When it comes to floor cleaning, being green is actually pretty easy.
The term “green cleaning” is tossed around the cleaning
industry left and right, but what does it actually mean? In the most basic
sense, “green cleaning” is when a task meant to sanitize a given area also
conserves energy, water and chemicals while minimizing the impact on human
health. It’s an attractive idea for facility managers and service contractors everywhere,
not only for its potential health benefits, but because it cuts costs. Green
cleaning, it turns out, is actually good for business.
With
concern for the environment, a drive toward less energy consumption, and personal
health awareness growing year to year, tenants often find comfort in knowing
their building is being cleaned in a responsible way. In fact, governments at
all levels are actually requiring the use of green cleaning products in their
facilities. Whatever the reason, the industry is definitely trending toward
greener cleaning.
Green Cleaning Standards
Chemicals
A staggering 6 billion pounds of cleaning chemicals
are used around the world annual. Minimizing the use of these chemicals and the
harm they can cause is one motivation behind green cleaning. In fact, green
cleaning programs nearly always mandate the use of chemicals that have been
certified by organizations such as CRI, Green Seal, EcoLogo and EPA Design for
Environment.
Equipment
While chemicals are an important factor when it
comes to green cleaning, equipment can also make a significant contribution to
the cause. Brands with high-quality construction, corrosion resistance and
reliability, such as Advance, can reduce the environmental impact of equipment
manufacturing while providing long-term economic benefits.
Policies and Procedures
Green floor-cleaning programs specify when and how the
cleaning gets done. The “Standard Guide for Stewardship for the Cleaning of
Commercial and Institutional Buildings” is a great resource for building
manangers looking to create a green cleaning program that’s specific to their
facilities. Green cleaning policies have also been addressed by ISSA, the
worldwide cleaning industry association, which has even gone as far as updating
the Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS), helping guide facilities into
greener cleaning.
In conclusion…
Green cleaning is one way to minimize the
environmental and health impact of commercial, industrial, public and
institutional cleaning programs. Facility managers and Building Service
Contractors intent on creating their own green cleaning program should focus on
purchasing only chemicals and equipment that meet green cleaning requirements.
Still, even the greenest chemicals and machines are useless unless they can get
the job done. Fortunately, with Advance, the “green” comes with the “clean.”
To find out how Advance can help you move forward
with your green cleaning program, visit Advance-US.com and explore our
selection of powerful, ultra-efficient floor cleaning machines.
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