5 Ways to Make the Workplace More Eco-Friendly

Besides cleaning green and sticking to sustainable janitorial practices (which not only is better for the air and environment, but also better for the health of employees and the overall success of a business), there are many other ways you can create an eco-friendly workplace. Whether it’s bringing in plants to green up the office or choosing to ride your bike to work, even small changes can make a huge impact.

Check out the tips below from The Economic Times and find out what you can do to help make your business greener.

 

LinkedIn

LinkedIn

 

Five ways to make the workplace eco-friendly

From: The Economic Times

With environmental consciousness on the rise, companies are going the extra mile to reduce their collective carbon footprint — by installing solar panels, using eco-friendly appliances and organizing tree-planting initiatives. They are also encouraging employees to take individual steps towards a better environment. ET tells you how to move towards a cleaner and greener workplace.

1. Go Digital

Going paperless is the first step towards making a workplace environmentally friendly, says Mohan VC, general manager of corporate occupational health, safety and environmental protection at Bosch India. “Use electronic forms whenever possible, and email letters and documents rather than sending printed copies,” he says. “Compact flash drives can also be used to efficiently transport and share documents.”

2. Encourage Sustainability

Measures should be taken to make office campuses cleaner and greener. Recycling waste paper, using shared transportation and having a no-smoking work environment can make a huge difference, says Vikas Goswami, head of Good & Green, GILAC. Sensitising and involving employees in environmental activities is also a requisite.

3. Keep Plants

Having small potted plants inside the office helps to improve the quality of air, feels Mohan VC. “What’s more, plants always brighten up a place.” Added benefits? Having plants around your work-area can also significantly reduce stress and boost your productivity.

4. Save Energy

“Put computers on ‘standby’ or on ‘hibernation mode’ when they haven’t been accessed for more than 10 minutes; turn them off when you’re done for the day,” says Mohan VC.

5. Build Awareness

Company measures to go green will be half-hearted without employee participation and proactiveness. Awareness is important, says Goswami. Sensitize employees towards a greener workplace, and generate interest towards a cleaner and greener office environment.

 

Source: The Economic Times

Top 10 States for LEED [Infographic]

The results are in, and Colorado has been ranked #2 for the Top 10 States for LEED in 2014! Last year in the U.S., there were over 1,600 certified Green Building projects (4,500 worldwide), which is something to be extremely proud of.

Interested in going greener in 2015? We can help. Give us a call at 303.443.3366 or visit our website to learn more about how cleaning green can transform your building, office space, and the success of your business.

usgbc.org

usgbc.org

3 Tips For Keeping The Office Clean Throughout The Winter

Snow may be white, but we all know it can create quite the mess. No matter what, slush on the ground and wet weather conditions significantly increase the amount of moisture that is (accidentally) brought indoors, which inevitably affects your building’s entire cleaning routine. Wintertime can really dirty the office quickly, so here’s a few tips to help keep things clean and dry when it’s cold outside!

 

cnn.com

cnn.com

 

1) Windows are often neglected in the winter months, but clean windows are essential to maintaining a clean and dry office. Make sure your building’s windows are washed regularly so that sunlight can shine through bright and clear– this will not only fill your office with natural light, which has many work productivity benefits, but having sunlight in the office also greatly helps to absorb excess moisture (especially on carpets). Clean windows in the winter helps the indoor air stay clean and dry, helps the floors stay dryer and safer (wet floors = an accident waiting to happen!), and can help prevent molds from growing (a warm and damp office can quickly become a cesspool of germs!).

 
2) Floors are probably the most obvious areas of the office that need regular maintenance and frequent cleaning throughout the winter. Despite high quality floor mats and/or requiring employees to vigorously wipe their feet upon entering the building, both carpets and hard floors will still get wet and lots mud, snow, and even salt and sand from the sidewalks will find a way indoors. Often, carpets and floors will need to be vacuumed every day to get rid of the dirt and grime that’s tracked in, and the hard floors will most likely need to be mopped daily so that they do not stay wet (again, wet floors are a huge liability and are very dangerous). To prevent scratching and damage, your hard floors will also need to be buffed or sanded regularly, or even stripped and then resealed so that the winter moisture does not destroy them.

 

 

bacteria_1-512

3) Last but not least, disinfect your office consistently and prevent the flu and other germs and pathogens from spreading! Just make sure that the disinfectant products used in your office are environmentally friendly and safe/non-toxic (at GBS, we only use non-toxic cleaning products and disinfectants!). Things like doorhandles, office supplies, computer keyboards, and work surfaces are huge hotspots for germs and will require a daily wipe down to ensure nobody gets sick! Encouraging employees to wash their hands is also a great way to reduce germs from spreading in the office.

 

 

 

 

 

 

crosswalk.com

crosswalk.com