Executive Housekeeping Today - April 2008 - (Page 12)

leeD (continued from previous page) Greening with Mats by Amy Streeton Decisions you make on a daily basis can contribute to a Greener work environment. Here are a few ways mats can lead to Green: 1. Capturing dirt: Mats capture dirt and moisture, which creates a cleaner work environment. Removing dirt and contaminates is especially important in food processing areas and healthcare settings. 2. Increasing safety: Reducing dirt and moisture that cause slips and falls demonstrates a concern for everyone who enters the building. If your work area is already prone to moisture, adding mats as a precaution can mitigate the problem. Improving the safety and appearance also goes a long way in boosting morale. 3. Saving dollars: The more dirt and moisture captured in a mat, the less time you have to spend collecting and removing it. Attributes that affect costs, like replacement frequency and maintenance expenses, need to be considered when products and services are selected. Safety may also affect insurance rates. 4. Contributing to LEED® certification: Mats contribute to the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification under housekeeping criteria. Facilities following Green building and maintenance guidelines receive recognition for commitment to environmental issues and third-party validation of achievement; qualify for state and local government initiatives; and add a Green angle to their marketing arsenal. 5. Extending the life of interior finishes: The more dirt a mat captures, the less is tracked around the building to damage flooring and finishes. Improved appearances enhance the brand and image of your building. 6. Healthier interiors: Reducing dirt and contaminants means better indoor air quality. Mats that contain no chemicals of concern translate to healthier interiors. Areas where workers spend a substantial amount of time on their feet benefit from mats with anti-fatigue features, which lessen worker fatigue, improve comfort, and reduce musculoskeletal injuries. 7. Reducing waste: Mats with extended product life are engineered for longer service cycles over a longer period, meaning less maintenance and fewer replacements per mat. A well-constructed mat extends product life, meaning fewer replacements and less waste for the planet. 8. Using less energy and water for maintenance: Innovations in mat construction offer products that require less energy, water, time, and detergent to maintain, while increasing dirt removal. For example, some mats require no drying and go straight back into service, so consider these factors when choosing a laundry rental service. Rental mats generally last about five times longer than direct purchase mats. 9. Contributing to Green buildings: Taking a look at the full product cycle, including how it is manufactured and what happens at the end of product life, are part of working within the Green supply chain. 10. Compliance: Government at local, state, and federal levels, as well as businesses, are requiring Green credentials by mandate and guidelines specific to their industry. For example, Practice Greenhealth (www.h2e-online.org) provides information specific to healthcare. A healthier and safer workplace that generates less waste is a worthwhile goal. This year, April 22nd is Earth Day—celebrate by taking a step toward more sustainable cleaning practices. for the building and identify more environmentally-friendly alternatives. Projects are also encouraged to work with suppliers to identify environmentally-preferable products that meet the needs of the building. In addition, a refined credit calls for purchasing lamps with reduced mercury content; the intent of this credit is to reduce the amount of mercury brought onto the building site and put into the waste stream. Building owners and operators can work together to make their building as environmentallyfriendly as possible. The LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M Rating System provides an industry-approved framework for making the operations and alterations of any existing building efficient. By increasing your building’s efficiency, you will create a healthier environment for your building occupants. LEED certification provides third-party verification of a building’s performance. Going through the LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M certification process helps the facility managers evaluate current practices, identify inefficiencies, and provides a roadmap to operational improvement. The rating system offers improved operating efficiencies, verifiable sustainability achievements within operations and maintenance, and highlights sustainable programs and policies. W Lauren Riggs is Coordinator for the LEED Market Department at the U.S. Green Building Council. She may be reached at lriggs@usgbc.org. To learn more about LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M, visit http://www. usgbc.org. ADD US TO YOUR ADDRESS BOOK! excel@ieha.org W Amy B. Streeton is Product Development and Technical Manager with Milliken Walk Off® Mats Division of Milliken & Company. She may be reached at amy.streeton@milliken.com. 2 Executive Housekeeping Today/April 2008 http://www.h2e-online.org http://www.usgbc.org http://www.usgbc.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Executive Housekeeping Today - April 2008

Executive Housekeeping Today - April 2008 Contents Executive Corner Green Certification Issues The Green Benefit from the Roof Down Frugal Housekeeper LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Greening with Mats A Greener Approach to Laundry Feature Article 2008 Candidate Information The Green Scene 2008 Convention Information Get Into the "O-Zone" Product Highlights CEH/REH Members New Members Joint IEHA/ISSA Members Advertisers' Index Calendar of Events Inside I.E.H.A. What I.E.H.A. Has Done For Me

Executive Housekeeping Today - April 2008

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