GreenCleaning

Green Cleaning, Where Can You Go?...

At Hillyard, we’re helping cleaning organizations go green for a better today and tomorrow! Our commitment to green goes beyond products. We are affiliated with leading green organizations like Green Seal, The U.S. Green Building Council, and The Healthy Schools Campaign. Additionally, we have staff members that have been certified by The U.S. Green Building Council as LEED Accredited Professionals. This means, they have demonstrated their knowledge of green building practices required for the successful implementation of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system.

Hillyard is here to help you get started, get recognized and get certified in green cleaning!

Getting Started (Click to expand)
Greening your cleaning program doesn’t have to be difficult. A good start is using environmentally preferred products for cleaning chemicals, towels and tissue, and trash liners. Independent third-party certification organizations like Green Seal™ have made selection easier and more streamlined than ever before. When it comes to equipment, specifications now exist on what makes equipment environmentally preferred. And, to help you implement high performance green cleaning processes, your Hillyard Consultant is there to help.
Performing A Green Cleaning Program Survey (Click to expand)

Green, by definition, is not an all or nothing proposition. It’s about making improvements in your cleaning program that are environmentally preferred when compared to the current status. The more you can do, the “greener” your program becomes.

Doing a survey is a great way to find out where your program is on the green cleaning continuum. A survey is like a green road map. Your Hillyard Consultant can help create the map by doing the survey with you. Then, it’s up to you and your organization to decide where you want to go. Our job is to help you get there.

Getting Recognized (Click to expand)
Hillyard wants to help you spread the good word about the benefits of your green cleaning program. We provide marketing materials like program posters, window stickers, and an educational flyer, so all the stakeholders in your building(s) know you’re cleaning green for health and well-being. Use Hillyard Green Seal Certified products, start investing in environmentally preferred equipment, and begin to implement high performance green cleaning processes and systems.
Getting Certified (Click to expand)
Interested in having a credible independent third-party organization certify your green cleaning program? Currently, Green Seal has a published green cleaning standard, GS-42.  We’ll help you gain a better understanding of what’s required. Download our Green Cleaning Program Survey to see where you are on the green cleaning road map, and where you want to go.
Make Your Green Cleaning Program Part Of A LEED Certified Building (Click to expand)

Implementing a green cleaning program can be one part of a comprehensive green building strategy. Other components can include:

- Energy & Water Conservation Strategies
- Flooring Surfaces Made With Recycled Content
- Increasing Natural Light Levels
- Water Conservation Strategies

Today, more and more organizations are looking to the United States Green Building Council for guidance in greening their organization. The USGBC is a tremendous source of useful information. Additionally, they have certification levels that organizations can pursue if interested.

The U.S. Green Building Council

The U.S. Green Building Council is the nation’s foremost coalition of leaders from across the building industry working to promote facilities that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.

The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Green Building Rating System

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.

LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. Get more information at www.usgbc.org.