How to Add "Green" to the Bottom Line

This article was originally published in Rental.

For the past few years, the topic of sustainability and the green movement have taken a back seat to the economy. Even though customers understood the value of being an environmental steward and purchasing with a “green” intent, saving money trumped saving the environment. In other words, a sustainable green message temporarily was lost. The key word is temporary. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified homes, products with the Green Seal of Approval, hybrid and electric automobiles, alternative energy solutions, recycling initiatives, water conservation strategies, among other sustainable solutions, are again making their way back into the news.

Rental houses have an opportunity to take advantage of green in a couple of product areas, including renting floor equipment that is designed to have a minimal impact on the environment. “Green is not a fad,” says Paul Albrecht, national account manager for Clarke Equipment. “The rental market usually follows what has become popular in professional applications. Hospitals and school districts especially are continually buying more products that are green, which means rental houses will likely see an increased demand in the same way.”

To learn about Clarke's floor cleaning equipment solutions, read the full article here.

The Evolution of Green Carpet Cleaning

This article was originally published by Housekeeping Solutions

Looking at how green cleaning established itself in the jan/san industry, it's easy to see that much of its evolution began with chemicals. The goal was to encourage chemical manufacturers to develop products that are both effective and compiled from ingredients that have a reduced impact on the environment. Facility managers now also want the ingredients to be more sustainable, which generally means being derived from renewable resources instead of being petroleum based.

Once manufacturing caught up with these end user demands, green cleaning soon expanded beyond chemicals to include equipment and cleaning processes. Vacuum cleaners with advanced air filtration systems, chemical-free cleaning systems, low-moisture floor machines, certain restroom cleaning equipment, and even chemical-dilution systems have all become key components of departmental green cleaning strategies.

Another part of the green cleaning evolution specifically targeted carpet cleaning, which became greener and healthier with the aid of new technologies and cleaning and maintenance strategies. One such strategy is to base carpet cleaning more on need than on specific cleaning frequency.

For example, even though many building managers want carpeting in executive offices cleaned every month, these areas are not heavily soiled. Not only is monthly cleaning unnecessary, it is also costly and can have adverse implications on the environment. These areas would benefit from a deep cleaning only two to three times a year.

Looking at frequency is just one way facility managers are greening their carpet care. Learn more about greening carpet cleaning and green equipment by reading the full article: http://www.cleanlink.com/hs/article/The-Evolution-of-Green-Carpet-Cleaning--14166