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Why Should My
Cleaning Company Go Green?
By
Steve Hanson
There is growing evidence showing
that green cleaning provides
benefits not only to cleaning staff,
but also to building occupants.
Across the country more building
owners are switching to green
cleaning products and techniques or
are asking that their cleaning
service provider use environmentally
sound cleaning techniques.
What does green cleaning mean? The
federal government's Executive Order
#1301 defines green products as
"environmentally preferable"
products and services that "have a
lesser or reduced effect on human
health and the environment when
compared with competing products or
services that serve the same
purpose."
What are the benefits of a green
cleaning program?
*Building owners that adopt overall
green building practices can become
certified as a LEED (Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design)
building. This certification shows
that the building's owner has taken
a role as an environmental leader. A
cleaning company that cannot provide
"green" services may soon face
strong competition from companies
that have taken strides to include
environmentally sound practices in
their everyday cleaning routines.
*Using environmentally friendly
cleaning products is healthier for
cleaning staff and building
occupants. Studies have shown that
building occupants, visitors and
janitorial staff experience fewer
incidents of skin, eye and
respiratory irritation, fewer
multiple chemical sensitivities,
less severe allergies and decreased
headaches and nausea when cleaning
contractors use green cleaning
products. Healthier employees are
happier employees and productivity
increases. This also leads to higher
employee morale, reduced
absenteeism, and higher efficiency.
*Employees and customers are
demanding environmentally friendly
practices more and more these days.
A green cleaning program gives you
an edge in marketing your cleaning
company.
*Green cleaning helps to improve
indoor air quality. Many traditional
cleaning products contain volatile
organic compounds (VOCs). When
cleaning, these VOC's are released
into the air through evaporation and
can affect indoor air quality. The
use of traditional cleaning products
can also contribute to water
pollution. Waste water treatment
plants typically remove chemicals
found in cleaning products, however,
inadequately treated water can
contain chemicals that are toxic.
Using green products lessens or
eliminates the chemicals that need
to be treated.
*Besides the health aspects of green
cleaning, the process provides
benefits to the building. Using
green products and practices, such
as proper chemical storage, use and
disposal, lessens the likelihood of
fires, spills and explosions. As the
products used are less dangerous, if
there is a spill or other incident,
there is less risk to janitorial
workers and other building staff.
*Green cleaning can give a boost to
your profits! Green products have
become more competitive with its
traditional counterparts. Once you
factor in the potential hazards,
such as burns from a high alkaline
cleaner and loss of productivity,
you actually save money by using
environmentally safe cleaning
products. Using energy efficient
equipment, such as vacuum cleaners
with hepa filters, and focusing on
preventive maintenance, will lower
expenses and replacement costs.
If you have not incorporated green
cleaning products and techniques
into your business, now is the time
to start. Projecting a "green image"
is good for the environment, good
for your employees and good for your
bottom line.
Steve Hanson is co-founding member
of The Janitorial Store (TM), an
online community for owners and
managers of cleaning companies who
want to build a more profitable and
successful cleaning business. Visit
our website to learn more about our
complete line of
http://www.thejanitorialstore.com/products/department2.cfm
green cleaning supplies and
chemicals. Sign up for Trash Talk:
Tip of the Week at
http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com
and receive a Free Gift! Read
cleaning success stories from owners
of cleaning companies at
http://www.cleaning-success.com/
Article Source:
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