* What: Environmentally friendly window cleaning service
* Company: SqueekyGreen
* Location: Owner Justin Tate can be reached at 423-827-4915 to schedule a commercial or residential window cleaning.
* How it’s green: Everything that is used to clean – from the cleaning liquid to the mops and towels – is made of all-natural materials. Tate says instead of using a cleaning product loaded with chemicals, he makes his cleaning liquid from water, vinegar and Greenlife soap. “If it sprays in my face, that’s OK, because there are no chemicals,” he said.
* How long will it last: Most windows need to be cleaned at least twice a year, according to Tate. He said the best times are usually in the spring and fall.
* Why do it this way? After making the transition to using only green products in his home, Tate decided to expand his efforts of reducing his carbon footprint.
* Plans for expanding: Tate has been thinking about franchising his business, but has no plans yet. He hopes to continue to grow his business and hire more staff as his client base grows.
* Advice for others considering green initiatives: Helping the environment doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, Tate said. He advises that people begin by taking small steps to reduce their carbon footprint, and work up to the bigger ideas.
* Is environmentalism an essential part of the business and why? Environmentalism is at the core of Tate’s business and lifestyle. He said his main motivator to go green was the birth of his son, and thinking he needed to do his part to keep the planet healthy so his son could have a nice place to live as he grows up.