Should Your Janitorial Company Use Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Products?

Evidence shows that environmentally friendly cleaning procedures and products provide multiple benefits to buildings and their occupants. No wonder a growing number of facilities in the United States expect their janitorial companies to use "green" cleaning processes and environmentally friendly cleaning products. In order to meet this demand, astute commercial cleaning providers continually educate their janitorial staff on the most effective ways to perform their jobs while protecting the environment. You can use their expertise to implement your own program, making your building or facility a healthier place.

Before delving into the benefits of environmentally friendly cleaning, let's discuss what green cleaning entails. The federal government's Executive Order 13101 ("Greening the Government…"), executed in 1998, defined "environmentally preferable" products and services as those 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." Today, green cleaning programs employ practices that promote health, safety and social consciousness, and include the use of environmentally friendly cleaning products certified by organizations such as Green Seal.

Why the Demand for Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Products and Services?

1. Becoming LEED certified is good business.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a program that has recently gained momentum in building practices throughout the United States. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, it establishes standards for sustainable buildings. It also strives to promote integrated, whole-building design practices and recognizes environmental leadership in the building industry.

LEED certified buildings enjoy government incentives, marketing benefits and increased property value. Buildings that apply for certification earn LEED points for using environmentally friendly cleaning products and practices.

If you don't become LEED certified, you could soon face tough competition. The number of buildings constructed to LEED standards, as well as those gaining LEED-EBOM (Existing Building: Operations & Maintenance) certification, continues to grow. As of February 2009, more than 2000 projects have received LEED certification, with nearly 18,000 more registered to become certified.

2. Environmentally friendly cleaning creates healthier surroundings.
Environmentally friendly cleaning products help improve indoor air quality and reduce the health problems that traditional products cause. Building occupants, visitors and janitorial staff experience fewer incidents of skin, eye and respiratory irritations or burns; allergies; multiple-chemical sensitivities; headaches; nausea or other gastrointestinal ailments; poisoning; cancer; reproductive hazards and/or damage to internal organs.

3. Healthier environments increase productivity and marketability.
Healthier employees mean happier employees. Statistics show increased worker satisfaction, improved morale, reduced absenteeism, and increased productivity and efficiency.

Employees and customers appreciate knowing that green practices and environmentally friendly cleaning products are used in the building. Going green helps you market your business as a socially conscious one.

4. Green cleaning helps the earth.
Implementing a green program can reduce the negative effect your cleaning and sanitary operations have on the environment. Using environmentally friendly cleaning products in the right manner helps decrease air pollution, water pollution, ozone depletion and global climate change. Green practices also promote recycling, reduce the use of raw materials and minimize toxic products requiring disposal.

5. Environmentally friendly cleaning reduces costs.
Janitorial companies who are well-trained on environmentally friendly cleaning practices and products can positively impact the facility's budget. An effective program can reduce costs to building management, tenants, and/or the janitorial company, including costs associated with sick leave, health care, productivity loss and litigation. In addition, environmentally friendly cleaning practitioners use energy-efficient equipment (e.g., vacuum cleaners) and perform preventative maintenance to reduce future expenses.

The actual cost of environmentally friendly cleaning products has become more competitive with the price of conventional counterparts, especially when other factors are considered in determining the true cost. For example, a conventional product that is extremely high in alkaline could burn a janitor, which would result in additional medical and sick leave costs, and these increased operating costs may be passed on to the facility.

6. Going green increases the safety of the building and protects property values.
While the crux of using environmentally friendly cleaning products is about reducing health risks -- for humans and other living things -- the process provides other benefits to the facility. Green procedures, including proper use, storage and disposal of materials, actually reduce the likelihood and frequency of fires, explosions, spills and splashes. Environmentally friendly cleaning products are less hazardous and reduce the risk that janitors, the facility or an occupant will be harmed by the product.

An expert green cleaning company also trains their staff to use correctly diluted products and the right product for each job. This means, for example, that stains on carpets or upholstery are treated with the mildest, effective cleaner, thereby prolonging the life of expensive furnishings and reducing exposure to harsher chemicals.

In addition, green programs focus on preventative practices that are environmentally friendly. Cleaning products can be used less frequently if the building stays cleaner to begin with, and well-maintained equipment is safer and works more efficiently.

If you desire to make your building more green, finding the right janitorial company will prove vital. Make sure that they don't just boast of using environmentally friendly cleaning products; their entire approach to your facility should be considered. The field of green cleaning continues to expand, and with the right partner, you can expect greater financial rewards and a happier, healthier environment for all.

Eight Essentials to Help You Select a “Green” Facility Maintenance Provider

Facilities that embrace green cleaning are getting noticed these days as citizens and businesses better understand the importance of using kinder, gentler janitorial services. Green cleaning puts an end to “sick building syndrome” by employing environmentally friendly cleaning products, equipment and procedures. Benefits include healthier occupants, visitors, and ultimately, the earth. Plus, businesses gain increased employee productivity as well as reduced facilities maintenance costs.

The process involves using third-party certified, non-toxic cleaning products. Additionally, proper use of equipment and implementation of green cleaning procedures are a must. By contracting with a maintenance company that understands the issues and solutions, your facility can readily become a healthier place.

Below are some tips to demystify the process of choosing a facilities maintenance provider that makes it easy for you to implement a green cleaning program. Keep in mind that each provider will have its own set of skills and experience, and look for one that will partner with you to achieve your facility’s goals.

1. Educate yourself, and understand what it means to go “green.”
A good first step to implementing a green cleaning system is to understand what the program involves, and what you can expect when beginning the process. Know that going green is more than just switching from traditional cleaning chemicals to environmentally friendly products. A well-implemented, effective program takes a holistic approach, proactively involving the people who clean, the building occupants and visitors, and the indoor and outdoor environment.

2. Determine your reasons for going “green.”
Outline what you hope to accomplish, and keep those goals in mind throughout your selection process. Are you looking for safer working conditions, lower cleaning costs, reduced insurance rates and claims or increased property value? Knowing what you want to attain will help to identify the provider that will best meet your goals. As you obtain proposals and even after the program has started, it’s important to stay focused on the benefits you desire and goals you wish to attain.

The clearer the vision and the more educated you are on key elements of green cleaning practices, the better you will be at assessing a provider’s ability.

3. Ask for an assessment.
As part of the proposal process, request an assessment of your building. This should consist of a complete inventory of the facilities’ current cleaning products and equipment. The maintenance company should provide guidance on which issues to address first and a timeline of when each item will be approached. The changes that are simple and inexpensive should be immediate priorities due to the high return on investment. Other changes should be made based on the risk of harm to both worker and occupant health, or to the environment.

4. Evaluate the provider’s janitorial products.
Cleanliness is usually judged by outward appearances – what an area looks like after it has been cleaned. The products and processes your provider uses should make your building look clean, of course, but they should also address unseen issues including the prevention of indoor air pollution and reduction of toxicity and waste.

5. Request proof that the provider uses third-party certified environmentally safe cleaning products.
Third-party certification processes verify that products meet specific standards. This validation ensures that the products truly reduce risks to the health of users and building occupants, decrease environmental impact and work as well or better than conventional cleaning products. One such certification is provided by Green Seal, a non-profit organization that tests products and also produces a list of recommended products.

6. Investigate the provider’s cleaning practices.
How a provider uses its products is just as important as the product itself. Ask questions regarding the janitorial staff’s knowledge of the products and each one’s intended use. Does the provider continually educate its employees on how to use the products, as well as new products and practices in green cleaning? Even with environmentally safe cleaning products, it’s important to use them correctly. For example, spraying glass cleaner on a cloth before applying it to a mirror promotes cleaner indoor air than spraying the mirror itself, which creates airborne vapor particles that can irritate the lungs.

7. Make sure the cleaning product matches the need.
Does the cleaning company train and supervise its janitors to make sure that they are correctly matching the cleaner to the job? For example, using a product that is too strong for cleaning a mild stain is counterproductive and costly. It wastes the product and might damage the surface being cleaned. A good facilities maintenance provider will efficiently use the right product, equipment and procedure for each task.

8. Make sure your maintenance providers are using the right equipment.
Your janitorial manager should select cleaning equipment that is durable, energy efficient and quiet. Durable equipment saves costs in the long run and will not be a burden on the waste stream. Energy efficient equipment promotes conservation, and quiet equipment reduces noise pollution, which creates a healthier environment for the janitorial staff and other tenants. In addition, vacuuming and cleaning up dirt as it appears can reduce the need for the use of harsh cleaning products. In fact, one of the easiest and most efficient ways to keep a building clean is to use dirt trapping mats at all of the exterior entrances.

Green Cleaning Programs in Schools Get High Scores

The studies are convincingly positive: green cleaning programs in schools benefit students and the administration. With the implementation of successful indoor air quality programs, schools can see an increase in productivity and higher test scores overall.

Defined as “cleaning to protect health without harming the environment,” green cleaning programs employ processes that promote health, safety and social consciousness, and include the use of environmentally friendly janitorial products and equipment. From pre-schools to colleges, green cleaning and indoor air quality programs have gained popularity and produced outstanding results. According to expert Dr. Michael A. Berry, PhD, “there is a direct connection between healthy school environments; behaviors and attitudes of students, parents, and educators; and academic achievement.”1

Greening, Writing and ’Rithmetic

Green cleaning programs play a vital role in creating a healthier environment. And the healthier environments created by indoor air quality programs result in improved student attendance and attitude, improved teacher attitude and retention and – perhaps most important—improved math and reading scores.

Charles Young Elementary School in Washington, DC, for example, implemented green cleaning and indoor air quality programs that addressed total environmental quality. Here are some of the remarkable results of their green cleaning and indoor air quality programs (Source: Healthy School Environment and Enhanced Educational Performance – The Case of Charles Young Elementary School, Washington, DC, Carpet & Rug Institute, January 2002.):*

• School attendance increased from 89% to 93%
• Math scores at basic or above increased from 51% to 76%
• Reading scores at basic or above increased from 59% to 75%
  
  

*Green cleaning programs addressed general sanitation, air quality, noise control, lighting, and general comfort (temperature and climate), kept in a steady state with a thoughtfully organized cleaning and maintenance program.

Research for the Young School's green cleaning programs showed that high performance schools manifest many common traits, including:

• The appearance of the school is inviting. Students, teachers, and the local community want it to be there.

• The school strives for student-friendly conditions throughout the building.

• The school is inviting to good teachers and supports their retention.

• The school is designed to reduce stress. It is comfortable, has a consistent temperature, and manages noise.

• The school is clean and sanitary.

• The risk of an adverse health effect is very small.
  
  

The report goes on to conclude:

The cleanliness of schools is also an important aspect of school environments. Clean schools not only lower the threat of the spread of illness, but also convey a caring message to the students and teachers. Cleaning and maintenance of schools is vitally important and is often underemphasized and underperformed. Students feel better going to clean classes and sitting in clean desks and surroundings. Sanitation in [elementary] schools is important because young children face unique health hazards, especially respiratory infections, asthma attacks, skin disease, and diarrhea outbreaks.

Indoor Air Quality Programs = Cleaner Air = Better Health + Comfort

Indoor air quality programs can impact several of the traits listed above for high performance schools. Green cleaning programs focus on improving air quality because contaminants are typically at least two to five times worse indoors than outdoors. (2) In another school study, implementation of new indoor air quality programs, equipment and supplies had the following positive results: (3)

• Airborne dust inside the building decreased by 52%
• Volatile organic chemical (VOC) concentrations decreased by 49%
• Bacteria decreased by 40%
• Fungi colony-forming units deceased by 61%
  
  

Yet another study examined the health benefits of improved green cleaning programs at a school. Results attributed to cleaning practices and indoor air quality programs indicated that total illnesses were reduced by 24%, doctor visits by 34%, courses of antibiotics by 24%, and days absent by 46%.4.

The ABCs of Green Cleaning Programs

Thorough green cleaning programs will take a holistic view of the school facility. Each aspect of “green” building operations and maintenance will be viewed in the context of goals and benefits the school expects to derive from green cleaning and indoor air quality programs they wish to implement.

Some basic principles of green cleaning programs include:

• Focus on entryways inside and out. Most pollutants enter the building on people’s feet, so it’s important to implement indoor air quality programs, which will help to trap and remove dirt before it enters the building and to frequently clean the entrances and entryway mats.
• Minimize particles and chemicals in the air. Mechanically capturing dust and dirt, using course spray for chemicals, and applying the cleaner to the cloth rather than spraying the surface to be cleaned are all important aspects of indoor air quality programs.
• Use environmentally preferable cleaning chemicals along with chemical management systems for accurate product dilution.
• Ensure proper vacuuming, extraction, rinsing and drying. Carpets can be a host for moisture problems and mold growth. When implementing green cleaning programs, use Carpet & Rug Institute’s Green Label approved vacuums. Empty vacuum bags frequently for more efficient operating.
• Focus on preventative measures and quick clean up of accidents. Therefore, fewer and milder chemicals can be used.
• Mechanically capture dirt and remove it rather than moving it around. Green cleaning programs should use products like microfiber dusting cloths and flat mops, for example, which can eliminate the need for chemicals.
• Focus on touch-points. These are door handles, bright work and other areas where people come in contact with the facility or its fixtures.
• Apply disinfectant in restrooms properly. Typical procedures for green cleaning programs will include ensuring the chemical has proper dwell time so that soil is thoroughly removed using less product.
• Promote safety and prevent cross-contamination. Safer products and proper use and storage of chemicals help green cleaning and indoor air quality programs create a safer environment. Color-coded tools ensure that pollutants don’t get carried from one area (such as a restroom) to another.
• Use “green” paper products, such as recycled tissues and towels bleached without the use of chlorine.
• Implement an effective recycling program.
• Create a communication program so that building occupants understand they are part of the process. Proper spill notification, food clean-up and clutter reduction will help to ensure a healthy facility.
  
  

The Learning Curve with Green Cleaning and Indoor Air Quality Programs

At Harvard, their University Operations’ Services has successfully implemented green cleaning programs – proof that schools can do it themselves. However, many schools will find it more effective and more cost efficient to hire a janitorial company that specializes in green cleaning and indoor air quality programs. These experts can conduct an assessment of the school and suggest a plan for implementing indoor air quality programs that meet specific goals and budget. If the school needs to start small, the cleaning company can suggest some basic changes that can drastically improve the quality of the indoor environment.

A company proficient in green cleaning programs will know the latest practices and products, and their cleaning staff will have the proper training. Plus some companies that provide indoor air quality programs will offer posters and other communication materials to help occupants understand the responsibilities and benefits of the new program. By relying on an expert for green cleaning and indoor air quality programs, school administrators can focus on what they do best: running a successful school.

The Dollars and Sense of Green Cleaning Programs

Many schools now understand the benefits of green cleaning programs when it comes to attracting and retaining teachers and students. They have also reaped the benefits of being known as environmental stewards and achieving higher averages on standardized testing. These recruiting and marketing advantages to implementing green cleaning and indoor air quality programs—plus the possible savings on teacher sick leave and insurance premiums—can equate to a healthier bottom line. A school may spend more upfront on launching green cleaning programs, but the benefits are great. What school doesn’t desire happier, healthier, higher-achieving students?

References

(1) Healthy School Environment and Enhanced Educational Performance – The Case of Charles Young Elementary School, Washington, DC, Carpet & Rug Institute, January 2002.

(2) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

(3) Indoor Environment Characterization of a Non-Problem Building: Assessment of Cleaning Effectiveness, US Environmental Protection Agency, March 1994. (conducted at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center, Chapel Hill, NC)

(4) Leonard R. Krilov, MD, Impact of An Infection Control Program in a Specialized Preschool, American Journal of Infection Control, 1996: 24:167-173