5 Reasons Why Going Green Is Good For Business
Green cleaning not only benefits the environment. It can also have a significantly positive affect on a facility’s bottom line. Here are 5 reasons why going green is good for business.
- Reduces chemical usage.
According to the International Facility Management Association, more than six billion pounds of cleaning chemicals are used each year. Making the move to green cleaning products can reduce that number significantly. For example, since reducing its purchase of cleaning chemicals to non-toxic cleaning products, the University of Georgia decreased its spend on chemical products from $1.3 million to $196,000 annually in 2010.
- Lessens absenteeism.
The toxins in chemicals found in cleaning products can cause all sorts of health issues for employees and maintenance staff, too, from headaches, breathing problems, and itchy eyes to more serious complications, such as lung, kidney and liver disorders. Making the switch to green cleaning products will lead to healthier employees who spend more time on the job and less time at home getting well.
- Improves productivity and efficiency.
A UCLA study found that “green” companies have employees who are 16 percent more productive than the average. Professor Magali Delmas, an environmental economist at UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability and the UCLA Anderson School of Management said “Employees in … green firms are more motivated, receive more training and benefit from better interpersonal relationships.”
- Saves water and energy.
Adopting eco-friendly practices, such as installing low flow toilets and LED lights, purchasing Energy Star appliances, maintaining the facility’s HVAC system and encouraging employees to power down electronics and flip off the lights when they leave for the day all add up to money in the bank.
- Increases a facility’s real estate valuation.
Companies that adopt green practices are highly regarded as socially conscious, which gives them a competitive advantage among more conventional facilities. A survey by the U.S Green Building Council (USGBC) found that LEED-certified buildings with lower operating costs and better indoor environmental quality have a higher real estate valuation and will increasingly influence tenants’ decisions about leasing a commercial space. In addition, the USGBC shared a Nielsen global survey on corporate social responsibility, which stated that 55 percent of those surveyed would pay extra for products or services produced or offered from companies committed to positive social and environmental impact.
Is your facility embracing green cleaning practices to create a healthy environment and a healthy bottom line? Buildingstars’ Green Star cleaning program goes beyond protecting the environment to reduce efficiencies that reduce overall costs throughout your facility. If you’re ready to “go green,” and save, give us a call or CLICK HERE to contact us.