At All Clean, making every day an Earth Day is important to us. Because we have a strong commitment to green cleaning, we want to share how companies around the nation are going green and how you can too.
Throughout the nation, companies large and small are creating a Green Policy and spreading the word on the benefits of going green. Here are some examples:
- Organic Coffee Co, a division of Rogers Family Co in California, has a company campaign called “Think Before you Drink”, urging consumers to choose shade-grown coffee that won’t destroy the rain forests.
Direct Energy of Houston, Texas is one of the largest providers of energy in the North America. For Earth Day, they handed out thousands of free light bulbs. According to the governments Energy Star program, Compact Fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) can save up to $30 over the lifetime of each light bulb.
Auto companies, including Toyota Motor Corp, are selling tens of thousands of almost emission-free hybrid vehicles. They are also developing the so-called plug-in hybrid that can take commuters to and from work on a single charge.
Wall-Mart Stores Inc, is undergoing a $500-million-a-year campaign to save energy in all of its U.S. stores and distribution centers.
Stewart Title in California is changing its policy to reduce the large amount of paper used in closing documents. It has integrated an electronic real estate closing program that saves an estimated 100 to 200 pages for paper for new house purchases for refinances.
Hollywood too is making effort to “go green.” This year at the Oscar ceremony they hosted a “carbon neutral” event by using recycled paper, transporting people in hybrid vehicles and serving a menu of organic food.
Here are some ideas on how your company can create a Green Policy and contribute:
Minimize your use of light while cleaning. Some ideas include cleaning the facility floor by floor, turning out lights as you move throughout the building, installing motion sensors that will turn on or off when the cleaning crew is present, or cleaning during the day when the lights are already on.
Use more earth-friendly products. Request that your cleaning service use natural products, or switch to a service that does. All Clean uses environmentally safe products and equipment.
Support vendors who have green policies in place. From your bank to your office supply company to your shipping company, everyone can do something to help. Ask and find out who has good practices and give those companies your business.
Donate unused books, ink pens, cell phones, computers and other supplies to schools, charity stores, libraries or nursing homes.
Reduce of chemical impact on our environment and cut down on the landfills by recycling more office equipment such as printing toner and older computers.
Evaluate after-hours usage of space. Building managers can talk to the tenants to learn if they are actually using their space during the lease-required operating hours. Then adjust building operating hours to reflect those hours.
Reduce exhaust and outdoor-air ventilation rates within codes. Reposition fans and adjust ventilation in unoccupied and low-density areas to a practical level.
Finally, institute your own “Green Policy” or an Energy Awareness Program. This can be as simple as create promotional items, posting reminders, and writing news releases to tell everyone about your commitment to energy savings and green cleaning. Use your company newsletter and company/building announcements to keep customers informed about your energy savings and eco-friendly goals and how they can both help and benefit.
