Graphics Plus owner, David Hell in his print shop in White Center. Photo by Robert J. Pennington

WHITE CENTER – “Check out the color!” David Hell exults as he shows me the new lights in his print warehouse in the sprawling White Center Industrial District. He’s had Graphics Plus, a full-service graphic arts, design and printing service at this location for about 15 years. Recently, he joined NBIS, the (Network for Business Innovation and Sustainability) and learned about Seattle City Light’s Quick Lighting Upgrade Initiative. This fit right in with David’s commitment to reducing the environmental impacts of his business as much as possible.

Those impacts traditionally have been pretty substantial in the printing business–volumes of wasted paper, toxic print materials and heavy metal chemical baths–but David had already addressed many of these well before it was a trend to do so. He had already upgraded his production system to a computerized process that eliminated paper waste and the chemical-heavy technologies of printing with metal or paper plates. With more than 38 years in business, he was delighted to learn about another way to save money and further “green” his business–a way made possible by Seattle City Light’s Quick Lighting Upgrade Initiative.

He called Seattle City Light’s Smart Business program and was connected with Industry Program Manager Jerry Wright who gave David a list of contractors and offered follow-up inspection.

A key piece of this program was that it offered the retrofits at virtually no cost to the customer. This 100 percent rebate-subsidy made Seattle City Light one of the only–if not the only–utility in the country offering full funding for lighting change-outs.

City Light and contractor June Hwang of Energy Management Services arranged an energy audit on the building which sits in the La Mexicana Industrial Park which includes four-blocks of mixed-use businesses.

Brighter fluorescent lighting has helped reduce the company's electric bill by about 50 percent. Photo by Susan K. Godfrey

David had standard eight-foot fluorescent tubing in an old T-12 format with magnetic ballasts (the connections at the end of each fixture). They took out the old bulbs and recycled those at Eco-Lights in South Seattle; then installed two four-foot efficient bulbs and new ballasts by Phillips GE. The new bulbs are brighter and cleaner. That helped reduce the electric bill by about 50 percent. The building skylights also bring in natural light.

David is delighted. It goes along with his investment in his new Energy Star-rated Presstek production equipment. Though a substantial investment for Graphics Plus, the new digital prep equipment is efficient, fast, provides top quality plate output and is chemical free. “You have to change to survive,” David says. So, getting the help from City Light to reduce his energy bills further while improving the quality of lighting in his shop is a nice boost for the company and its conservation efforts.

When word about David’s improvements, especially the lighting program, got around to his neighboring businesses, other large businesses became interested.

La Mexicana Operations Manager Bill Frye and owner Keith Bloxham decided that retrofitting the whole complex would be a smart move. Hwang’s crew from Energy Management Services moved in and were able to complete replacing about 500 lights in only about five days.

Because of its great popularity, City Light Spokesman Scott Thomsen says the Conservation Resources program will continue the Quick Lighting Upgrade Initiative, although perhaps at a reduced level. He said it’s a matter of evaluating how the resources are used, comparing costs to benefits, and prioritizing those. Then they will provide rebates and subsidies at an appropriate level.

The fact is, he said, there will be increased demand for power in this area due to increased population using electricity not just for heat and light, but for fancy appliances such as big-screen televisions. Even use of electric vehicles will put more demand on the grid.

Conservation is a crucial component of City Light’s plans for meeting this need. It’s a lot cheaper and much better on the environment to help businesses and other customers conserve energy than to build new power plants. City Light is in year two of a five-year plan to double the amount of energy conserved. Thomsen said that early on, when their subsidies were smaller, they realized they weren’t reaching all small businesses. They were able to move the 100% rebate program forward by emphasizing its ability to reach small business customers while also contributing to new jobs.

Seattle can point to this success story with pride and as an example of how a municipal utility can make a huge impact in its electrical consumption. Case studies of other small businesses that used the City Light program to reduce their energy costs are on the Seattle City Light web site. Details of the conservation program can be found in City Light’s 2008 Annual Report and Environment Report.

The future’s looking brighter–several neighborhoods at a time.

Be sure to check out Graphics Plus online and to learn more about greening your business, contact the Network for Business Innovation and Sustainability at: www.nbis.org.

Paper and print sustainability issues have been part of the recycling dialogue since the tree-hugging sixties and the idea of reusing what we write our memories on and pack our groceries in, jump-started much of the environmental movement that we know today.

Eco-savvy printers like David Hell of Graphics Plus have been part of the conversation for a long time. A native of North Dakota, he spends as much time as he can in the wilderness and is acutely aware of the need for sustainability in the land, and at the printing press. EcoZome caught up with him at his print shop in Seattle, WA.

EZ: What’s being done in the paper industry to minimize the damage to the world’s forests?
DH: Traditional logging practices contribute to water pollution and the destruction of human and wildlife habitats. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) was founded in 1993 to challenge traditional forestry practices and explore sustainable ways to manage forests and the communities that surround them.

EZ: Has it been successful?
DH: Scientifically managed forests promote a healthier environment, enhance water, soil, and air quality, and support biodiversity. FSC certifies that forests around the globe meet these standards. Consumers are looking for positive news about the environment and certification translates into that.

EZ: How does that impact paper?
DH: It used to be people didn’t care what they printed on. Now, people do. Paper is synonymous with wood fiber. Where that wood comes from makes a huge difference. Using wood from a certified forest doesn’t alter the quality of the paper—but it does improve the business experience.

EZ: But doesn’t the public want recycled paper?
DH: Recycled paper is a great thing and consumers were a major force behind its development. Recycled paper also diverts waste from landfills and helps sustain the recycling process. But the average recycled paper only has about 35% recycled fiber and 25% comes from new cut timber. That makes the impact of the FSC management program even more important.

EZ: What other environmentally-friendly things can we do?
DH: Choose paper with pulp that is brightened without chlorine. Trim thoughtfully. You’d be surprised how a little adjustment in a layout can reduce the waste on a print run. I often recommend clients reduce their paper weight by a fraction—from 80 lb. to 70 lb. text, for example. That way, it takes fewer fibers to get the job done. Also, use inks made from renewable sources like soybeans, vegetables, and linseed oil. A good printer can help reduce toxins from pre-press through printing.

EZ: Do you think the print industry does enough to get the word out about paper?
DH: No. We could do a much better job. I think consumers got very comfortable with the idea of recycled paper, but there’s much more that can be done. Printers need to be more proactive with their clients and designers and get more involved. We need to have more consultations with them—earlier in the design path.

EZ: Printing on environmentally-friendly papers can be more expensive. Can people be converted?
DH: Absolutely. They just have to stop focusing on the price point. They have to look at the whole picture. Using eco-friendly paper is a selling point for companies and goes a long way with their customers. They just have to remember that when they look at their bottom line.

EZ: What advice would you give someone looking to print a new piece?
DH: Ask questions. Don’t assume just because a paper says it’s recycled that you can’t go even further into the sustainable world and get great printing results. Look for printers who actively engage in sustainable practices, use smarter papers, and are willing to spend more time with you to figure out the greenest approach.

David Hell is an independent, artisan printer and owner of Graphics Plus. He is the printer for the EcoZome Journal.