One of the functions of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) is to manage the certification of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) professionals. Following the LEED principles is a major concern for designers, builders and administrators of commercial spaces these days. LEED measures important factors that should be observed in order to ensure sustainability and energy efficiency in structures such as office buildings. The factors measured include: efficiency in terms of water usage, optimal energy utilization and conservation, indoor air quality, proper knowledge of environmentally-friendly techniques, and awareness of what it takes to maintain a green structure.

There are several advantages to adhering to LEED standards. In terms of quantifiable results, taking a green approach to commercial property management means reducing expenses and returning greater profits in the long-term, particularly when it comes to selecting janitorial services for office buildings and other similar commercial structures. Property managers should ensure that their janitorial services firm includes at least one LEED Accredited Professional (AP) as part of its staff. A LEED AP is an individual who has studied green building principles and proven his or her knowledge and expertise by taking the LEED credential exams administered by the USGBC.

There are a few LEED specialty areas in which individuals can prove their proficiency by testing. The specialty which should be of interest to property owners and managers is LEED AP Operations + Maintenance. Janitorial services that follow these principles can help a property’s bottom line by lowering the operating costs of their operation and of the building they are contracted to keep clean as well. LEED practices also translate into a healthier workspace, thereby reducing illness and ailments among workers.

Office building owners and managers should also check with their local municipalities and revenue collectors, as theie implementation of LEED standards may result in tax breaks and other monetary incentives.

Quality janitorial staffs are prepared to thoroughly clean any type of environment. Being an effective and versatile janitorial company is about more than just knowing what chemicals are needed for what type of spills and clean ups. Top-notch janitorial services will be able to handle any situation, including but not limited to medical office building cleaning. If you are in the market for a janitorial team that can handle the demands of a working medical facility, it is an excellent idea to have a registered nurse on staff. Here are two reasons why.

To Better Understand Procedures

Medical buildings are often subject to more stringent requirements and day-to-day practices than a typical building. In order to minimize the time spent getting to know office procedures and protocols, a trained nurse that is on staff can brief the janitorial staff on the ins and outs of the building. Secure areas such as Intensive Care and surgical recovery rooms are often treated much differently in terms of germs and possible contagions, and a nurse will be able to work in unison with a janitorial staff to maintain the integrity of the environment while performing thorough medical office building cleaning.

Spills or Injuries

In the unlikely but sometimes unavoidable instance of spill of a hazardous chemical or an on-site injury, a registered nurse will be in the perfect position to administer necessary treatment or quickly develop a plan that the janitorial staff can execute in order to clean the spill and minimize its impact. Much like many professionals that spring into action in times of need, a registered nurse is worth their weight in gold when they are called upon.

When it comes to cleaning commercial spaces or office buildings, it really pays off to hire professionals. Retaining the services of individuals who aren’t bona office cleaning professionals is a big mistake that can affect the optimal flow of business processes. Office building owners and managers have a lot riding on the commercial properties they are responsible for. A surefire way to disrupt normal business operations is to hire non-professionals to look after the cleaning and sanitation of a building.

Since property managers are professionals themselves, most of them know a thing or two about what to look for when retaining janitorial services providers. How can a building owner or office manager determine if he or she is making the right choice when evaluating potential office cleaners?

Beware the Ultra-Cheap Services

It seems that everyone is looking to save a few bucks these days, including managers of commercial office buildings. The unfortunate state of the economy can be to blame for this, as it tends to bring out the opportunistic and the unscrupulous. While it is natural for some office cleaning services to lower their fees in order to remain competitive, property managers should be leery of firms that offer their services for what seems to be like a steal.

A good rule of thumb for building owners and managers to follow is to inquire how many cleaners the service intends to put to work on their property, and how long it will take them to complete the work as stipulated in the contract. If it works out to be unrealistically, or that the cleaners will be paid less than minimum wage, then it’s time to consider other options.

Membership in Professional Associations

Office cleaning professionals are part of a nationwide industry that’s involved in keeping American workplaces clean and sanitary. A few groups and professional organizations that self-regulate and serve the interests of those dedicated to the janitorial enterprise. Cleaning professionals are often proud to mention their memberships in specific associations.

Literally thousands of individuals and businesses all over North America are currently in the market for janitorial and custodial services. While the two labels are often interchangeable in many English-speaking countries, the truth is that the two labels do indicate slightly different lines of work. Here’s what you can expect when you hire either a janitorial or custodial service.

A custodian is a more proper and formal term for a hired person or people who are capable of cleaning and managing the daily operations of a building or other dwelling thoroughly. Custodians are typically hired or associated with a certain building or building for an extended period of time.

Custodians also usually carry around a complete set of keys that can open every door in the establishment, as well as gain them access to a locker or closet in which they can store their tools of the trade. Because of the constant need for buildings of all types to be groomed and maintained in a variety of ways, custodians can actually be in high demand in many regions. Additionally, custodians are often trained in the art of fixing internal problems with the site or the site’s machinery, including but not limited to water and gas leaks, or fixing stingy copy machines.

Janitorial services can be equally valuable and coveted, but are generally focused on the general cleanliness of a building or area. Janitors often mop up spills, empty trash cans and make their daily rounds to make themselves available to the workers that may need their services. Public and private schools employ literally thousands of janitors that make a comfortable living keeping important places of education clean and operable.

The Building Owners and Managers Organization (BOMA) is an international industry trade group that has been serving the interests of commercial building managers for nearly a hundred years. Today BOMA counts more than 16,000 members in several countries around the world. As an international professional association, BOMA is involved in many issues concerning the commercial property manager profession. The proper and ethical management of commercial structures is a matter of importance for economic development, and to that extent BOMA tackles issues related to operating costs, occupancy, ethics, and office building cleaning.

When it comes to negotiating an office building cleaning contract, professional providers of cleaning services will often make reference to BOMA measurement standards. The first BOMA standards for measuring commercial spaces were established in 1915, and they have been revised numerous times since. Changes in architectural design and building codes make it necessary to revise measurement standards, particularly as it relates to office building cleaning. Property managers who retain a janitorial service are interested in ensuring that their structures are kept clean at all times, and that may or may not include all surfaces.

Office buildings are not measured in the same fashion as retail or industrial structures for the purpose of cleaning. The most recent revisions made to the BOMA standards measure a lot more than just floor space areas. The cost of cleaning office spaces can only be accurately determined and negotiated when BOMA standard measurements are utilized. Janitorial services that do not follow BOMA standards when providing estimates for their office cleaning services are prone to overcharge their clients. Professional services that heed the international BOMA standards can be trusted to accurately consider all costs, from labor to cleaning supplies, when they appraise the value of an office cleaning contract.

Millions of individuals all over North America are currently in need of a reliable and effective cleaning company to keep things tidy and in order around their homes or workplaces. If you are one of the many people that are getting ready to make an important decision but are not entirely sure whether to hire a maid service or a commercial cleaner, here are a few important things you should know.

Maid services are typically staffed with entry-level professionals that are briefly schooled in the basics of cleaning a residence. If you are single and work well over 40 hours in a typical week, than a maid service might be the right choice for you. If you are in need of cleaning at a place of business or other commercial or industrial locale, however, then you’ll want to hire a full-service commercial cleaning company.

A commercial cleaning company differs greatly from a maid service in terms of the scope of what they offer their customers. Commercial cleaners come prepared to clean large spaces that may have been subject to a wide variety of spills or other messes. Industrial-scale cleaning is not something that can be handled by a maid service, but rather requires trained professionals that are equipped with the proper tools and machinery.

A commercial cleaning company will be able to turn a messy and uninviting environment into a scene that resembles a brand new building. Unlike maid services, commercial cleaners will often dispatch a team of professionals that coordinate tasks effectively and efficiently, minimizing their time spent on site.

If you are in need of a reliable and high quality cleaning service for any location other than a small personal residence, hiring a commercial cleaner is the only way to go.

Energy efficiency and ecological sustainability are two very important facts of life which have been rolled into what has come to be known as the “Green Movement”of environmental responsibility. The idea of “being green” and fulfilling obligations to the environment has been incorporated into all facets of life from politics to education, and from household life to business.

Adopting a green philosophy in the business world involves applying various concepts, including adhering to the principles set forth by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) initiative. LEED is a method of measuring the environmental impact and sustainability of buildings and business organizations. There are many key areas measured by LEED, starting with the site selection and construction of building structures. The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) sets these standards, which include the burgeoning practice of green housekeeping.

Commercial cleaners and building maintenance professionals in the past failed to pay attention to the carbon footprint or environmental impact of the products used, and methods performed, to keep buildings clean. As a result, the term “industrial strength” was applied to describe products used by commercial cleaners and janitorial staff. The term has negative connotation, since it refers to products that while efficient, are potential hazardous to human health and the environments. The LEED principles of green housekeeping shun the use of such “industrial strength” cleaning products in favor of ecologically-friendly products which are not harmful to humans, animals or their habitat.

LEED certifications are being adopted by state-run organizations, and are also being pursued by commercial building owners and managers. Buildings which do not adhere to green housekeeping practices are not likely to earn this certification, something that could prove detrimental in terms of lease value. Future business tenants are likely to begin asking their landlords about the status of their LEED certifications; something which could influence their decision to renew or enter into a lease contract.

Expertise in janitorial management has become a requirement for providers of janitorial services around the country. Owners of office building structures and property managers have become choosier when it comes to selecting the company that will be in charge of keeping spaces clean. A recent case in point that illustrates how janitorial management has become a foremost concern for property management can be found in Parkersburg, West Virginia, where the Wood County Justice Center received two bids from janitorial services providers. The bids range from $37,000 to $53,844 on an annual basis, including equipment and supplies.

The wide range observed in the janitorial bids received by the Wood County Justice Center has a lot to do with the efficient management of a cleaning service. The aforementioned bids include material expenses as well as labor, but they also have to adhere to certain requirements set by the courthouse. Commercial cleaning companies that have personnel who have been formally educated in management can be trusted to provide bids that are reasonable and attainable. Commercial property managers who evaluate bids received for janitorial contracts are likely to request a professional resume to check for education.

There are multiple factors involved in managing a cleaning services company. It’s crucial that janitorial managers know about the careful scheduling of cleaning staff to ensure that constant coverage is provided to the clients. The selection of equipment and products to use and the reporting of environmental issues are also subjects of expertise within the janitorial management field.

Any building or establishment that is large enough to have its own maintenance team should consider looking into putting a facilities maintenance plan in place at some point in the near future. While it is true that trained and dedicated individuals can maintain the cleanliness, organization and efficiency of a facility, establishing and following a facilities maintenance plan is a smart move for a number of reasons. Here are three.

Peace of Mind

An official plan that clearly outlines the expectations and approach of the maintenance team will give a business owner peace of mind. By knowing what is expected of the team, no room is left for misinterpretation or half-stepping. The plan certainly isn’t meant to intimidate the staff, but rather to make sure everyone is on the same page, which is the best way to ensure a happy and productive work environment. In fact, many plans are drawn up by owners with the collaboration of the maintenance staff.

Consistency

Turnover is a reality in any line of business, and when current employees leave and new ones come in there is often a noticeable change in the way their business is conducted, simply as a result of the varying styles and approaches of different people. A facilities maintenance plan will ensure that everyday operations won’t change, even if the names and faces do.

Accountability

A maintenance plan pertaining to your specific facility will also create an element of responsibility and accountability, as employees will know what is expected of them each and every day, and it will be clear when they have fallen short of their expectations. The plan will also protect the maintenance team from having to do excessive or unapproved tasks before, during or after work. In short, anything that can bring consistency, accountability and peace of mind to a business is worth every penny.

The prevention and control of nosocomial infections is at the heart of medical building cleaning. Hospitals, clinics and doctors’ offices are some of the commercial structures that are known hotspots for microbes and other pathogens. Anyone who visits a health care treatment center is at risk of infection. Patients of all ages, medical practitioners, administrative workers, and even members of the janitorial staff are susceptible to exposure to infectious pathogens.

The severe outbreaks of infectious disease in the 21st century, including H1N1 and SARS, underscore the importance of keeping medical facilities clean and free from the dangers of disease transmission.

Medical building cleaning is a janitorial specialty that is often referred to as environmental services. Keeping a medical facility entails understanding how pathogens gather and how they propagate. The mission of the custodial staff at health care centers is not limited to simply keeping things clean and tidy; it rather extends to using special techniques to ensure that floors and all surfaces are always kept free of infectious agents and other potentially dangerous microorganisms. The focus is on thoroughly cleaning spaces prior to beginning the surface disinfection process. This is done in accordance to guidelines issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The disinfecting solutions utilized must be approved by the EPA.

Cleaning medical facilities involves training the janitorial staff, providing them with the right tools and protective equipment to perform their duties, closely monitoring their work, and fostering their professional development.

Another important aspect of medical building cleaning is the proper disposal of biohazardous waste. There are many special procedures to follow when handling instruments and other disposable materials used in the course of treating patients. Improper disposal of medical waste creates a very hazardous situation, and it can also add to the building owner’s liability.