How Green Can You
Go?
By Mike Sawchuk,
Enviro-Solutions
Facility service
providers (FSPs) and jansan distributors must start viewing Green cleaning as a
business opportunity. Often, facility managers are turning to these two
channels to help their facilities transfer from conventional to Green cleaning
systems during the procurement of such products and to execute the actual
cleaning duties. The result of this is that the relationships FSPs and
distributors have with these clients are considerably stronger today.
Green cleaning is
best implemented when all products and equipment are contributing to a
facility’s healthy indoor environment. However, it is not uncommon for a
facility manager to transfer to Green cleaning in increments – from a very
minor, cost neutral level to a much more expanded, holistic approach. And, FSPs
and distributors can help with this transfer by recognizing that there are
generally three levels of Green cleaning implementation.
The Green Step
Ladder
Usually, the first
step in transferring from conventional to environmentally preferable cleaning
and maintenance systems is by switching to Green cleaning chemicals and paper
products. In most cases, this requires little or no added expense for the
client and, even though it is just the first step, it can play a significant
role in protecting the health of the indoor environment.
Select third-party
Green certified products by EcoLogo(M) or Green Seal®. These products were
tested, analyzed and earned certification because they are environmentally
preferable, cost effective, and work as well as – if not better than –
conventional cleaning products.
Another area of
focus is to be careful not to simply switch a few of the cleaning products, but
continue using traditional products for the rest of the applications and then
stop. The more powerful cleaners such as bowl and urinal, strippers, carpet
extraction, carpet spotter, odor eliminators, etc. should also be switched.
EcoLogo and Green Seal have criteria and certified products for all these
applications.
Paper products
should also be certified or meet the standards set forth by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. These standards require paper products to
contain recycled materials and are processed without the use of bleach or its derivatives.
Level two of
transferring to Green cleaning and maintenance systems is much more involved
and requires the selection of environmentally preferable cleaning tools and
equipment, including carpet extractors, vacuum cleaners, floor machines and other
products. Microfibre cloths and mop heads, which use less chemical and are more
absorbent than conventional cleaning cloths and mop heads, are examples of less
expensive Green tools.
A common problem
often overlooked is that a great deal of the soil entering a facility is walked
in from the outside. Therefore, taking steps to keep this soil and other
contaminants from entering the facility, such as strategic and sufficient mat
placement, reduces the facility’s cleaning needs as it works to keep the indoor
environment healthy. Incorporating a high-performance matting system throughout
a facility can trap up to 80 per cent of the soil and is also required in a
Green program.
However, some
expensive tools, such as enhanced air-filtration vacuum cleaners, are necessary
in level two. These machines have a significant positive impact on indoor air
quality. Additionally, machines certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute are
tested and proven to be very effective at soil removal and also help improve
the appearance of carpets.
Selected floor
machines must have built-in vacuum systems and shrouds over the base of the
unit to trap and contain dust particulates while performing floor care tasks.
Chemical dilution systems are also important because they optimize chemical
product use, which assures that just enough chemical is used for satisfactory
cleaning – a crucial component of Green cleaning.
Extractors used in
a Green cleaning program must be low-moisture machines and should be able to
heat cleaning solution/water to over 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Low-moisture
machines, as the name implies, use less water – approximately one gallon per
minute – compared to conventional extractors, which can use as much as four
gallons. Less water improves carpet drying time, which minimizes the
possibility that harmful mould or mildew will develop. And, hot water plays a
crucial role in improving the effectiveness of the carpet cleaning chemicals.
This means less chemical may be necessary.
The final and
highest step in Green cleaning implementation, level three, takes more of a
holistic view of the facility. This entails viewing the entire operation and
maintenance needs of the facility, including:
- The adoption of pest management
systems that use few or no pesticides.
- Enhanced filtering systems on HVAC
units.
- Landscaping that minimizes water
use.
- Recycling programs.
- The installation of touchless
restroom fixtures.
- Proper ventilation of janitorial
closets and proper product storage of cleaning tools, chemicals and
equipment.
- Formation of a stewardship program
so that building managers, occupants, as well as FSPs and distributors
play an ongoing monitoring role in a facility’s Green cleaning
implementation.
CUSTOMER BENEFITS
Another issue that
will also benefit the relationships of FSPs and distributors with their
clients, as mentioned earlier, is when customers see the tangible results of
Green cleaning in the form of cost savings. Depending on the level of the
program, customers can expect to see “dollar gains” and savings in areas such
as:
- Reductions in operating costs,
especially waste removal, water and energy.
- Rebates and tax benefits through
local, state and federal government programs.
- Less worker absenteeism as well as
improved worker productivity and morale.
- Reduced workers’ compensation
claims and reduction of insurance costs.
And, other savings
are possible as well. The Wausau Insurance Company estimates that the
installation of high-performing matting systems not only keeps soils from
entering the facility, but can also reduce slips and falls by as much as 30 per
cent – a savings that can be passed on to building and business owners. And, it
is estimated that incorporating Green cleaning and other Green features may
save building and business owners as much as $17 billion to over $48 billion
annually.
In addition to
these benefits, customers should realize that going Green makes good business
sense. Green mortgage-backed securities are now being formed that offer
building developers and business reduced financing if Green cleaning and other
environmentally preferable systems are incorporated. Already, a Green bank has
been started in San Francisco, CA, that only loans money to facilities and
businesses that meet specific Green standards.
Along with
financial benefits, we must also keep in mind that we are helping to protect
our planet by reducing air and water pollution. Although it is difficult to
quantify our role, it is hard to deny the significance of improving our
processes in order to minimize the environmental impact.
For these reasons
and others, cleaning professionals should always view Green cleaning as not
only a business opportunity, but a social opportunity as well. We are helping
customers save money in a variety of ways, while minimizing the impact cleaning
has on people, the cleaning staff, occupants and visits to the facilities as
well as our environment, and, therefore, solidifying our relationships with our
clients.
