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Question #1: What Is Green Cleaning, Why Should We Implement It, And What Are Some Of Its Benefits? |
Green, or environmentally preferable products are often defined as “products or 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.”
Green Cleaning is more than the use of environmentally preferable products. It is comprehensive and includes the unique needs of a facility and its occupants, as well as the cleaning chemicals, equipment, paper products, procedures, and training programs.
For instance, it can and does include:
- Selecting environmentally preferable cleaning and maintenance chemicals, janitorial paper items, and tools and equipment
- Understanding how these products are used to reduce their impact on custodial workers, building occupants, and the
environment
- Involving the facility’s managers, occupants, and cleaning workers in the Green Cleaning process
- Providing training for the cleaning professionals using the products
As to the second question, we now know that conventional cleaning products can endanger the health and well-being of building occupants, as well as of the cleaning workers who use the products. They pose an even greater threat when used in daycare facilities, locations where building occupants have existing health conditions and sensitivities, and health care facilities where building occupants may have compromised immune systems. These chemicals can also have an adverse effect on indoor air quality. Studies of workers’ compensation claims indicate that some cleaning chemicals can result in burns to skin and eyes, carcinogenic risks, and chronic health risks to the endocrine, neurological, respiratory, reproductive, and other systems of the human body.
Today, many facilities have implemented a Green Cleaning program. They have found the following:
- Indoor air quality has improved.
- Complaints from office and janitorial workers about their indoor environment have diminished.
- A reduced or no adverse environmental impact exists because of cleaning.
- The program has often saved company owners money.
Looking at the broader perspective, implementing a Green Cleaning program has both environmental and economic benefits, which include:
- Improving air and water quality
- Conserving natural resources
- Enhancing and protecting natural habitats
- Improving employee productivity and satisfaction
- Optimizing life-cycle performance of building products
- Contributing to the health and well-being of the community
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Question #2: Is there an official definition of Green cleaning? |
The only thing that really comes close to defining “Green” in general and has been accepted by professionals in a variety of industries, including the cleaning industry, is Executive Order 13101 signed by then-president Bill Clinton in 1992.
The primary goal of Executive Order 13101 was to improve waste prevention and increase recycling and the use of recycled content and environmentally preferable products and services in the federal government.
In addition, the order “encouraged and promoted” the use of nontoxic, non-chemical substances and the reduction of toxic materials and processes in all federal facilities, which also helps clarify the term Green cleaning.
Within the order is what has emerged as the definition of Green cleaning and the use of environmentally preferable cleaning products. It says that Green products or services are those that “cause less harm to human health and the environment when compared to other competing products and services.”
This definition has become an industry standard and serves as a guide for manufacturers developing Green cleaning products.
Additionally, it has helped clarify Green products for the distributors that sell them and the end users who eventually put the products to work. |
Question #3: We hear so much about Green cleaning. But it really started 25 years ago. Why is there so much interest now? |
Although Green Cleaning is taking center stage in the cleaning,
building, construction, and several other industries today, it has
indeed been a slow process, with the first seeds for the movement
planted almost 50 years ago.
In 1957, Olga Huckins saw a plane spraying a chemical mist over her
home used to kill mosquitoes. The chemical, DDT, settled over
nearby plants and waterways and by the next morning, Huckins found
seven dead birds on her property.
Huckins wrote a letter to a local newspaper complaining about the
mist and sent a copy to her friend Rachel Carson, who worked for the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as an aquatic biologist. Carson was so
moved by the death of the birds, and the repercussions this could
have on other living things including humans, it led to her write her
groundbreaking book Silent Spring. The book caused considerable
commotion and forced the government and general public to take a
serious look at society’s use of chemicals and pesticides.
Eventually, the movement grew and by the end of the 1960s, college
students and “hippies” took up the cause for “ecology,” as it was then
referred. The first “Earth Day” was held in 1970, reflecting the much
greater ecological—or environmental—consciousness that was
spreading throughout the country and a few years later, the first “Green” cleaning products began trickling into health food stores in
the United States and Canada.
Unfortunately, most of these initial product offerings had two things in
common: they were expensive, and they were not that effective.
Consumers wanted to do their part and use safer, healthier cleaning
products, but they were simply disappointed with the products then
available.
This resulted in years of declining interest in Green Cleaning
products. And because consumers had such a poor first impression
of Green Cleaning products, it took many years to correct the
impression.
However, several Green trends have occurred in the past few years
that have increased the interest in Green Cleaning and the use of
environmentally preferable products. For instance;
- Environmentally preferable cleaning products have improved.
Products certified by The EcoLogo ProgramM or Green Seal® program are certified to be cost-effective and performancecompatible
to conventional cleaning products.
- Executive Orders signed by President Bill Clinton encourage
the use of environmentally preferable cleaning products in all
federal government agencies and under its influence. City,
state, and provincial governments throughout North America
have begun instituting Green-only purchasing. This spurred the
movement forward.
- Other market forces have driven not only Green Cleaning, but
also the entire concept of sustainability in all building- and
construction–related industries over the past couple of years.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and
LEED-EB (LEED-Existing Buildings) now help industries define
and measure Green Cleaning products and buildings. This has
raised consumer awareness of the health benefits, cost
savings, and value of going Green, all of which is helping to
transform the entire building, cleaning, and construction
industries.
It is interesting to note that unlike past movements in the United
States and Canada that have often been government initiated and
directed, the Green movement has been the result of consumer
demand—consumers wanting to use products that are proven safer
for people and the environment. These initiatives make it easier for
consumers to select environmentally preferable products without
requiring them to turn to chemist or spending time verifying claims. |
Question #4: As a building service contractor (BSC), what
opportunities does Green cleaning offer to me? |
Many experts believe that Green cleaning can be the “platform” by which building owners, managers, and
occupants can appreciate the value and benefits of investing
in a quality cleaning service, and this realization can lead to
improved profitability for many astute BSCs.
This is because Green cleaning helps provide a healthier
environment for all building occupants, allowing BSCs to
place a greater emphasis on providing a quality service—
allowing enough time and workers to thoroughly clean a
facility—instead of concentrating on minimizing services to
cut costs and fend off cutthroat competition. It is a win-win
situation for all of those that are involved in the process.
Green cleaning presents several other benefits and
opportunities for BSCs. Among these are:
Allows BSCs to stand out in the crowd. Most BSCs offer
similar services, and because of this, many of their
customers view them as a commodity—one BSC is not
much different from another. Green cleaning helps
contractors differentiate themselves. It also presents BSCs
as being on the cutting edge of the latest cleaning
technologies and trends. These contractors are aware of the
critical role their work plays not only in a facility’s
appearance but—and more important—in the health of the
facility and its occupants.
Allows BSCs to meet a customer-driven need. All types
of facility managers—public, private, educational, healthcare,
and office—are now asking that their facilities be cleaned
using environmentally preferable cleaning products and
systems. This means Green cleaning is customer driven; the
facility owners and managers are making the decision to
adopt these systems on their own.
One reason they are doing so is because they are finding
that employing a Green cleaning system often becomes a
successful marketing tool. It shows current and prospective
tenants that the facility is well maintained and that
management has decided to incorporate added measures to
protect the health of all who work in or visit the facility. An
astute BSC will realize this and adopt Green cleaning to take
advantage of these opportunities. |
Question #5: I own a cleaning service that uses toxic-free and chemical-free cleaning products. Can you tell me the best way to market my service as high end? |
Running an environmentally friendly cleaning service can be a good way to distinguish you from competition and create a niche market. But be careful of assuming that just because you're Green, consumers will naturally be willing to throw more “greenbacks” in your direction. What actually sells most consumers on environmentally preferable goods and services aren't the altruistic, feel-good reasons—such as reducing toxic waste or saving endangered species—but the persuasive personal benefits, such as improved health. This means it’s not so much about “save the planet” as it is about “save me.”
But even those reasons are usually secondary to the main draw: good quality products at an affordable price. Some consumers still believe that environmentally preferable products are overpriced and less effective than conventional cleaning products. So it's important to convey to customers that your products are certified by The EcoLogoM Program or Green Seal™ and have been proven they can do the job cost effectively. Another factor that can make marketing Green difficult, is there is no “one size fits all” aspect of Green marketing. The Green marketing concept often must be
crafted to fit different situations and facilities accordingly. The best suggestion is to emphasize the health benefits of cleaning with environmentally preferable products. Point to statistics from the Environmental Protection Agency that indoor air pollution can be two to five times more hazardous than outdoor pollution, and traditional cleaning agents emit fumes that can aggravate allergies and respiratory problems. |
Question #6: We have a recycling program in place in our office
building but find we are having trouble getting our tenants to
participate. Do you have any suggestions? |
First, we should clarify that recycling is indeed a component of Green
cleaning. Recycling of paper, soda/pop cans, toner cartridges, and
many other products used everyday in offices and most all other
facilities is a part of Green cleaning. This is because one of the goals
of Green cleaning is to protect health, natural resources, and the
environment—much of which can be accomplished by recycling.
Recycling Services Inc., a Chicago-based recycling company, offers
this advice to help promote and endorse your recycling program:
Educate the Tenant. In order to participate in recycling programs,
tenants have to know how they can participate. Send a memo
explaining how the program works, what materials can be recycled,
and who to contact with questions.
Getting Tenants Involved. Implementing a recycling program in your
building is a perfect opportunity to meet tenants and occupants while
introducing them to the program. Have a display set up in the lobby to
present program information and show how some building occupants
have already incorporated their own recycling programs.
Display Results. Put monthly recycling results on exhibit (including
the volume of materials recycled and the environmental benefits
associated with recycling that material) in lobbies, elevators, or on
message boards.
Provide Feedback. Tenants like to know that what they do has an
effect. Utilize your building's communication tools—website, Intranet,
newsletters, etc., to convey this information By providing feedback,
your tenants will have more confidence in the recycling program. And
with increased confidence comes increased participation.
Making Recycling Standard. Integrate recycling into tenant
handbooks. Provide info on how tenants can participate, including
steps to recycling large volumes of material from file dean-outs or
tenant moves. |
Question #7: Why are automatic chemical-dispensing systems
considered a part of Green cleaning? |
Unfortunately, when mixing cleaning chemicals and water, custodial
workers have a tendency to use too much chemical or not enough.
Too much is wasteful, and too little may produce unsatisfactory
results or reduce worker productivity. Also, sometimes workers
think—as many of us do—that if the 8 ounces called for in the formula
is good, 16 ounces would be better. Either way, dilution mistakes cost
money—and can be dangerous.
Automatic chemical-dispensing systems, which were first introduced
about 15 years ago, have helped eliminate some of these problems.
They were initially intended to promote safety among cleaning
workers. However, the equipment has provided additional benefits
such as improved inventory control of cleaning chemicals, more
accurate dilution, lower overall operating costs, and a Greener
cleaning process.
With an automatic dispensing system, preset amounts eliminate the
chance of using too much or too little chemical. The incidence of
spills and worker contact with the chemicals has been greatly
reduced. Color coding and bilingual instructions also help reduce
errors.
Automatic dispensing systems also help store cleaning chemicals,
reducing the potential for accidents when many chemicals are
present and minimizing the potential for harmful fumes to be
released. In addition, they facilitate training. And, the simplicity of
most of these systems has reduced training time and workers tend to
retain their knowledge of the new systems longer.
And, the systems have become an important component of Green
cleaning. When using cleaning chemicals, whether Green or not, only
as much should be used as is necessary to produce satisfactory
cleaning results. Too much of a cleaning chemical, even if it is
certified environmentally preferable, has the potential of being
dangerous, harming the user, building occupants, and the
environment.
In addition to increasing safety and reducing costs, managers can
better track chemical usage when using auto dispensing systems—
similar to a store inventory system—essential in Green cleaning
because chemicals are such a primary component.
And by tracking what is being used, managers can better determine
when they will need to replenish supplies. On some dispensing
systems, it is relatively easy to determine how much of a specific
chemical has been used on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis and in
what sections of a facility it is most used.
Lastly, dispensing systems lower the overall footprint on the
environment. When you consider the amount of plastic (and hence
oil), extra shipping boxes, and the added transportation costs of fuel
and rubber (tires) that are required to transport these products, the
use of concentrates/dispensers can be significant.
For example, a two-and-one-half gallon of concentrate at a 32:1
dilution makes 312 quarts. Imagine the difference 312 plastic quart
bottles with trigger heads, the extra cardboard, and the required
transportation for 26 cases versus one. It becomes even clearer
what the cost savings automatic dispensing systems offer. |
Question #8: We have just started a Green cleaning system.
Because the products are safer, does it really matter when we
clean? |
Yes. Whether a facility is cleaned at night, over the weekend, or
during the day when building occupants are using the facility, it is
important that all cleaning operations be scheduled and, when
necessary, consistent with building use and activities. This is true
whether Green cleaning products are being used or not.
For example, a multi-tenant office building may include not only
offices but a commercial kitchen, dining rooms, day-care center, and
conference rooms. Even though the building’s kitchen may close at
3:00 P.M. in this example, it might not be prudent—or healthy—for the
custodians to clean the kitchen at that time.
Why? The fumes from the chemicals used to clean commercial
kitchens, such as powerful degreasers and oven cleaners, can enter
the facility’s air-handling system. These fumes can mar indoor air
quality (IAQ) throughout the facility and may be especially harmful to
young children in the day-care center.
If cleaning is performed during hours in which the building is being
used, only environmentally preferable cleaning products should be
used and even then used sparingly and with adequate ventilation.
And if vacuum cleaners are employed, these should by “Green”
machines, having advanced air-filtration systems to help protect IAQ.
To help protect custodians and building occupants, a well-planned
Green cleaning system should include proper scheduling of cleaning
services and chemical/product usage. For instance:
- List of all chemicals used in the facility including when and
where they are used
- Prepare a “special hazardous chemical list” noting where more
dangerous, non-Green, or harmful products are stored and
used and when they are used
- Schedule of cleaning and maintenance operations so managers
know where cleaning personnel are working at any given time
- Schedule activities based on traffic patterns and cleaning
objectives
- Ventilation schedule to make sure that the facility is well
ventilated when cleaning work is performed and, if possible,
that the building can be fully ventilated prior to occupancy
- List of offices that may be occupied at unusual times during the
day to help protect building occupants.
In addition, special cleaning operations such as floor refinishing or
carpet extraction should be performed when very few or no
occupants are in the facility. Notices should go out to all tenants
notifying them when this work will be performed and advising them
when they can return to the facility.
One of the goals of Green cleaning is to protect the health of building
occupants. The items mentioned here help make cleaning safer for
cleaning professionals and building users. |
Question #9: Could you give us some general guidelines as
to starting our own Green cleaning program for our
school. |
Green cleaning is a system and like any system, in order for
it to be successful it needs some structure, organization,
planning, and the right products. Below are a few tips for
school facility managers on establishing a Green cleaning
program:
Work from a plan: Cleaning should be based on a plan.
How often are floors to be swept, mopped, buffed, or
refinished? What chemicals and equipment are to be used?
How often should carpets be extracted? All cleaning and
maintenance services, especially Green cleaning programs,
should be guided by a written, well-thought-out plan.
Employ a matting system: As much as 80 to 90 percent of
the dust and dirt entering a facility "walks in" through the
front door. A Green cleaning system includes matting
systems of at least 15 to 20 feet in length, inside and out,
weather permitting. Mats should be cleaned and vacuumed
regularly.
Develop a Green product selection strategy: More than
100,000 chemicals are registered with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and may be used for
cleaning. However, only about 10 percent of them have
been studied as to their health and environmental effects.
Only about 750 have been tested thoroughly for human
health effects, and far fewer have been evaluated by either
Green Seal® or The EcoLogo ProgramM.
If you choose not to select a product that has been Greencertified,
than you should have a process for evaluating and
testing the products. Evaluate them as to their proven
protection of people and the environment; effectiveness and
performance; cost per usable quart or gallon (based on
performance and dilution rates for the specific facility where
the product will be used as well as the cleaning
applications). A jansan distributor may be able to help in this
evaluation process.
Use technologically advanced janitorial equipment: Vacuum cleaners should be true-HEPA so that impurities
cannot escape the machine and become airborne.
Extractors should heat the cleaning solution to above 200
degrees F to improve cleaning effectiveness and speed
drying time. Hard-floor equipment should employ dust
control or "passive" vacuum systems to capture airborne
particulates as the machine is operating.
Involve and educate: Everyone using a facility should
understand why Green cleaning products are being used
and what Green cleaning practices are being employed to
protect health. They should be taught steps they can take to
help "Green" their work areas, such as not eating at their
desks because it can attract pests and bacteria. Major
stakeholders - facility managers, students and staff, and
others - should meet regularly to evaluate current Green
cleaning strategies and practices.
For more information and helpful hints, visit our Resource
Center for Other Helpful Sites. There is a section on
Environmentally Preferred Purchasing for Education with
over 20 helpful sites listed.
In addition, the Resource Center provides Technical Reports & Presentations, Implementing Green Cleaning PowerPoint
Presentations, as well as one entitled Implementing Safer
Cleaning Chemicals. |
Question #10: With the thousands of brands of cleaning chemicals now available, are their any general guidelines as to how to select cleaning chemicals? |
Traditionally, users of cleaning products have based their product selections on performance and price. Today, it is still wise to consider these issues, but buyers should be aware of other important factors as well. Indeed, an astute cleaning professional or manager takes a much broader perspective when selecting cleaning chemicals.
For instance, today’s user must evaluate a cleaning chemical based on its environmental impact, the health of the user, and the well-being of building occupants. This is true when selecting Green-certified cleaning products or conventional cleaning chemicals, tools, and products.
Some general guidelines to follow when selecting and using a cleaning chemical include:
- If selecting an environmentally preferable cleaning product, make sure it has been certified by a leading certification organization, such as EcoLogoM or Green Seal®.
- Always select the least toxic product available to perform the specific cleaning task. Determining a product’s toxicity may be difficult, but the best way is to read the label. Buyers should: look for single word labels and warnings on the packaging, such as Caution, Warning, or Danger; review the MSDS sheet; and note warnings about vapors, inhaling fumes, or skin contact. The more warnings on the product, the more toxic the product is.
- Select cleaning chemicals with a low VOC (volatile organic compound) content. VOC content, which is the part of the product that evaporates with use, can impact indoor air quality and health.
- Look for products with a moderate pH, in the area of 4 to 11.
- Mix chemicals in cold water, which minimizes the vapors that can be released in the mixing process. If possible, mix all chemicals with auto-dispensing systems. These systems more accurately mix the chemicals with water—so just the right amount is used as necessary—and also require minimal user assistance.
- Limit the number of chemicals used and use all-purpose type cleaners as much as possible. It is better to have fewer chemicals that can do multiple tasks than to have many chemicals for several different cleaning tasks.
- Select biodegradable products. This will be noted on the product’s label. Also, look for products that are packaged in biodegradable materials.
- Floor finishes should be “metal-” free having, no zinc, for instance. Metals, such as zinc, are difficult to remove in water treatment centers and can harm the health of aquatic life.
- Select cleaning products that are made from sustainable resources, such as soy, corn starch, coconut oil, orange peels, and other products. Not only are these products renewable, but they also allow us to reduce our dependence on petroleum.
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Question #11: Why are Paper Products Part of a Green Cleaning System? |
Green cleaning, as has been discussed previously, refers to much more than just cleaning chemicals. It involves all types
of cleaning products and equipment. And it also includes paper products. There are many reasons that cleaning professionals, as well as building owners and managers, should transfer from conventional to environmentally preferable paper products. The first is black and white: we are cutting down more trees around the world than we can replace. According to Stephen Ashkin, a leading Green Cleaning advocate, in the United States alone more than 4.5 billion pounds of paper are used each year in commercial and
institutional buildings. This requires the cutting down of more than 50 million treesóa huge number to serve the needs of just one country. Green paper products, on the other hand, are made from at least 30 percent post-consumer recycled paper, which helps reduce the number of trees that must be destroyed for paper.
There are also many other reasons why a Green cleaning program must include Green paper products. The manufacturing processes that go into making paper require the use of several products found to be harmful to the environment. One of the worst offenders is chlorine bleach. Although bleach has served our industry well and has many helpful uses, it can also be carcinogenic and is one of the most deadly manufactured substances on earth. Another ingredient used to make conventional paper is dioxin, a probable human carcinogen. Bleach is used not only to whiten paper products but also to help make them much softer to the touch, a feature most consumers like. Fortunately, new manufacturing procedures and chemicals can be substituted for bleach, such as hydrogen peroxide, which make them much safer for manufacturers produce as well as protect the environment. Green paper products were initially more expensive than conventional paper products. One reason for this is that the paper used for environmentally preferable products must come from recycled paper, which adds to the cost. Plus, the new technologies and manufacturing processes, as referenced earlier, had to be developed to make Green paper possible. However, as with most environmentally preferable cleaning products, the additional costs have gone down and Green paper products are now competitively priced.
Today, Green paper is used throughout North America. We find several states in the United States that now require the use of Green or at least chlorine-free paper. For example, Vermont has been using environmentally friendly paper products for more than 10 years. And a growing number of federal agencies, led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, are also selecting Green
or chlorine-free paper. Not to be overlooked, Oakland and San Francisco, California, and Portland, Oregon, are also buying chlorine-free paper, and Minnesota and Indiana both promote its use to state agencies.
How Can you Tell It's Green?
Most Green paper products are now so similar to conventional products that it is no longer easy to tell them apart, either by touch or by visual inspection. Fortunately, selecting them is very easy. Both EcoLogo and Green Seal now certify environmentally preferable products. If the product bears either of these organizationsí labels it means your homework has been done—The paper is green
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Question #12: Should it be Clean or Green? |
In one word, the answer is both.
At a recent Cleaning Industry Research Institute (CIRI), a research organization working to bring more science to the cleaning industry, event, one of the most important – if not most controversia – l presentations focused on the organization?s position on Green
cleaning.
CIRI is on the record as determining that we must focus on cleaningfirst, and then Green. This means that the protection of health and hygiene should always be our top priority. What good is using an environmentally preferable cleaning product if it compromises actual cleaning performance with possible detrimental health effects for building occupants?
CIRI is not the only organization to recommend this policy be adopted in the professional cleaning industry. Other leading organizations, such as the American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services (ASHES), have also come to this same conclusion.
However, neither party advocates using a potentially environmentally harmful cleaning product just because it works. Instead, both organizations encourage greater public awareness and acceptance of Green cleaning and its benefits. The organizations also urge consumers (users) to read product labels, be aware of the ingredients used in conventional cleaning products, and select ones that may be less harmful to the users of the products, building occupants and visitors of the facility, as well as the environment. This policy will likely generate increased demand for high-performing Green cleaning products and encourage more manufacturers in the cleaning industry to develop products and equipment that perform as well as, if not better than, conventional cleaning products. Additionally, both organizations desire ?more disclosure, harmony, and mutual recognition among Green certification organizations?to help ensure that consumers (users) are not misled about environmental benefits or claims.? As a result, Enviro-Solutions has placed a greater emphasis on having its products analyzed and proven Green by the two most respected certification bodies in the cleaning industry, EcoLogo and Green Seal. These independent, third-party organizations primarily focus on determining if a product is made from ingredients that protect human health and the environment and if they are effective. The information provided here is based on a presentation by Steven Spivak, Professor Emeritus at the University of Maryland and on the CIRI Science Advisory Council. |
Question #13: Understanding Green Terminology |
Some critics of Green cleaning say that one of their concerns, which often adds negative feelings toward the movement, is that Green terminology is unclear. How one expert defines ?Green? is not necessarily how another expert may define it. It is important that Green terminologies are clear and understood. One reason why many consumers shied away from selecting Green cleaning products in the 1980s and 1990s was because of all the confusion that existed as to what is Green and what does Green really mean.
Below are some common Green cleaning terms that are associated with the ongoing trend toward environmentally preferable
cleaning products; be sure to provide customers with the following tools so they can make knowledgeable decisions. Green is used to describe cleaning products, building materials, and scores of other products designed and manufactured with minimal negative impact to the environment. Compared to similar conventional products, Green products have a significantly reduced impact on human health, the environment and emphasize conservation of resources, energy efficiency, and healthful interior spaces. Sustainability refers to the concept that the use of products or ingredients today will not compromise their use for future
generations. Sustainability is measured in three interdependent dimension – the environment, economics, and society – often referred to as the triple bottom line. The concept of sustainability can be traced back to President Theodore Roosevelt, who stated in 1910, ?I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use the natural resources of our land; but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or to rob, by wasteful use, the generations that come after us ?
Sick Building Syndrome, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and National Institute of Occupational Safety
and Health, is defined as ?situations in which building occupants experience acute health and/or comfort effects that appear to be
linked to time spent in a particular building, but where no specific illness or cause can be identified. The complaints may be localized in a particular room or zone, or may be spread throughout the building.?
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) evaporate at room temperature, causing poor indoor air quality, and are often
hazardous to human health. Sources of VOCs include solvents, cleaning products, and paints, among many others. Many materials commonly used in building construction, such as carpets and furniture, also emit VOCs. Eco-friendly is a term distributors should probably avoid. However, if your client asks what it means, most experts interpret eco-friendly to refer to products that have little impact on the native eco-system. One problem with using this term is that it can lead to more confusion. For instance, who determines what is or is not eco-friendly? Is eco-friendly the same as environmentally preferable? Does eco-friendly mean the same as Green? Environmentally preferable is best described as products or 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. This may involve raw
materials acquisition, production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, reuse, operation, maintenance, or disposal of the
product or service.
Environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP) is defined by the Federal government as placing a greater emphasis on multiple
environmental considerations of a product when making purchasing decisions or when comparing Green and conventional
products. This includes the product?s recycled content, energy and water efficiency, renewable resource use, toxicity considerations,
environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of the product, and disposal of the product. However, it also includes recognition
that the product must perform as well as, if not better than, comparable products used for the same purpose and be cost effective.
Green Certification can best be described as a process that evaluates a product based on how it is manufactured, used, and its
eventual disposal. Among other measures, an independent, thirdparty laboratory analyzes the product?s ingredients, which is analyzed once again by a recognized certification organization, such as EcoLogo or Green Seal. If the process and the examination prove the product meets specific criteria?indicating it has a significantly reduced impact on the environment when compared to conventional products – it may be honored with Green Certification. |
Question #14: We are just now considering going Green. How do we find out more about the process and what is involved? |
Regarding such things as conserving energy, reducing water use, and making a facility more sustainable, numerous resources are available, and facility managers can turn to what are called “building commissioning” or project management services that can suggest ways to turn a conventional facility into one that is high performing and healthier. Professional and experienced commissioning agents will have a lot of practical knowledge with regards to mechanical and electrical systems and how they can be adjusted or changed to cut costs.
When it comes to cleaning, some manufacturers, such as Enviro- Solutions, are taking a leadership role by developing programs, seminars, and text references for their distributors so that they can help educate their customers on the Greening process. There is a lot to learn and a lot to know. Fortunately, the process provides so many benefits for the health of a facility that most facility managers find the experience to be well worth the time and effort. |
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