Corby Felsher, owner of Stapleton Home Services, says a charge lasts two days so half the cars are charged each night.
Stapleton Home Services, one of the earliest Stapleton businesses, operating since 2003, has recently purchased an entire fleet of electric vehicles for the residential and commercial cleaning company. “Our sustainable business practices have changed over time,” says owner Corby Felsher. “Five years ago, the idea of converting our fleet vehicles to electric cars seemed prohibitively expensive. Now the cost of a reliable electric car is comparable to a similar gas vehicle—so it was definitely a great time to switch.”
Felsher explains that when he began considering electric cars for his business, he did some research at a dealership before broaching the subject to his business partners and family. “My wife and kids were really excited,” he says. “My partners were completely supportive—even my mom thought it was a fantastic idea.” The decision was made to purchase an entire fleet of Nissan Leaf electric cars. In service for about seven months now, the cars have proven to be a cost-effective strategy.
“In addition to the savings on fuel and vehicle maintenance, we save employee time spent at the gas station,” Felsher says. “At the end of the day, our employees pull in and plug in.” Services were initially offered in Stapleton and adjacent neighborhoods, but the business model worked best when the service area was limited. By staying in Stapleton, “the number of miles in a single charge gets our teams everywhere they need to go in a workday.” The electric bill to power the entire fleet is less than a quarter of the fuel cost needed to keep his old fleet running. “Honestly, I’m upset I didn’t make the change sooner,” he says.
Other sustainable business practices have continually evolved over the years, saving money and increasing efficiencies. “We don’t use toxic chemicals or bleach in any of the cleaning products we use,” Felsher says. “Our primary cleaning agents are vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. These are safe for customers and pets, but very importantly, safe for our employees to use on a daily basis.” Buying in bulk represents savings on supplies while limiting waste. Fewer plastic containers means less landfill waste.
To limit travel time, vehicle wear and tear, and to increase productivity, customer locations are grouped into “zones.” Cleaning teams regularly work the same zones and get to know the neighborhood. “Neighbors recognize our team members. It’s nice for people in the community to know the service providers working in their area.”
