BRAD TRENT
New York Beverage's Green Push
Lewis Gold is blunt. "I'm not a tree-hugger," says Gold, founder and CEO of New York Beverage Wholesalers, a beer, juice, water, and soda distributor in the Bronx. "But I'm environmentally conscious and I see no reason for waste." So when Gold bought a building for his 11-person, $4 million company, he saw an opportunity to make his operation a lot more efficient.
The biggest change at New York Beverage was installing 72 solar panels that help power the 7,000-square-foot facility (which still carries the "Auto Body" signage of the previous owner). Government incentives covered all but $10,000 of the cost. Gold lowered electricity use by upgrading his refrigeration gear. A delivery truck that runs on diesel and a more energy-efficient forklift also help reduce costs. Says Gold: "I have children, and I want the world to be a better place for them."
