By: Caitlin Dimalanta  |  June 15, 2022 

The effort to conserve our planets’ natural resources has become a huge part of our lives especially when it comes to facility management. There is an influx of buildings that are striving for or have accomplished green building status via certifications like LEED^® (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design). With increasing incentives to go green, the number of LEED certified green building projects have experienced an upsurge from 296 certifications in 2006 to over 67,200 in 2018! 

In this blog we will be recapping the greatest tips from our 8 part blog series that covers the adoption of green cleaning procedures and techniques to higher level strategies and stewardship. Whether you are on the journey to a green building certification or looking to integrate more sustainable building maintenance practices into your routine this guide is here to help you foster a cleaner, healthier, greener, and safer building for re-entry and beyond.

Establish a Healthy & Sustainable Foundation with Green Chemistry

An efficient way to launch your sustainable building program is by switching to cleaning chemicals that put both your building occupants and the environment first. Green cleaning chemicals are third-party certified by industry recognized ecolabels. These ecolabels give chemicals the stamp of approval after being  verified against a set of standards, which include having  low or now VOCs (volatile organic compounds), use of biobased ingredients, often formulated to be fragrance- and dye-free, or utilize chemical-free cleaning technology, such as “engineered water.” 

Incorporate Green Cleaning Tools, Equipment & Technology 

Utilizing cleaning tools that conserve resources take your sustainable cleaning routine to the next level. Choosing the right tech such as microfiber products and ecolabel certified equipment can not only help with your LEED project, it can also improve your indoor air quality (IAQ). 

Microfiber technology effectively captures dust, dirt and allergens preventing them from being released into the air. Through their durable design they conserve resources, save on labor and are more environmentally friendly than traditional tools that need to be replaced more frequently and use more chemical to clean. 

Equipment can also be ecolabel certified through programs like the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Seal of Approval. For equipment and systems not covered under ecolabel certifiers, there are sustainable practices you can integrate such as using recycled content (floor pads), source reductive dilution control systems, “chemical free” techniques, among others!

Plan an Efficient Waste Diversion & Recycling Program

Part three in our blog series poses important questions that  identify which waste diversion and recycling strategies best fit your facility. 

These prompts take into account federal and municipal regulations, pinpoint  materials you can recycle, determine what kind of receptacles are needed (basic vs. decorative, indoor vs. outdoor, etc.), and also prioritize  your waste management steps with the waste reduction hierarchy. 

Reducing waste in your facility through waste management and recycling is key to achieving building certification standards, including projects that are pursuing LEED^® certification, AASHE STARS^® rating, CIMS-GB certification or WELL™ certification.

Use Entryway Matting to Improve IAQ and Earn LEED Points

A small yet mighty detail that contributes to sustainability and overall cleanliness in a facility is right under your feet as soon as you enter the building, entryway matting. 

Whether you are using a scraper mat, wiper mat or a combination of the two, entryway matting provides that first line of defense preventing larger contaminants from being tracked on the floors and smaller contaminants from being kicked up into the air. Mats are crucial to sustaining a clean environment. 

There are also eco-friendly mats available such as the WAXIE-Green Eco-Mats that are made from post-consumer P.E.T. plastic, which prevents bottles from entering landfills and preserves our natural resources. 

Reduce Consumption with Smart Purchasing Decisions

According to the U.S. Green Building Council you can earn points toward your LEED Certification by meeting the purchasing requirements below:

• Purchases contain at least 10% post-consumer and/or 20% post-industrial material

• Purchases contain at least 50% rapidly renewable materials

• Purchases consist of at least 50% Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper products

• Batteries used are rechargeable

Cut Down Facility Maintenance Costs with Energy Efficiency

Commercial buildings have high energy needs that put great strains on the nation's power grids during peak periods and can be extremely costly. Switching to more energy efficient alternatives such as LED lighting and automated water saving devices throughout your building can dramatically reduce the energy output.

Other ways you can conserve energy is by implementing comprehensive cleaning systems that use less water like microfiber products, dilution control systems, and standardized portion dispensing no-touch soap dispensers.

Keep Building Occupant Wellness Top of Mind

When a building is healthy it makes it easier for its occupants to be healthy too! 

Indoor air quality (IAQ), lighting and hand hygiene are major contributors to the well-being of building occupants. Maintaining good IAQ minimizes airborne pollutants, reducing the risk of absenteeism and poor performance in school or the workplace. 

Incorporating high quality lighting in a facility fosters an environment for your building occupants to be comfortable and accurately perceive their surroundings which leads to reduced stress, increased focus and ultimately higher levels of productivity. 

Last but not least, one of the most effective methods to promote wellness and combat the spread of germs is with proper hand hygiene. Frequently cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces and using signage to encourage hand washing, greatly improves the overall cleanliness and health of a facility and those that use it. 

Ensure a Green Future With Ongoing Environmental Stewardship

To wrap up our guide to sustainability, we’re highlighting the interconnectedness of environmental stewardship and facility management. 

Your ongoing effort to achieve these  goals communicates to your stakeholders and your community, your commitment to improving the well-being of your building occupants and the environment. This can be achieved through pursuing green building certifications such as LEED. 

LEED certified buildings ultimately cost less to run and utilize less energy and water while lowering environmental impact through reduced waste. There are additional notable certifications you can obtain to keep you on the path toward a greener and healthier future for your building. Certifications such as:

• CIMS-GB certification

• AASHE STARS^® rating

• WELL certification

• Fitwel^®

For a more in depth analysis, check out our blog series that further breaks down what goes into a sustainable facility cleaning and maintenance program:

Part 1: How to Develop a Sustainable Building Program 

Part 2: Green Cleaning Tools, Equipment & Technology for Healthier Indoor Environments 

Part 3: Planning an Efficient Waste Diversion & Recycling Program 

Part 4: Put a Greener & Cleaner Foot Forward: Entryway Matting 

Part 5: Reducing Consumption with Smart Purchasing Decisions 

Part 6: Cutting Down Facility Maintenance Costs with Energy Efficiency 

Part 7: The Role of Facility Management in Building Occupant Wellness

Part 8: How Facility Management & Environmental Stewardship are Closely Connected

WAXIE is committed to helping our customers keep their facilities cleaner, healthier, greener, and safer. That means creating customized cleaning solutions to meet your specific needs, and then providing the ongoing training and support to help you achieve a cleaner and healthier building environment with improved indoor air quality.  

Please contact your WAXIE Account Consultant today to schedule a consultation.  

Caitlin Dimalanta is WAXIE’s eCommerce Specialist. She enjoys researching and implementing various SEO (search engine optimization) strategies to enhance WAXIE’s eCommerce platform Web@Work. Caitlin has a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from San Diego State University.