Rebekah Paul
Case Western Reserve University - Weatherhead School of Management
Chris Laszlo
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Mitchell’s sustainable business model is actually a simple philosophy: support the local community and leave a better world for generations to come. Mitchell’s is able to complete both of these goals by choosing local suppliers. Obviously local suppliers support the local community but this choice also betters the environment by minimizing Mitchell’s carbon footprint. Mitchell’s furthered their contributions to a healthier environment through a recent installation of energy efficient lighting for which they were awarded the Energy Ambassador award.
Pete and Mike were raised in University Heights and are proud to call Cleveland their home. They value the community and strive to provide products their customers can feel good about. What started as a corporate initiative from the founding brothers has now become a passion in each store owner and employee.
In 2014, Mitchell’s was awarded the Energy Ambassador award after installing efficient lighting in their store in Ohio City. The investment was projected to save 182,200 annual kilowatt hours and reduce annual CO2 emissions by 341,300 pounds. In the two years since implementation, the savings are approximately equal to 365K kilowatt hours and 680K pounds of CO2.
These large savings are a result of significant changes in the store. In addition to LED lighting throughout the W. 25th Street store, Mitchell’s installed skylights, energy efficient refrigeration compressors and controls and a high efficiency HVAC system. According to a featured article on FreshwaterCleveland.com, “in the winter, exhaust from the industrial freezers will help heat the building.” The energy savings contributed by these products are extended by daylight sensors on the LED light fixtures and windows with a highly rated solar heat gain coefficient.
Mitchell's energy efficient lighting reduces environmental harm but does not necessarily create a net positive impact. The company increases its sustainability efforts through local sourcing and with flourishing employees.
The average price of a kilowatt hour in the Cleveland area is $0.13; therefore, the monetary value of the 2 year energy savings is approximately equal to $47,450. Additional benefits to the business of efficient energy and local sourcing are listed below:
Local suppliers are able to provide the freshest high-quality ingredients. The farms that Mitchell's has partnered with are located an hour away from the Rocky River location. The growers and producers are sustainable-minded and committed to providing the finest quality ingredients. These quality ingredients give Mitchell’s ice cream an advantage over the competition.
Buying within the local community decreases the transportation cost associated with the ingredient or product. Transportation costs not only include carbon emissions but the cost of gas, refrigerated trucks and driver wages. Lower costs are a saving opportunity for the company. As mentioned above, the partnership farmers are only an hour away which translates to very low transportation costs.
Daylight sensors on the lights prevent lights from being turned on unnecessarily. This feature helps keep Mitchell’s electricity bills low.
As mentioned above, the environmental impact of Mitchell’s energy efficient lighting is significant. CO2 reductions are over 340,000 per year. This projected reduction in CO2 emissions is only from the Ohio City location. When Mitchell’s expands their lighting project to other locations, the environmental benefits will be even more. The social benefits of Mitchell’s project are equally important and numerous. A few of these benefits are listed below.
With the brighter lights provided by LED bulbs and skylights, employees and consumers have a generally more positive mood.
Employees are proud to work for a company that actively supports a healthier environment.
Customers are attracted to a company that has not only delicious products but connects them to a greater good.
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Abbey Vickers, Store Manager
Mitchell's Ice Cream is a handcrafted, locally sourced ice cream store based in the Cleveland area. Founded by brothers Pete and Mike, the franchise was built on making delicious, wholesome products and caring for the environment. From partnering with local suppliers to using energy efficient lighting in their stores, sustainability practices are rooted in everything they do.