Commercial green cleaning uses environmentally friendly and sustainable materials and methods to maintain your commercial property.
Green cleaning can benefit your business by saving money, creating a healthier work environment, and by giving you the satisfaction of knowing that you’re helping the environment as a whole.
And, if you’re a business owner or facility manager interested in boosting your business’ LEED score, green cleaning will benefit that as well.
What’s a LEED Score?
First, a quick recap on LEED:
LEED stands for leadership in energy and environmental design. It is a grading scale created by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) used to determine a property’s environmental friendliness.
A big part of LEED is the way that buildings are designed and developed. Using best practices in constructing the buildings themselves and creating a design that fosters energy efficiency both impact LEED Score.
In addition to this, green cleaning can improve your LEED score. In fact, it can improve your score by two points.
Green Cleaning Requirements for a Good LEED Score
The Wilburn Company, is GS-42 certified, which means we’ve undergone extensive training and review to ensure that all of our procedures are compliant with Green Seal standards. Using our green cleaning services for your business offers can improve your LEED score.
Products and Materials
The first requirement is to use proper green cleaning products.
Wait, how can cleaning products can be environmentally friendly? Certain products use chemicals that may or may not be harmful to the environment. The process in which the products were produced may also be harmful to environment.
Disinfectants and polishes should only use ionized or electrolyzed water, and disposable items such as trash bags should generally be from a renewable source. Hand soaps and sanitizers typically should not have microbial agents, except as a preservative. Among these guidelines, green cleaning products should be up to these standards.
Following these product guidelines can give you one point toward your LEED score.
Equipment
Your business will receive another point for using powered cleaning equipment that reduces chemical and biological contaminants.
Powered equipment should use environmentally friendly batteries (gel, absorbent glass mat, lithium-ion) in appliances where they’re supported. Vacuum cleaners should be certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute Seal of Approval/Green Label Vacuum Program and operate with a maximum sound level of 70 dBA or less in accordance with ISO 11201.
If an appliance is powered by propane, it should have high-efficiency, low-emissions engines with catalytic converters and mufflers that meet the California Air Resources Board or EPA standards. The appliance should operate with a sound level of 90 dBA or less.
These requirements are a part of a larger list set by the USGBC. Complying with these requirements will result in one point toward your LEED score.
Policy
The methods and procedures that your green cleaning service uses will determine your LEED score as well.
Your policy should outline the materials and equipment requirements set by the USGBC and create an organized strategy for operating in compliance with those requirements. The policy will ensure that operating requirements are reviewed and that cleaning personnel are properly trained to follow them.
An ideal policy will also reduce the amount of toxic materials used, prevent exposure to the building’s occupants, develop strategies for increasing energy efficiency and ensure safe handling of materials and equipment.
Simply having the proper materials and equipment is important, but your policy will improve your cleaner’s ability to use them safely and properly.
Benefits of a Good LEED Score
So, this is all great information, but you’re probably wondering, why should I bother going through these green cleaning steps just to get a good LEED score?
One of the most compelling reasons is cost. Not only is LEED affordable, it will save your company money over time. Following LEED standards saves energy, which lowers your bill. It also helps avoid costly maintenance. Buildings that follow these standards can save up to 20% on maintenance costs.
LEED buildings are becoming widely recognized in a very positive light. Professionals know the value of LEED, which means that your property’s value could increase by 4% by having a high score. According to USGBC, more than 19.3 billion square feet of building space is LEED-certified worldwide and approximately 2.2 million square feet achieves LEED certification each day.
Beyond these benefits, using green cleaning to improve your LEED score is good for your organization’s public image. Having this label on your property shows that your organization is progressive and environmentally conscious, which could improve your business. Money aside, your organization is being socially responsible and helping the world to be a better place.
Switch to Green Cleaning Now
We hope that we were able to shed some light on the benefits of green cleaning and a good LEED score. This can help your business in numerous ways while helping the environment, too.
Don’t know where to start? The Wilburn Company is a GS-42 certified cleaning provider and has been in the custodial service industry for 20 years. We have expertise and we care about helping your business go green.
Get in touch us with us today to get started. To learn how your facility can benefit from green cleaning services, get in touch with us online or at 410-789-3320.