Going Green: A Step-By-Step Approach

If I have heard it once now, I’ve heard it a hundred times, that green cleaning is confusing. Maybe it is confusing to some, but it need not be. The following are some steps you can take to successfully implement your green cleaning program.

1. Develop your business strategy.
It is important to decide up front if your green cleaning program will be just one of a variety of service offerings or if it will be the sole focus of your business. This decision will affect the pace at which you will need to get your program up and running, as well as the conversion of existing accounts.

2. Pick a “roadmap.
” Don’t waste time reinventing the wheel. Instead, concentrate on implementing the program and growing sales and profits. My recommendation is to follow the green cleaning requirements found in the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) rating system. Just keep in mind that it currently is going through a revision. So if you are just getting started, follow the newest version to keep you on track.

3. Audit your products.
Using the specifications found in LEED-EB, determine any necessary changes to your chemicals, dispensers, equipment, paper, microfiber tools and other products. Once you determine the needed changes, develop a strategy to phase out existing products and acquire new ones.

4. Reconsider your processes.
Once you have identified your new products, you may need to or want to modify your cleaning processes. Remember, green cleaning is much more than using recycled toilet paper and other “green” products. Your processes must focus on effective cleaning that protects occupant health while reducing environmental impacts.

Read more:
http://www.cleanlink.com/cp/article/Going-Green-A-StepByStep-Approach--7833?keywords=green%20cleaning,%20stephen%20ashkin,%20usgbc