Healthy Buildings: Is Your Facility Sustainable?
Maintaining a sustainable facility will lower your building’s energy costs through the years. According to the latest LEED Building report, green buildings have an average of 20% lower maintenance costs than non-sustainable commercial buildings. It pays to have a sustainable facility that is better for the environment, your occupants’ comfort, and reduced energy costs. Consider the following components that will make your building more sustainable.
Create a Viable Sustainability Plan
You need to take a deep, introspective look into your motivation for going green. Is it for lower emissions of greenhouse gases and a safer environment? Do you want to lower your company’s energy costs? Are you trying to improve the comfort of the occupants in your facility? Whatever your reasons, you need to identify them and set them in stone. Of course, those reasons can change throughout time. However, your motivation is going to be the defining factor for whether you can achieve a sustainable facility.
- Set specific goals that you believe in and can truly stand behind.
- Make immediate, short-term, and long-term goals.
- During planning, keep in mind that these goals will be tested.
Share Your Passion for Sustainability
Both your management team and staff members need to be on board with this sustainability plan, if it is going to be 100 percent successful. These individuals will be your project leaders and team members who will make this “going green” change happen. Once your plan is in place, don’t be afraid to share this new venture with your customers or clients. Many of them will be excited for this change and some will even want to find ways to help your company succeed.
Keep Your Team Members in the Loop
Never forget that your team members are your most valuable resource during this transition stage. They need to see you lead by example and never lose your passion for this endeavor. Your team will need to be adequately educated on various components of this process. Be sure to provide them with:
- Training on your sustainability action plan, including all your LEED objectives
- Education on EPA standards for green buildings
Going Green with Cleaning in the Facility
Making your facility more sustainable includes substituting any chemical cleaners used in your facility with non-toxic, green cleaners that are safer for the occupants, building structure, and environment. This is a foundational step that can bring you closer toward reducing your facility’s carbon footprint.
