Green Cleaning Tips

1. Cost Savings and Green: Sweep high traffic areas more often to reduce the need for deeper floor cleaning. This will Reduce the number of times stripping and waxing is needed.
   
   
2. Engaging and Educating employees about sustainability practices can save money in costs by boosting efficiency.
   
   
3. Employ a “no touch” cleaning method when possible. The no-touch cleaning method is a process where you “spray” down the area to be cleaned with a water and pre-measured cleanser, then vacuum up the water. This is a better, more efficient, cleaning method than the wipe and mop method.

August Quotes:

“Failure doesn't mean you are a failure it just means you haven't succeeded yet”. Robert H. Schuller

“There is no sadder sight than a young pessimist.” Mark Twain

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Scoop on Indoor Air Quality

When most people think about pollution, they don’t think about the air they breathe INDOORS and how important it is. Many people are concerned and can list several sources of outside air pollution. The problem is that most people think the air they breathe at home and at work is fine. It isn’t. Indoor air pollution can cause many health problems similar to outside air pollution, maybe even more. Luckily, by understanding indoor air pollution, you can change the air you breathe at home or at the office with very simple steps.

First thing you need to understand about indoor air pollution is where it comes from. The main causes of indoor air pollution are the sources within your house or office that release gasses or particles. A lack of ventilation in a home or office can also increase these levels. Ventilation is important to dilute the pollutants and carry them out.

There are several sources within your home or office that can release harmful gasses and fumes. Combustion sources such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, and wood, are big contributors (in most cases, the biggest contributors) and come from gas appliances and fireplaces. Smoking and cleaning products are the second largest contributors to indoor air pollution. The remaining larger contributors to indoor air pollution are central heating/cooling, building materials, furnishings, and outdoor sources such as pesticides.

The health effects from Indoor Air Pollution can be immediate or long term. The immediate effects are irritation of eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Mid-term effects include asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and humidifier fever. Respiratory disease, heart disease, and cancer are all long term effects.

The good news is that it is rather simple to control these emissions and better the indoor air quality at your home or business. Eliminating or reducing emissions of your appliances that use gas, changing your air conditioner filters, and using HEPA vacuums to reduce the amount of dirt and dust being recycled into the air, are all good ways of raising the quality of the air inside your home or office. Another simple but effective way of raising the quality of the air you breathe is by switching your cleaning products to “green” products. Most cleaning products contain chemicals that are harmful to humans and animals, Certified green products do not have those harmful chemicals, are safer to use, and do not negatively affect the air you breathe.

Industry Updates:

*Recycling Partially-Used Amenities Walt Disney World Resorts and West Gate Resorts in Central Florida are now partnered with Clean the World to recycle all partially used amenities from their resorts. Clean the World sanitizes personal amenities, such as shampoo and soap, and distributes them to needy people around the world. This type of recycling has a double effect; it gets these soaps out of landfills and helps the needy stay healthy by giving them access to personal hygiene products.

*Helping States reach energy efficiency The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy have banded together and formed an action group to assist states achieve maximum cost-effective energy. Plans are to improve energy efficiency by 2020.

*Cities with the most energy efficient buildings According to the EPA, Los Angeles, Washington DC, and San Francisco head the list of cities with the most energy efficient buildings.

*Record Highs in Recycling The American Forest & Paper Association found that 63.4% of paper consumed in the US was recycled in 2009. This is up from 2008, where 57.4% of paper was recycled. Compared to 44.6% in 1998, things are looking extremely positive in the recycling arena.