Suggestions for improving your facility

1.      Use hand soaps that do not contain antimicrobial agents (e.g., Triclosan) except where required by law or regulations (i.e., healthcare or food preparation). Triclosan kills some of the harmful microscopic organisms, but it also destroys beneficial bacteria. These friendly bacteria are necessary in our bodies and environment; for example, they aid metabolism and inhibit the invasion of harmful pathogens. Also, the safety of triclosan has been questioned. While the companies that manufacturer products containing this chemical claim that it is safe, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has registered it as a pesticide. The EPA gives triclosan high scores both as a human health risk and as an environmental risk.

EPIC’S Green Cleaning Principles for Businesses

The need for green cleaning makes sense when you consider that Americans spend 90% of their time indoors.

1.  Understand what “Going Green” Means
Know that going green is more than just switching from traditional cleaning chemicals to environmentally friendly products.  An effective program takes a proactive approach and involves the people who clean, the building occupants and visitors, while considering the effects to indoor and outdoor environment.

2.  Determine your Reasons for “Going Green”

Outline what your business hopes to accomplish: Are you looking for safer working conditions, reduced insurance rates, increased property value or wanting to gain a better public image?  Knowing what you want to attain will help in identifying products that best meet your goals.

3.  Evaluate the Types of Products you Need

Cleanliness is usually judged by outward appearances – what an area looks like after it has been cleaned.  The products your company uses should make your building look clean, of course, but they should also address unseen issues including the prevention of indoor air pollution.  It is a common misconception that a room has to smell of ammonia or bleach to be clean. These chemicals pose great risks, including asthma attacks, respiratory problems, headaches, and nausea. However, if having a fragrance is vital for your operations, EPIC has several fragrances made with natural ingredients that are safer alternatives!

4.  Healthier workplaces

Green cleaning puts an end to “sick building syndrome” by employing safer products that 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.

All areas within a building are interconnected through automation, HV/AC systems and even foot traffic from outside pollutants. Understand that what you do in one area of the building can effect all other areas too!

5. Increase Productivity and Marketability

Healthier employees mean happier employees. Statistics show using green products increases worker satisfaction, improved morale, reduced absenteeism, and increased productivity and efficiency.

Going green can also enhance an organization’s reputation and brand equity, because being socially conscious has become a desirable business trait. 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.

6.  Helping the Earth

Implementing a green program can reduce the negative effect your cleaning operations have on the environment.  Using green 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.

7.   Reduce Costs

An effective GREEN 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. For example, a chemical-laden 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.

8.   Increase Safety of the Building and Protect Property Values

Green procedures, including proper use, storage and disposal of materials, actually reduce the likelihood and frequency of fires, explosions, spills and splashes. Green cleaning products are less hazardous and reduce the risk that janitors, the facility or an occupant will be harmed by the product.

Environmental Impact of Buildings 

Buildings fundamentally impact people’s lives and the health of the planet, and “going green” can help minimize that impact.  Buildings use large amounts of energy and water, and transform land that provides valuable ecological services. Buildings account for:

·         More than 36% of total U.S. primary energy use¹