How to have a Green Building
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How to have a Green Building

By: Michael Richmond

How difficult is it to be considered a Green building? One of the issues of our hour is that businesses have been encouraged to "Go Green." Unfortunately, they have not been told what Green represents unless you consider an extensive list of ecological and environmental changes is the answer. Actually, it appears that the idea of a Green building has been usurped and taken to every possible extreme.

The foundation for a Green building comes down to the improvement of the health concerns of the building regarding the people that work there. It is admittedly helpful to change the light bulbs, reduce energy consumption, conserve fresh water, and recycle the trash. However, the best place to start a Green office is in the janitorial duties.

There are three factors in a janitorial Green building. The first factor is what we call the Green Agenda. This is where the decision-makers establish polices. The second factor is to make sure that Green products are used, and the third factor is to require the janitorial service for your building be trained and certified.

The impact of a Green building is the improvement of the health factor for those who do the cleaning and those who put their eight hours in every day. Studies should that there are acute and chronic influences based on the cleaning of the building. This reflects in the cost of manpower and the loss of profitability through absenteeism, lost productivity, and increased medical costs.

Green practices by the janitorial service are equally as important as the Green products. As an example, the use of microfiber products reduce chemical use. They also decrease the bacteria and dust moved around the building during cleaning. Newer sanitizing processes must change the old "Spray and Wipe" routine and provide for a "Dwell Time" of the product. The spread of disease is greatly reduced when there is change of cleaning tools and methods. It is never enough to add a Green product into the janitor cart and declare the whole service Green.

During the bid or quote process for your building, you should include a "Green Practices Clause" that gives preferential treatment to janitorial services that not only offer a line of Green products but also boast a Green trained and certified workforce. It makes ultimate sense that the operator is equally as valuable as the tools of the operation. A set of tools does not make an average guy into an expert mechanic. Why should this not be true of the people protecting the health of the building for your employees?

Companies are encouraged to seek out a Green Clean Institute Certified janitorial service in their area. At least require that those seeking to provide janitorial services for your building are Green Clean Institute Certified. You will make the world and your office a better place, and this is the foundation of getting your building Green Clean Institute certified as well.

Article Source: http://www.rightarticle.com

A big part of any Green Building is the janitorial service. More than energy or water, the health of the employees are affected by the selection of janitorial service you employ. The Green Janitor issue





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