Commercial real estate operators don’t need to choose between low cost and environmentally sound operations. Low cost is a key requirement for the procedures outlined in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental, or “LEED,” certification. As many people know, LEED is a certification system for “green” buildings. Much of the certification program is designed for new construction. Nonetheless, green housekeeping for existing buildings can also lead to certification, a cleaner, safer environment for occupants, and to cost savings.

Many operators are wary of things like “green” cleaning products. They are often surprised to learn that green housekeeping products actually work better and cost less than conventional products. One study found that, on average, LEED procedures for existing buildings cost less than $2.50 per square foot to implement while they saved over $6.50 per square foot in costs. That’s some real cost savings. What’s more, since many conventional products are associated with health problems, real estate operators can reduce their liability risk by switching to LEED certified procedures.

LEED certification covers many areas of operating and maintenance. With respect to cleaning, its primary functions are to ensure high air quality, clean facilities, and minimize water usage and cleaning-related runoff. With increasing pressure on urban fresh water resources and rising prices for water, even something as simple as using water-efficient machinery and cleaning methods can reduce operating costs substantially. Minimizing water use also means minimizing the amount of cleaning materials used, since most cleaners are mostly water. That’s another cost savings. Finally, it means using energy-efficient equipment, further driving down costs.

The bottom line is that nothing about green housekeeping needs to be expensive. In fact, just the opposite is true. Environmentally sustainable practices are, for the most part, practices that reduce the use of materials and energy, thereby reducing costs. For commercial real estate operators, going green is a profit center.