Switching to environmentally friendly janitorial services and cleaning products is a proven method of saving money for schools and businesses.
Maximizing Profits With Environmentally Friendly Janitorial Services
Over the course of the last two decades, studies into the practical implementation of environmentally friendly cleaning products and services, as well as green or eco-conscious, show high-performance facilities have demonstrated a decrease in costs alongside an improvement in occupant health.
A well-cited example of this was the 2006 renovation of the Old College building at the University of Georgia, which included:
- Switching to microfiber from cloth towels and mops.
- Prioritizing the use of recycled products.
- Reducing the number of cleaning chemicals used.
- Upgrading the HEPA filtered vacuums, and;
- Implementing a cleaning product dilution control system.
The program was a resounding success, garnering nearly immediate support from UGA’s 44,000 students, faculty and staff.
It cost $550 to implement, plus $250 a year to resupply the building and created an annual savings of $700.
Environmentally-Friendly Cleaning Program Saves School $400,000 A Year
The program was expanded to the rest of the school over the course of the next two years, reportedly addressing the concerns of occupants with respiratory issues, and staff who were with child, by reducing the previously used 351 separate cleaning chemicals down to just 3, contributing to a reported savings of $400,000 per year.
Conversely, according to Joseph Grzywacz, a researcher at Florida State University, working in a dirty or polluted environment negatively impacts cognitive function.
The [...] result was that men and women who had jobs that exposed them to a dirty working environment saw a cognitive decline.
Building and Maintaining an Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Program
Building and maintaining an environmentally friendly cleaning program consists of several critical factors, including:
- Start with 'why' - Environmentally friendly cleaning programs can be expensive to implement rapidly, especially on a large scale, which will likely lead to opposition unless all decision makers and occupants understand the benefits to them, their progeny, and their community to focusing on a clean for health first methodology, over cleaning merely for appearance.
- Training - Theoretical and practical training will ensure custodial staff is well educated and competent in the various aspects of environmentally conscious facilities maintenance, including green cleaning product contents, cross-contamination avoidance, appropriate chemical product use, and dilution, as well as safe equipment handling.
- Engagement - Providing a safe and healthy working or learning environment is pointless without the active participation of all building occupants--especially in self-managed areas, such as hand hygiene, as well as adherence to recycling policies. Additionally, communicating these requirements, as well as the personal health advantages for each occupant, has been shown to increase approval and participation.
- Purchasing - Buying, using, repurposing, and recycling products made from and shipped with recyclable or biodegradable materials constructed in a sustainable manner is critical for building a solid foundation for any eco-friendly facilities maintenance or green cleaning program.
- Eliminate Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - VOCs are off-gassed by numerous products we use every day, including ink toner and various cleaning products--most notoriously, carpet cleaning products. Switching to dry carpet cleaning methods saves water, decreases the potential for mold, and as studies have shown, helps eliminate chemicals in the air that reduce occupant cognitive functions. Additionally, where cordoning off the storage and use of products that naturally off-gas VOCs, such as paint or new carpet, increased ventilation and HEPA HVAC filtration, or allowing natural air flow, will significantly improve the health and safety of the building and its occupants.
- Certifications - Numerous certifications exist, allowing participants to pursue and validate proven environmentally friendly cleaning programs, including Green Seals GS-37 standards, as well as the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED-EB green building certification. While certification is not mandatory for success, adherence to the guidelines will assist with knowledgeable and rapid implementation.
References & Resources
- Four Ways To Maintain A Greener Workplace
- Green Cleaning Certification: Gone Green? Got Evidence
- GS-37 Cleaning Products for Industrial and Institutional Use
- LEED v4.1
- Walk the Talk: 4 Overlooked Ways to Maintain a Truly Sustainable Workplace
Takeaway
Implementing environmentally conscious facilities maintenance alongside certified green cleaning programs is a proven method of saving money while simultaneously adding to the value your organization provides to building occupants and the surrounding community.
However, there are several proven critical steps that must be implemented at each stage to ensure success.
Fortunately, outsourcing many of your current and future needs, including consulting services, to a reputable vendor with a proven track record of success is a cost-effective method for achieving rapid success.
If you would like more information on the numerous benefits of environmentally friendly cleaning products and services--contact us today for a free quote!
In Bakersfield CA, call (661) 437-3253
In Fresno CA, call (559) 206-1059
In Valencia CA, or Santa Clarita CA, call (661) 437-3253
