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Community Corner

Local Businesses Can 'Rinse and Save' Hundreds of Dollars a Year

With energy bills as high as ever, going green is a great way to cut back and give back to the environment.

Business owners in Wilmette, Kenilworth, Northbrook and Evanston areas have the opportunity to save money and spend less on their Nicor energy bill. Go To Green LLC has teamed up with Nicor Energy's Efficiency Program, as well as local non-profits Go Green Wilmette and the Business Alliance for a Sustainable Evanston (BASE) to introduce a pilot program that provides free low-flow, pre-rinse sprayers to qualifying businesses with commercial kitchens.

These sprayers can save companies more than 100 gallons of water a day when used for just two hours, as well as an average of $500 a year on water, as well as gas bills. Interested business owners have until the end of May to enlist in the program.* The only requirement? Establishments must have commercial kitchens. In turn, Go To Green drops off the new low-flow sprayer for free. 

“My company is always looking for simple, smart steps to become more environmentally sustainable," Paige Finnegan, Go To Green's managing member told Patch, "The Rinse & Save campaign fits the bill perfectly-almost every restaurant has a prerinse sprayer, and they use them constantly when washing dishes."

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Replacing a prerinse sprayer takes a few seconds to do, and with the Nicor rebate, absolutely every restaurant can participate and save some money, Finnegan added.

"Together these restaurants will create a huge reduction in their energy and water use," she said.

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Although this particular program is available to Chicagoland area businesses, similar projects exist across the country. The pre-rinse spray valve/water cost calculator can help business owners, as well as residents, learn more about the efficiency of their current spray valves and water heaters. “The goal of the campaign is to provide a quick and easy efficiency solution for local food service operations, thereby increasing the economic and environmental sustainability of the entire community,” says Go To Green.

While this pilot program is only available for businesses, residents can join in on greening their bills by purchasing a nozzle or valve for their home offered at and .

“Restaurant owners that get inspired to look around for other opportunities to become more energy and water-efficient,” Finnegan said. “Tell your favorite restaurant owner or manager about the campaign!”

*The deadline for the Rinse and Save program was extended from March 30 to the end of May.

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