Certum Solutions, a one-stop shop for business technology using integrated solution stacks and peripheral hardware with QuickBooks software at their base, has awarded a $5,000 grant to Fayetteville, N.C.-based Cape Fear Botanical Garden for encouraging the use of reusable water bottles for healthy hydration and reduced waste.

The grant was awarded based on an essay contest for Earth Day and continuous attention to the environment throughout the year. Businesses were encouraged to tell a story through an essay about how they are helping preserve the environment. According to the Garden’s essay, the Garden recently installed an Elkay Bottle Filling Station and Bubbler in the Entry Pavilion of the Wyatt Visitors Pavilion Complex. The touchless bottle filler is easy to use and has a minimal splash to reduce water waste. The system’s antimicrobial protection components inhibit the growth of mold and mildew to provide cleaner, safer drinking water.

“We were very impressed with the Garden’s innovative way they are helping our planet thrive,” said Katie Bunschoten, president of Certum Solutions. “As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Garden secured a discounted price of $1,488 for the Elkay Bottle Filling Station and Bubbler, so the grant of $5,000 will assist the Garden in replacing existing water bubblers in three locations, including the Classroom Corridor, Administration Wing, and Grand Hall entryway.”