How To Implement A Green Cleaning Program BSCAI, Orlando, FL April 3, 2005 Stephen P. Ashkin 812 / 332-7950 SteveAshkin@AshkinGroup.com
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has.Margaret Mead
How Big Is Your Piece Of The Pie? Is It Growing? • $150 billion industry • Cleaning industry minimal real growth • Growth through taking market share • Green can help
Why build green? $250,000 ????? $175,000 $177,500 $500/month $250/month $20/month $30/month
Why build green? 15 years later $500,000 ????? New roof, furnace, A/C $0 $3,000/month $1,500/month $40/month $60/month
Define “Green” Cleaning • …products and services that reduce the health and environmental impacts compared to similar products and services used for the same purpose.” Executive Order 13101 • Green Cleaning: Cleaning to protect health without harming the environment.
Define “Green” Cleaning • Chemicals: • Cleaners: Green Seal GS-37 • Others: Low-VOC • Floor Finish: Sustainable, metal-free • Hand Soaps: Non-antimicrobial • Paper & Liners: • Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines • Green Seal • Chlorine-Free Paper Association • Equipment • Vacuums: CRI Green Label Program • Floor Machines: Vacuum attachments
Define “Green” Cleaning (cont) • Entry mats • Tools & Equipment: • Micro-fiber mops & cloths • Vapor machines • High-efficiency carpet extractors • Water-conserving tools & devices • Recycling • Integrated Pest Management • Energy • Other: • Procedures • Stewardship • Communications
Implementation Overview • Considerations • The 3 Stages of Implementation 1. Agreement Phase 2. Implementation Phase 3. Stewardship Phase • Timeline • The Cost of “greening”
Considerations • Are There Any Existing Problems? • One Size Does NOT Fit All • Is Money An Issue? • Is Everybody Onboard? • Are The Unions An Issue? • The “Pilot” Concept
Implementation ProcessStage 1: Agreement Phase • Agreement • Building the Team (school example) • Principal (or their representative) • Building Engineer • School Nurse • Teachers • Union Rep • Parent / PTO • Student Rep • Science Club • Board Member • Others
Implementation ProcessStage 1: Agreement Phase • Agreement • Building the Team (Green building example) • Facility Manager • LEED Project Manager • Marketing Person • Leasing Agent • Human Resources • Environment, Health & Safety Person • Sustainability Manager • Tenant Reps • Vendor(s) • Others
Implementation ProcessStage 1: Agreement Phase • Agreement • Building the Team (hospital example) • Chief Administrator’s Office • Infection Control • Environmental Services • Nursing • Patient Care • Marketing / Community Relations • Other
Implementation ProcessStage 1: Agreement Phase • Agreement • Building the Team • Conducting the “baseline” surveys and analyzing the data
Implementation ProcessStage 1: Agreement Phase • Agreement • Building the Team • Conducting the “baseline” surveys and analyzing the data • Developing the plan
Implementation ProcessStage 1: Agreement Phase • Agreement • Building the Team • Conducting the “baseline” surveys and analyzing the data • Developing the plan • Getting everyone onboard
Implementation ProcessStage 2: Implementation Phase • Products & Equipment • Vacuum cleaners & floor machines • Janitorial paper • Plastic bags • Mops & buckets • Carts • Entryway mats • Procedures • Health impacts • Accommodating people with special needs • Environmental impacts • Training
Implementation ProcessStage 3: Stewardship Phase • Communications • Management / Administration • Environmental Services / Custodians • Occupants • Patients • Teachers / Students / Parents • Others • Outside Contractors • Visitors / Guests • Feedback
Timeline & Cost • Timeline • Reach an agreement • “Pilot” – two to three months • Cost • Cost Neutral • May reduce costs • May require more cleaning
Overview of Green Cleaning Procedures • 1st Goal: Reduce exposures • 2nd Goal: Identify efficiencies • Occupants expect to “see” something different. • Change can include: how, when, what, in what sequence, etc. • Minimize change • Maximize resources
Overview of Green Cleaning Procedures • 1st Goal: Reduce exposures • 2nd Goal: Identify efficiencies • Occupants expect to “see” something different. • Change can include: how, when, what, in what sequence, etc. • Minimize change • Maximize resources
Procedures:Common Opportunities • Work from a plan • Get organized • “Team” Cleaning • Day Cleaning • Get teacher support • Cleaning products for teachers • Teach kids to “clean up” • Teach kids to organize, stack chairs, etc. • Teach kids to wash their hands • Find resources - cleaning is important
Procedures:“Common” Opportunities • Focus on the entryways – including those outside the building. • Vacuum first • Vacuum, rather then dust mop • Dust with micro-fiber cloths, rather than feather or dry dusters
Procedures:“Common” Opportunities • Build a floor care program that will last • Find efficiencies in the restroom • Larger rolls of paper – eliminate C-fold towels • Touch-free dispensers • Larger trash cans • Bigger is better • Aerosols, triggers sprayers and other means of applying chemicals • Apply disinfectants first to increase dwell time
Procedures:“Common” Opportunities • Working around people needing special accommodations • Consider non-chemical cleaning opportunities • Squeegees for cleaning glass & mirrors • Micro-fiber cloths to replace cleaning chemicals. • Mechanical snakes to open clogged drains • Steam/vapor cleaning • Pressure cleaning • Other
No Matter the Size of Your Piece of Pie Green Can Help It Grow
Final Thoughts • Green Cleaning can re-establish our industry’s “value” as essential to protecting public health, improving performance and productivity. • Green Cleaning can make an enormous impact towards reducing our impact on the environment. • What would happen to our industry if building owners decided they needed to clean 25% more?
Let’s Talk Green • www.bscai.org • www.usgbc.org • www.GreenSeal.org • www.scorecard.org/chemical-profiles/index.tcl (to learn about chemicals) • www.NewDream.org (green purchasing) • www.h2e-online.org (health care) • www.chps.net (schools) • www.HealthySchoolsCampaign.org (schools) • www.AshkinGroup.com -- DestinationGreen
DestinationGreen • Free e-newsletter to help sales people sell more green products • Go to www.AshkinGroup.com • Click on link to DestinationGreen • Enter email address to subscribe
Making the world a cleaner, safer, healthier place… one building at a time. The Ashkin Group 812 / 332-7950 SteveAshkin@AshkinGroup.com www.AshkinGroup.com Thank You
