Green Cleaning
Green Cleaning Services, Materials and Techniques
Trained and Experienced Professional Green Cleaning Teams in Portland
Portland is one of the cleanest, greenest cities in the US. Aptly nicknamed the City of Roses, it is situated in Oregon. Oregon is the second greenest state in the US after Vermont, with half of its energy needs already being derived by clean and renewable sources of energy.
As society has progressed, people in Portland have also gained education and awareness about the toxic and ecologically damaging effects of chemical cleaners on the health and well being of humans and other life on this Earth. Since the rise of the green cleaning movement in the '60s, when Tom of Maine first started marketing its green cleaning products, green cleaning has become recognized and mainstream.
We know that excessive use of chemical cleaners can aggravate symptoms of health problems like eczema or allergies in some people. Moreover, toxic cleaning products are harmful for the environment. This is because these cleaning solutions leech into the rivers and kill and damage marine life. Chemicals that have leached into the soil, damage vegetation, while some chemicals may even make their way into the groundwater and become a health hazard for years afterward.
This is why nearly every state in the US has implemented some sort of green cleaning measures as well as green cleaning awareness and motivational campaigns. Portland, Oregon is already known for its ecological friendliness and its clean, green lifestyle. It has been at the forefront of the green cleaning movement to ensure that its inhabitants are able to live free from the effects of toxic chemicals. The City of Roses also works to ensure that its many areas of natural beauty such as the picturesque Willamette River and green spaces such as the 400-acre Washington Park which contains the Japanese Garden and Oregon Zoo remain ecologically thriving and free from all pollutants caused by toxic cleaning chemicals.
Green cleaning in schools
In 2012 the Center for Disease Control included questions about green cleaning procedures in the nation's schools in its annual school health and practices study. This marked the increased awareness of the adverse effects of toxic chemicals on young people. Green cleaning in K-12 schools in now the norm, especially in common and high traffic areas such as the classroom. Since advanced green cleaning methods and technologies can eliminate most harmful microorganisms, allergens, and bacteria without spreading toxicity and while also being cost-effective. Most schools in Portland are now implementing green cleaning throughout their grounds and buildings.
Green cleaning in government offices
The City of Roses is committed to improving its green and eco-friendly image, so government offices should always be cleaned by using green cleaning methods. The state of Oregon requires that chemical cleaners in its jurisdictions be either Green Seal certified or have eco-friendly certification from the EPA Design for the environment. Oregon rules prefer products that show the least amounts of harmful effects and which are biodegradable and do not leech into the state's soil and water supply. The policy for buying cleaning products for government offices in Portland is the responsibility of the Sustainable Supplier Council. The Sustainable Supplier Council is charged with purchasing supplies, including cleaning supplies, which are the least harmful to the environment.
Green cleaning in residential, medical and recreational spaces
Green cleaning is often standard policy in areas such as homes with small children or old people's care homes or hospitals. It is important to keep areas that are frequented by children without fully developed immune systems as well as those people who are immuno-compromised or in frail health, free form all hazardous or toxic chemicals. This is because those people are in a vulnerable state and chemical contaminants are especially harmful to their health.
Green cleaning in food and beverage retail establishments
It is important to use non-toxic cleaning agents in areas such as the kitchens, dining, and storage areas of restaurants. Non-slip cleaning agents are used on the floors of restaurant kitchens along with organic or non-toxic cleaners. Cleaning supplies such as mops are separated by color coding for use in areas such as the kitchen, the restrooms, and the dining or sitting areas. This is to prevent cross-contamination. All high traffic areas are wiped down with organic disinfectants to prevent the spread of bacteria, viruses, or mildew.
If you wish to employ the services of a professionally trained green cleaning team from Commercial Janitorial for you daily, weekly or monthly cleaning, contact our Portland Office for more information about out green cleaning services.
Green Cleaning in Public Schools
Studies have shown that switching to green cleaning can improve attendance and student performance on standardized tests. Therefore school administrators interested in improving the schools performance and bottom line should take a close look at green cleaning. For example, the Healthy Schools Campaign calculated that each 0.5% increase in attendance would result in an additional $300,000 in funding for some larger school districts. Other studies found that after a major renovation in which green cleaning was a key component, both attendance and scores on standardized tests increased. Therefore green cleaning which minimize exposure to harsh aggressive cleaners and VOC emissions result in clean schools that provide a better learning environment while under maintained schools lose credibility A cleaner healthier atmosphere will assist in performance of learning.
Green Cleaning in Universities
The needs of Universities are very different from schools. Universities compete for the top students and faculty, and a green cleaning program offers outstanding marketing benefits. But beyond the marketing hype of green cleaning are real tangible benefits to the health of students and employees and if done correctly to the financial well being of your institution. Commercial Janitorial can provide a detailed transition plan to move your university towards a green cleaning program with safer cleaning chemicals absent VOCs and industrial solvents resulting in a healthier overall environment
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Healthcare
Hospital success is measured in terms of patient outcomes. Nosocomial infections (infections acquired in the hospital) are of utmost concern to hospital staff and administration. Implement a green cleaning program in your hospital, clinic or healthcare facility could be of enormous value to both patients and staff. Green cleaning not only produces a safer environment overall, it reduce occupational exposures to nursing and environmental services staff, waste reduction, recycling and green issues. Implementing a green cleaning program in a hospital can provide the following benefits:
- Green cleaning differentiate the hospital as it competes for staff and patients
- Green cleaning makes environments more pleasant places to work and stay while maintaining sanitary conditions
- Green cleaning kills germs without the usual disinfectant smell we normally associate with medical settings
- Green cleaning allows for use of traditional cleaners in operating rooms that require antiseptic conditions
- With Green cleaning offices and waiting rooms are cleaned with green products that do not contain harsh chemicals that cause noxious odors, eye and nose irritations, and respiratory problems
- Green cleaning uses environmentally friendly furnishings and supplies manufactured without toxic materials
- Green cleaning helps your facility conform to the Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E) standards
- Improve safety, reduce waste, and become environmentally responsible
Green Cleaning in Nursing Homes
The green cleaning needs of a nursing homes differ significantly from the green cleaning needs of hospitals because their customers use a different decision-making process for picking a nursing home. Cleanliness is of course a very important issue, however due to increasing competition, marketing opportunities that green cleaning offers to help differentiate nursing homes from their competitors. By implementing a green cleaning program, your nursing home can promote real tangible benefits that improve quality of life for nursing home residents.
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Green Cleaning in Owner Occupied or Single Tenant Commercial Office Buildings
The needs of owner occupied or single tenant commercial Office Buildings focus around increasing productivity, quality, employee retention, sales and profits through creating a cleaner and healthier environment; more uninterrupted calls and happier occupant’s resulting in more sales and profits.
Green Cleaning in Multiple Tenant Leased Space Commercial Office Buildings
Because the property management company profits are not directly influenced by the increased productivity of occupants of multiple leased space commercial office buildings, their needs deal more with tenant retention, improved tenant satisfaction, reduced complaints, and marketing property to gain new tenants. Implementing a green cleaning program can help in all of these areas. Green cleaning adds real value to a property by cleaning from a green perspective. Green cleaning helps to maintain Class A status, lease space at a premium, and minimize tenant turnover by letting tenants to know that the building is cleaned and maintained from a healthy and sanitary approach. In a multiple tenant leased space commercial office buildings value to the owners investment LEED is the framework to obtain 12 points needed toward certification.
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Green Cleaning in Lodging and Hospitality
Green hotels are properties whose managers are eager to institute programs that save resources such as water, energy and reduce solid waste, while saving money. Distinguishing a property as a green building gives a proactive image A "we care" marketing campaign sits well with guests 83% of US travelers want to support environmentally responsible suppliers of products and services are willing to spend more money to do so Give guests a sense of contribution Let the guest know the products are doing the job needed, doing it well, and cleaning to protect human health "Green" Hotels Association recognize and support properties that are interested in environmental issues.
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