LEED

Environmental Impact Cleaning Policy

Clearview Cleaning has developed a low environmental impact cleaning program that incorporates prevention, product selection, equipment efficiency, and effective procedures.

  1. Prevention

    • In an effort to reduce the amount of debris, soil, and other contaminants entering the building from the outside, an entryway mat system will be used at all high-volume building entrances. An effective mat system and maintenance program will dramatically reduce the amount of soil and moisture that gets tracked into the building and costs of removing them.

  2. Product Selection

    • Cleaning products and materials can present health and environmental concerns. These products may contain chemicals associated with eye, skin, or respiratory irritation, or other human health issues. Concentrated forms of some commercial cleaning products are classified as hazardous, creating potential handling, storage, and disposal issues for users.
    • All cleaning products used in buildings, either by building staff or by outsourced service providers, must meet the guidelines and specifications developed by the OGS [The guidelines and specifications are available on the OGS Green Cleaning Website along with a list of OGS-approved products.]
    • Disposable janitorial paper products and plastic trash bags (if used) will meet the minimum requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (see table below). In addition, all bathroom tissue and paper towels purchased will contain no added pigments, inks, dyes or fragrances, and should be unbleached. Material packaging for all janitorial materials will be environmentally friendly. Products packaged in outer cartons that are inappropriately sized and that contain excessive inner packaging materials will be avoided. Packaging selected will have minimum impact: made of recycled and recyclable materials; imprinted with safe inks; and contain no toxic metals, dyes, inks, or fragrances.
    • Conventional hand cleaners may contain unnecessary antimicrobial ingredients and/or ingredients that irritate the skin, be wastefully packaged, and can negatively impact indoor air quality, water ways, and aquatic ecosystems. To reduce the environmental impacts from using traditional hand soaps, we will purchase hand soaps that:
      o Perform as well or better than conventional hand cleaners; o Are biodegradable and have limited toxicity to aquatic life; o Are packaged in recyclable packaging, ideally incorporating recycled content; o Are approved for use by the OGS; and o Have eliminated ingredients considered likely to negatively impact health and the environment (i.e., do not contain antimicrobial agents).

  3. Equipment Efficiency

    • Janitorial equipment used must effectively reduce building contaminants while having minimal environmental impacts.

      Cleaning Equipment Criteria

    • Vacuum cleaners will meet the requirements of the Carpet & Rug Institute “Green Label” Testing Program – Vacuum Cleaner Criteria and are capable of capturing 96% of particulates 0.3 microns in size and operate with a sound level less than 70 A-weighted decibels (dBA)./li>
    • Water extraction equipment for deep-cleaning carpets is capable of removing sufficient moisture so that carpets can dry in less than 24 hours;
    • Powered maintenance equipment including floor buffers, burnishers, and automatic scrubbers are equipped with vacuums, guards, and/or other devices for capturing fine particulates, and shall operate with a sound level less than 70 dBA.
    • Automated scrubbing machines are equipped with variable-speed feed pumps to optimize the use of cleaning fluids;
    • Battery-powered equipment is equipped with environmentally preferable gel batteries;
    • Where appropriate, active microfiber technology is used to reduce cleaning chemical consumption and prolong life of deposable scrubbing pads;
    • Powered equipment is ergonomically designed to minimize vibration, noise, and user fatigue; and
    • Equipment has rubber bumpers to reduce potential damage to building surfaces.
Sources: LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance, version 2.2 and New York – Collaborative for High Performance Schools High Performance Schools Guidelines, September 2007.