Green Cleaning

What is green cleaning?

Green cleaning is comprised of facility cleaning products and methods developed to improve occupant health and performance while minimizing impact on the environment. Not all green cleaning products are independently audited and certified green; but ours are.

ServiceMaster Clean® detergent-free cleaning uses only ingredients listed by the FDA as safe for consumption and products that are free of surfactants or wetting agents. Ideal for individuals with asthma, chemical and allergic sensitivities, our green cleaning products contain no VOCs (volatile organic compounds) or ingredients that are considered corrosive, alkaline or acidic. ServiceMaster Clean green cleaning is a highly efficient and effective cleaning system that is built around these advanced, innovative products.

Green cleaning made easy.

Switching to green cleaning is as easy as making a phone call, and the actual changes in cleaning methods and products will be integrated seamlessly into your existing maintenance plan. Cleaning results are equal to traditional cleaning, but ServiceMaster Clean® green cleaning products are healthier for employees and feature a higher rate of biodegradation for reduced impact on our environment.

Healthy businesses are strong businesses.

In a competitive landscape, more businesses are realizing that their workplace can be a strategic business tool and its care is vital to protecting its most valuable asset—its workers.

Recent studies have shown that sustainable buildings, or buildings that go green, have measurable financial gains due to employee health, productivity, and retention as well as lower operating costs and certain government incentives.* And, as more and more businesses benefit from green cleaning, their individual impact grows exponentially to reach a global scale.

Research has shown that facilities that switch to green cleaning have:

  1. Healthier employees
  2. Lower operating costs and greater access to governmental financial incentives
  3. Positive environmental impacts

Green cleaning is one of the easiest and fastest ways for building managers to make their facilities healthier and safer for employees, not to mention their contribution to the overall environment. Plus, it offers the ability to easily earn quick LEED® points in the process.

Healthier employees—your business at its best.

With 30% of U.S. workers suffering from health problems caused by Sick Building Syndrome, companies are vastly underutilizing their human assets and underestimating the benefits of switching to green cleaning. With the same effectiveness as traditional cleaning, and little or no cost increase, the return on investment for switching to green cleaning is immense.**

In the 1960s, Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) was first identified when research revealed that volatile organic compounds from carpeting and furniture, inadequate air circulation, poor lighting, mold buildup and disruptive temperature variances were contributing to nausea, respiratory problems, skin rashes, lethargy, headaches and numerous other health concerns. Since then, many independent studies have shown that switching to green cleaning leads to reduced employee sick days and absences.***

A 2002 study by the Indoor Environment Department at the Lawrence Berkley National Design Laboratory in California found that the improved air quality by use of green design, building materials and technologies can lower sick building symptoms by 20% to 50%, while cold and influenza are reduced by 9% to 20%, and allergies and asthma drop by 8% to 25%.

Get the most out of your business by keeping your employees at their healthiest.

Incentives and programs: lower operating costs and financial incentives.

Switching to green cleaning is an easy way to get your building and business on the path to saving money, being healthier and getting green-certified. There are several programs in place to reward your business and/or make certain it is as green as possible.

The big picture: positive environmental impact.

In addition to the immediate and direct human benefits of switching to green cleaning, the long-term relief for our environment is vast.

In the United States, commercial buildings consume 17% of the water, 33% of the energy, 40% of the raw materials and 71% of the electricity. They produce, directly or indirectly, 40% of the landfill waste, 33% of the carbon dioxide, 49% of the sulfur dioxide and 10% of the particulate emissions.

When each of us takes on the responsibility of switching to green cleaning and other green building practices, together we can make an enormous improvement to our overall environment.

* Source: White Paper on Sustainability, November 2003, Building Design & Construction.
** Source: “Creating the Sustainable Workplace,” AIA: The Cornerstone.
*** Source: “Indoor Air Facts No. 4: Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)” , “An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006.
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