Mac-Gray Adds Climate Solution to "Lighten the Load" and Offsets Carbon Emissions from Laundry Machines on 14 Campuses Nationwide through Carbonfund.org

WALTHAM, Mass., March 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Campus laundry services leader Mac-Gray Corporation announced today they have partnered with 14 colleges and universities and Carbonfund.org to offset 100 percent of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions derived from laundry equipment installed on each campus.  Over 21 million pounds of GHG emissions will be offset through a $95,000 investment in Carbonfund.org third-party verified carbon reduction projects.

"We recognize that the first step in lessening laundry's carbon footprint is reducing energy consumption, which is why we recommend the most water- and energy-efficient washers and dryers.  We then rely on our 'Lighten the Load' initiative to offset unavoidable emissions," said Michael Calderaro, Mac-Gray's Vice President of Campus Laundry.

Three methane destruction projects provided by Carbonfund.org were selected based on criteria set forth by the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment 2008 Voluntary Carbon Offset Protocol in that they must represent immediate and verifiable GHG emissions reduction.

The destruction of methane from such projects is important in the fight against global climate change because methane is approximately 23 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.  Such projects not only reduce the amount of methane released into the atmosphere, but also help protect an area's local groundwater, reduce localized air pollution, control odor and produce power for regional electricity grids.

"In selecting a laundry services company for our campus, our University chose Mac-Gray because it is a company that cares about the environment and is willing to invest their own money to offset the carbon footprint that our washers and dryers produce. This partnership is an important part of the university's overall sustainability initiative," says Ron Dalton, director of housing at the University of South Carolina Upstate in Spartanburg, S.C.

"Mac-Gray's campus initiative is a valuable offering for college and university campuses that are reducing or planning to minimize their carbon footprint," said Carbonfund.org President Eric Carlson. "We are proud to partner with Mac-Gray in helping to make this solution available and applaud the colleges and universities around the country that are participating in the initiative."

As part of its Clean & Green Vision, Mac-Gray provides its "Lighten the Load" carbon reduction initiative on 14 campuses including: Colorado College, Colorado State University, Eastern Connecticut State University, Keene State College, Salisbury University, Stonehill College, University of Montevallo, UNC Charlotte, UNC Wilmington, USC Aiken, USC Upstate and Western Carolina University.  Mac-Gray applauds the commitments by the academic institutions to making environmental sustainability a priority in all aspects of campus life.

"We are proud to participate in campus sustainability initiatives that help mitigate climate change and further promote environmental awareness among students," said Kourtney Barnes, Mac-Gray's Director of Sustainability Initiatives.

About Mac-Gray Corporation

Founded in 1927, Mac-Gray derives its revenue principally through the contracting of debit-card- and coin-operated laundry facilities in multi-unit housing facilities such as apartment buildings, college and university residence halls, condominiums and public housing complexes. Mac-Gray manages approximately 88,000 laundry rooms located in 43 states and the District of Columbia. Mac-Gray also sells and services commercial laundry equipment to retail laundromats and other customers through its product sales division. To learn more about Mac-Gray, visit the Company's website at www.macgray.com

About Carbonfund.org

Carbonfund.org is the leading nonprofit carbon reduction and climate solutions organization, making it easy and affordable for individuals, businesses and organizations to reduce their climate impact by supporting third-party validated renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects. Carbonfund.org has over 450,000 individual supporters and works with over 1,300 business and nonprofit partners including Discovery, Motorola, Amtrak, Dell, JetBlue, Mac-Gray, and Staples. Please visit www.carbonfund.org.

SOURCE Mac-Gray Corporation