CASE STUDY No. 9638
KEY TERMS OFFICE CARPET--REUSE
GTE TELOPS
5 Campus Circle, Suite 300
Westlake, TX 76262
Contact: Leo Scott, Facility Planning Manager, Mail Code HQS03A37; Tel: 214-724-3977.
Summary
Refurbishing office carpet saves one-third to one-half the cost of new carpet, not counting the added cost of installation and disposal.
Action
When Leo Scott, facility planning manager of GTE TELOPS, noted that the office carpet was showing signs of wear, but not damage, he asked Milliken Carpet, Inc., if it was possible to simply wash, comb, cut, and redye the carpet. (His contact at Milliken was Vince Foody, business manager: 706-880-5511.) Milliken conducted 18 months of laboratory experiments to see if the suggestion from GTE was feasible. The result was the development of a proprietary process which extends the life of commercial modular carpet up to twice the normal span, according to Milliken. The process saves a significant amount of money compared to replacement and reduces the load on landfills.
Sooner or later, most carpeting does find its way to a landfill. Milliken's process delays the inevitable. Besides cleaning, the rejuvenation process may include retexturing and recoloring of carpet to blend with new office decor. The New England Company, Chevron Park, and AMOCO also have used the Milliken process and report the same experience as GTE--cost savings from extended carpet life, avoided disposal cost of old carpet, and improved appearance of carpet.
To illustrate the volume of material and dollars involved, consider the GTE situation. Carpeted office space at the suburban Dallas location approximates 655,000 square feet. Using an average carpet weight of 1.5 pounds per square foot, the disposed weight would approximate 982,500 pounds, or about 491 tons. The cost to dispose of that weight of carpet at $25 a ton would be about $12,300.
GTE's original carpet varied in design. The company teamed with Milliken to devlop a new design that blended well with wall coverings and furnishings.
In the case of AMOCO (cited above), the company donated its refurbished carpeting to Colorado State University, out of concern not only about disposal cost but also the fact that old carpet manufactured from synthetics will remain virtually intact in a landfill for hundreds of years--a valuable resource buried. The Milliken process resulted in a noticeable increase in pile height of the once crushed and worn AMOCO carpet, the oil company reported.
Payback
GTE estimates that the payback occurred almost immediately. The calculation of
savings was based on new carpet price of $25 to $35 per square yard, plus installation,
compared to the reconditioning cost of $15 to $20 per square yard. Additional savings
accrued from avoiding the cost of old carpet removal labor, and hauling and disposal cost.