Lamin-Art

Driving hybrid cars

We are driving hybrid cars… and greatly reducing our tailpipe emissions!

Emphasis on being environmentally responsible or “green” has become widespread. What can get hidden behind the publicity of the environmental movement is the reality that the people in the commercial design business do care about the environment and see that action is essential.

Here at Lamin-Art, we are trying to go beyond just making our products eco-friendly. We are striving to make our entire business eco-responsible.

In 2006, while researching ways to decrease our carbon footprint, we realized that our company cars, although necessary, were a large source of pollution. By September 2007, we had traded in all of our company cars for a fleet of Toyota Prius which feature Hybrid Synergy Drive technology.

These hybrid sedans are the most environmentally-friendly cars on the market and received the highest “Green Score” from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. This score takes into account a car’s miles per gallon city (48 for the Prius) and highway (45), as well as its tailpipe emissions.

Tailpipe emissions are overall gases released from the tailpipe of a car which contribute to pollution. Most of these gases, such as Carbon Dioxide and Methane are greenhouse gases which trap heat. An over-abundance of these gases have played a key role in global warming. The Prius boasts 70 percent less tailpipe emissions that the average car. Multiply that by the 15 vehicles we purchased for our architectural representatives and executive management teams and you have a significant reduction in our company’s carbon footprint.

As a bonus, we also increased our fuel efficiency. Now it costs our company under $50 to fill a 12-gallon tank. We are also getting more bang for our buck with that tank of gas. A Toyota Prius can travel 493 miles on one fill-up. That’s 100 miles longer than the state of Illinois. We are conserving resources and decreasing our dependency on expensive foreign oil, as we have cut our fuel consumption by more than half. Plus, as gas prices continue to climb nationwide, we’re saving money too.

Thus our transportation move has been smart for our business and smart for the environment. It is a great example of the goals of our eco-enable project, which pushes us to develop environmentally-friendly products and environmentally-responsible practices in business and life.