Happy Earth Day to all of you! We sincerely hope you enjoy the day - and take this moment in time to celebrate your year-long effort to help change the world. Another opportunity that awaits you today is the fact that “green” is the topic du jour – therefore a perfect time to discuss Green Cleaning with whoever you encounter.
In this month’s issue, you will find timely, useful information for your Earth Day and the remainder of the spring. We are taking a one-month hiatus from our series of Green Selling Tips, but have included a few items of note that deserve your attention.
First, Green Seal announced on Friday that, after more than 14 months of work on its revision, the revised Environmental Standard for Industrial and Institutional Cleaners (GS-37) is ready for comment and balloting (see article below).
As we did last month, I included an article on how Green Cleaning can actually be an answer for those suffering budget cuts during a recession. This article will give you some hands-on tips for selling during an economic downturn, and I hope yet another reason to feel encouraged as you celebrate Earth Day.
For those of you who have not yet read Green Selling Tips (see link on bottom-right for more information), we are offering a special 30% discount to celebrate Earth Day! This offer is available for only a limited time, so please act promptly. Purchasing details are available here.
To close, I would like to ask each of you to take five minutes to participate in a survey I am collaborating on. Survey located here. The survey is in regards to selling during a recession, and we would very much appreciate your input.
Again – Happy Earth Day! I hope you all get the chance to celebrate – you deserve it!
Steve
As always, we encourage you to share your personal and professional strategies for “Going Green” with us for future columns. Submit them to editor@destinationgreen.com.
Green Seal, who on Friday (4/18) announced that after more than a 14 months of work its revision to GS-37, is ready for comment and balloting.
At this point I am still unsure how I want to vote since I haven’t had time to analyze the final document...
In any economic downturn there is always enormous pressure to reduce expenses. And for those who have been working in facility management for any length of time have probably experienced economic downturns before. From my experience, cleaning often shouldered a greater burden then many departments because it was often considered less essential to the institution’s core educational mission.
Unfortunately how these cuts affected building occupants including students, staff and visitors, furnishings and the building itself were often overlooked. While many things can be deferred for a short period of time without notice, but when there are cuts in cleaning --- occupants notice.
Ashkin's presentation focused on how to implement a Green Cleaning program in a school, emphasizing the importance of conducting an initial assessment of current cleaning products, procedures, exterior factors such as construction work, bus and auto pollution, and dust that can impact the cleanliness of a building.
“This assessment becomes the benchmark,” explained Ashkin. “It tells the facility managers exactly where they are now and the steps necessary to Green the facility.”
If your Earth Day celebration is now complete, and you are asking yourself "now what do I do?" - here are ten easy activities to help you. Simply taking on a couple, or a few of them, will help you maximize your day's efforts and get a jump on Earth Day '09.
Q: I am interested in starting my own janitorial cleaning company. After doing some research I think using environmentally safe products would be my best option. Please could you send me more information on this matter? I would like to know where to purchase environmentally safe products, a list of safe products, and more information how to become certified. Thank you!
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