compact florescents, saving energy. Disposable cleaning pads changed to reusable swabs, even the cleaning solutions have been changed... dramatically lowering the pollutants being dumped into the environment. Another feature Square One offers is the ability for customers to choose earth friendly products.

"We partner with Aveda which is a huge environmental company, their products are all derived from the purest plant essences", says Laura. The Aveda products are also 97 percent post consumer recyclable but being a small business, they didn't get here over night.

Environmental Experts like Larry Brown from the Aullwood Audubon Center Helped. Together a group of professionals, each specializing in different fields come for one two hour stretch to analyze your business. Everything from waste, energy, and products used is considered during the sustainability audit.

Larry Brown, the Projects Coordinator at Aullwood Audubon Center said, "Its free to the client. We have experts that come in and give the assessments at no charge and you'll get a report and an analysis of our recommendations and ways you can help the environment."

Since this project is supported by a grant this service dries up come September and with only a limited number of times available, spots are filling up fast. If your interested in having your business evaluated call Larry Brown at the Aullwood Audubon Center at 937-890-7360.