WHY SUSTAINABLE FLOOR CARE?

Your facility's cleaning practices have a significant impact on indoor air quality, energy and water usage, appearance, occupant and visitor impression... and operating cost.

A well-designed “green” cleaning program can offer the following benefits:

• Improved occupant health, productivity and morale
• Community recognition for reducing resource usage and pollution
• Reduced liability from worker safety issues

Through our partnership with MilliCare, Cubix is your complete resource for sustainable carpet and textile care, as well as flooring materials and installation. If you are working toward a green building certification, we can provide information on how our products and services contribute. We are members of the U.S. Green Building Council.

 

IMPLEMENTING A GREEN CLEANING PROGRAM

Busy Facility Managers may think that implementing a “green” cleaning program is too much of a headache, but the benefits more than make up for the effort. We’re talking about a healthier, cleaner working environment that makes a positive impression on occupants and visitors alike. If LEED certification is a goal for your company, it’s an added plus that sustainable cleaning methods contribute significantly toward LEED compliance.

Most of us understand what sustainability is and those of us involved in building management can easily apply that understanding to cleaning. You already know that your building's cleaning practices have a significant impact on indoor air quality, energy and water usage, appearance, occupant and visitor impression... and operating cost.

But what’s the easiest and most effective way to implement a sustainable cleaning program? To get into the nitty-gritty, you need to know about cleaning products, equipment, practices and performance... and more.

The U.S. Green Building Council has emphasized the importance of sustainable cleaning practices in their recently revised LEED for Existing Buildings standard and provided the following guidelines for “green” cleaning:

• All floor, carpet and upholstery care products must be certified as non-toxic and low-emitting.
• Carpet cleaning equipment must hold the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval.
• All cleaning equipment must comply with decibel limits, have good ergonomic design and utilize safeguards to protect building surfaces.
• The building must have a cleaning program which addresses staffing needs, training and proper handling of chemicals.
• Cleaning practices must be audited for effectiveness.
• You also need to think about your entryways – Are visitors and employees tracking in dirt, dust and other particles?