If you have decided to take the first step toward sustainability, congratulations. Not only will you, your company and your employees and customers benefit, but you will also be helping the environment in the long run by doing your part, says John Pletz, CEO of ServiceMaster Clean by Pletz, based in Crystal Lake, Illinois.
Switching to green cleaning is one way you can save money and help your entire business get healthier, and now several reward systems are in place to either encourage or help you get certified, as you see fit. S
National Programs
Generally, two main programs can help you and your company go green:
- The nationally accepted benchmark for the design, concept and maintenance of all green buildings is the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. It gives building owners and operators the tools they need to make their buildings a green success, and helps measure their progress as well as encourage and reward them for their efforts and achievements. Switching to ServiceMaster Clean can help your business qualify for LEED points and put you on the path toward sustainability. Just using Serrvicemaster and their systems will give you six points towards your LEED certification.
- EPA’s Energy Star is perhaps the second best known. You can meet all your goals with this program, which gives professional assistance and recognition to businesses that go green. It is currently challenging companies nationwide to improve by 10% their energy efficiency performance, and will reward and recognize those that do.
Every Little Bit Counts
There are numerous other ways in which your business can start to go green on a smaller scale as well, apart from switching to green cleaning, as every little bit counts. ServiceMaster Clean suggests the following:
- Energy conservation
- Water consumption
- Waste management
- Indoor air quality
- Green building practices
- Recycling programs
If you are intending to take your business on the path toward sustainability, it’s good to know that there are programs out there which can help. But the first step, of course, is entirely up to you.
