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For Facility Managers: The First Five Steps to Sustainability
At Service by Medallion, we have helped many of our clients transition from traditional, non-green cleaning programs to environmentally preferable cleaning products and procedures. The goal, of course, is to help ensure a healthier indoor environment.
However, many are now asking us to help them take the next step, moving beyond green cleaning to sustainability. Before we discuss this further, one thing facility managers should know is that green cleaning and sustainability are not the same.
Let us explain. When it comes to green cleaning, we are referring to the use of cleaning solutions, tools, and equipment that have a reduced impact on the user, building users, and the environment when compared to similar products used for the same purposes.
Sustainability, as it applies to professional cleaning, refers to the use of products and procedures that allow cleaning professionals to maintain facilities more efficiently, minimize waste, protect the environment as well as reduce water, fuel, and energy consumption.
Among the steps we take or suggest to our clients to accomplish these goals are the following:
Install auto-dilution systems. An auto-dilution system is designed to dilute cleaning chemicals with water more precisely, based on the cleaning needs at hand. When mixed manually, either the custodian uses too much chemical or not enough, neither of which promotes effective cleaning, making it potentially wasteful and costly.
Conduct a product audit. A product audit is designed to evaluate the solutions currently in use as to their effectiveness, costs, and impact on the environment. Depending on the results of the review, we may suggest transferring to cleaning solutions that may prove just as effective while reducing supply costs and protecting the environment. Also, we typically recommend ways to reduce the overall number of cleaning solutions used in the facility. This helps reduce waste; reduce the amount of fuel needed to transport cleaning solutions, which helps to minimize greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, and invariably, these steps help to reduce cleaning costs.
Purchase in bulk. We recommend that cleaning solutions be purchased in bulk. This means selecting products in larger quantities and larger sizes and doing away with purchasing products in gallon containers. Buying in bulk typically results in cost savings per unit and minimizes waste as well as packaging and fuel needs.
Begin the sustainability journey. Sustainability is a journey. We are continually working with our clients to help them become more sustainable. For instance, one way is to reduce their use of trash can liners. Did you know trash can liners are not required to be recyclable under the latest version of LEED? This means that thousands of liners eventually end up in landfills where they can take years to disintegrate. Devising programs to reduce the use of liners is just one way we help our clients advance their sustainability initiatives.
Explore new technologies. The professional cleaning industry is changing fast, and among the new technologies now available are cleaning systems that use no chemicals. Often referred to as “engineered water,” these systems have proven very effective in many situations, while helping to reduce cleaning costs and, once again, packaging needs, fuel and energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Put Service by Medallion to work for you. For more information on this topic or help with any facilities and maintenance service needs, contact a Service by Medallion Business Solutions Specialist at (650) 625-1010.
Every successful company needs a versatile systems specialist with the ability to adeptly orchestrate account startups and deploying technologies at customer sites. With a strong focus providing infrastructure and technological solutions to service delivery teams, Andres is meticulous at mastering the art of contract compliance. As a key member of Medallion’s innovation committee, Andres leads Medallion’s business certifications and operational excellence programs, such as CIMS and ISO compliance.
Mark
Mark
Sr. VP of Regional Operations – National Accounts & Culinary
Few known tenured professionals have had the success that Mark Cornish has earned as knowledgeable and resourceful operator. Mark oversees maintenance programs at a national level and provides another layer of support to our VPs of Operations. As an operational guru, Mark is a master of meeting customer financial objectives while ensuring that customers receive the highest level of service across our service channels. His expertise lies in developing and implementing quality service methods and procedures, optimizing operational efficiency for complex manufacturing sites and campus environments, primarily in the janitorial and culinary space.
Daryl
Daryl
Regional VP Operations – High Tech & Institutional Environments
Leveraging over “x” years of experience in the facility service industry, Daryl stands out by a distinguished track record of unmatched customer experience. Daryl has earned the reputation of a trusted collaborator capable of brining operational stability to the most challenging environments. In addition to having depth of knowledge in building maintenance, he also runs Medallion’s mailroom and event management division.
Elias
Elias
EVP, Chief Sustainability Ambassador
Elias brings extensive business operations expertise and leadership to Medallion as he provides direct oversight of the Executive Team. As Medallion’s Chief Sustainability Ambassador, he champion’s our sustainability initiatives around waste management, green cleaning and maintenance of controlled environments. Elias is TRUE Zero Waste certified, IICRC certified, and has been trained in infectious disease by GBCAI.
