How difficult is it to be considered a Green building? One of the issues of our hour is that businesses have been encouraged to “Go Green.” Unfortunately, they have not been told what Green represents unless you consider an extensive list of ecological and environmental changes is the answer. Actually, it appears that the idea of a Green building has been usurped and taken to every possible extreme.

The core of a Green office or building is found in the improvement of the health issues of the building on the behalf of the people that work there. While it is beneficial to change the bulbs, cut energy consumption, conserve more water, and recycle the trash; the best place to create a Green office is in the janitorial service.

It need not be so complex. We feel that any building can accomplish a three step janitorial improvement. The first step is what we call the Green Agenda. This is when the decision-makers implement polices. The second step is to insure the Green products are used, and the third step is to require a Green certified janitorial service at contract time.

The value of a Green building is the positive change of the health factor for the cleaning crew and those who work in the office day after day. Acute and chronic influences, studies have shown, are often related on the cleaning of the building. This shows up in the loss of profitability through absenteeism, lost productivity, cost of manpower, and increasing medical costs.

The Green practices of the janitorial service are just as important as the Green products. For example, the use of microfiber cloths reduce chemical use, and also decrease the bacteria and dust moved around the building. New sanitizing methods must break the old “Spray and Wipe” routine to allow for a “Dwell Time” of the product. Disease spread is greatly reduced through change of cleaning tools and methods. It is not enough to toss a Green product into the mix and declare the whole project Green.

A “Green Practices Clause” should be included in all bid projects that gives preferential treatment to janitorial services that offer a line of Green products and include a Green trained and certified workforce. It makes a great deal of sense that the worker should be equally valued as the tools of the operation. A brand new set of tools will not make an woodworker into an expert mechanic. Why shouldn’t we require more of the people charged with protecting the health of your employees?

Companies are encouraged to seek out a Green Clean Institute Certified janitorial service in their area. At least require that those seeking to provide janitorial services for your building are Green Clean Institute Certified. You will make the world and your office a better place, and this is the foundation of getting your building Green Clean Institute certified as well.