GREEN BUSINESS VIEWS

Posts Tagged ‘green practices’

“Green is more hype than fact,” says one anonymous janitorial services owner.  “The client never checks out the cleaning service, so we pretty much do what we want … Green or not,” he adds.  Such is the truth behind the thousands of “Green” Janitorial services in the marketplace.  Greenwashing is never a problem when it comes to chasing a deal.  After all, everyone now knows that a few minutes on the computer can produce a Green image that suddenly becomes the company’s promise of Green commitment.

Here’s how nearly every janitorial service handles Green.  They buy some Green cleaning products, and that makes them Green.  When one janitorial services was asked if his company uses HEPA vacuums, he responded, “What is HEPA?”  Yet, there are dozens of Green processes such as understanding “Dwell Time” that never get across to the people doing the work.  At best the workers get a pre-work introduction to a Green product and then its back to work.

The quality of the indoor air of your building is seriously impacted by the cleaning service.   The janitorial service introduces a fresh batch of VOC-laden chemicals, fragrances, and throw out the non-recycled paper from the office.   What the world seems to miss is that the janitorial service is one of the key elements in a Green office or building.  Unfortunately, the work often goes to the lowest bidder rather than the one that is most qualified.

As mandates for Green purchasing, Green vendors, and Green contracts are made a more ingrained practice; we may finally see the graduation of the janitorial service as a partner in the Green business rather than a neglected task that is easily ignored.  And frankly, it is time that every part of the service industry shares in the environmental issue rather than just marketing on its value.

The FTC has recently addressed deceptive practices in advertising, including the issue of Greenwashing.  What is coming in the next rendition is the forced changes that will come from businesses to hire only “Green Certified” companies. The EPA has issued its “Environmentally Preferred Purchasing” guidelines, and this too is yet another nail in the Greenwasher’s coffin.  Look out for a revision in the RFPs and contracts coming out as astute companies are now requiring “Green Certified” vendors for all their contracting needs.

Why would companies include the “Green Certification Clause” in RFPs and contracts?  Well, it is the new call with “Walk the Walk as well as Talk the Talk,”  When Company A is asking the public or other companies to buy from them as a Green supplier, shouldn’t they do the same?  If a company is selling Green, they should be buying Green?  This is why the hypocrisy of Greenwashing is destined to a bad end.  It promotes a lie in the name of something good.  Worse yet.  Many businesses like it that way.

More and more agencies, industries, and corporations are taking Green seriously by asking that vendors and services make a serious Green commitment.  Whenever a company makes up its own Green credential or even buys a phony logo off the Internet, they are Greenwashing and should be summarily dismissed from bidding on contracts.  These behaviors show a lack of integrity and ethics that is likely to show up on other levels.

The Green Clean Institute offers the leading Green Clean certification in the country with more than 1500 graduates from their program. Businesses are encouraged to demand Green Certification from their janitorial services as a basic expectation for any Green company.  This is not an onerous task, but provides a training and review process that comes from an independent third party.  Frankly, why wouldn’t any janitorial company make the commitment to a Green operation rather than Greenwashing?  Again, it is a character issue; and that should be a big reason to ignore the Greewashers and commit your business to a company with Green credentials that you can trust.

Every business in America is torn by what is coming their way.  There is no doubt that we need a Greener, more sustainable business model to follow.  The underlying question is the cost of all the fixes contrived by Washington, DC.  There seems no solution that does not come with an immense price tag and a dubious promise of results.  For what its worth, this has possibly been the worst period of government in decades because there is a short-sightedness about the solution offered.  The penalizing attitude seems to prevail as budget-busting legislation rolls out of congress and onto the president’s desk to be signed.  We all wonder if the monstrosity, ear-mark laden bills put out by this elitist congress knows any limits to what they will lay on the backs of Americans.

There is no doubt that we need a Greener and leaner business model.  The innovations needed are already being seen on every level of business.  Americans have always been a ready-to-respond people who are already in transition.  Why not incentivize this willing spirit with rewards for improvement rather than repressive taxes and loathsome regulations?

It does seem to be a little guy versus big government battle going on right now.  The disrespect of the willingness of the American people and American business to own up to the challenge is all to obvious.  Repression by big government regulations, do nothing agencies, and laborious compliance rules is more than unfortunate.  This is America, and we are proud of our country.  Get government off our backs and provide an incentive, and the job will get done in half the time and a tenth of the cost of the government way.

This real impact will be felt this fall as more and more Americans worry less about party and more about their country.  The “Vote the Bastards Out” attitude did not come from fools and radicals.  It is how Americas get rid of the SOB’s that think that power is their birthright.   If there is one message that we can send that will be heard from corner to corner in DC, it will be to kick out as many of these incumbents as possible and let some everyday people give it a try.  It can’t be any worse than what is parading around DC as representatives of the people.

It is no small task to create a Green Business Network where businesses can interface at a national and local level.  The Green Connect program offered by the Green Business League offers an open invitation to every business aspiring to be authentically Green.  It is as simple as signing up for the program, and every connection is also able to obtain a free link for their business website at a well-developed Green Business Directory.  For quite some time, Green progress has been sequestered to building owners who pursue the LEED certification; but more recently, it has been shown that any business can Go Green by installing a number of Green Practices that greatly improve the business operation as well as enhancing the company’s profitability.

The trek to installing a Green and Sustainable program in a business is not a quick fix.  In fact, most professionals suggest that the Greening program for nearly any business is a three to five year project.  This is partly because there are some associated expenses that will be hopefully offset in 12-24 months.  Also, some parts of the business operation do not change that quickly.  Improving indoor air quality is a long term project that needs to be addressed through a six month review of pending practices.  Furniture bought, new paint and carpet, and cleaning products must be reviewed for Green compliance because they often create increased VOCs, which are fumes that can be harmful to employee health.  It is also very easy to slip back into the old ways because of the constantly changing corporate evolution.  It seems inevitable that employee changes will disrupt the Green program and bring in practices antithetic to the Green Practices once in place.  Therefore, without adopting a long view for corporate Green and Sustainable Practices, the program can and will degrade through neglect.

Contracts with vendors should be reviewed as they come up to consider whether there is a Green alternative that can be brought into the program in a timely manner. EPA is strongly pushing the “Environmentally Preferred Purchasing” concept in the expectation that the message will resonate with businesses of all sizes.  Of course, new innovations and ideas will also evolve that should be considered as the corporate program makes the Green transition.  It is obvious that the one-shot approach to Greening a business is badly mistaken.

By visiting the Green Business League, any business with a website can sign up for the Green Connect program, and there is no cost.  The business gets a free listing in the Green Business Directory and will be invited to be a guest in a future Green Business Networking event.  The Green Business League has more than 250 Certified Green Consultants who serve as very helpful Green connections to other area Green businesses.  Green Business Networks happen on about a quarterly basis, and provide the perfect forum for area businesses to connect with each other.   The free listing on the Green Business Directory and an invitation to attend area Green Business Networking events seems to be a tremendous opportunity to learn about Green business practices and make important connections to other Green businesses in every community sponsoring the Green Connect program.

Having read an article reported coming from a scientist that argues that live Christmas trees are “greener” than fake trees, I find myself less convinced than I would be years ago.  With so much contradictory information coming from the scientific community, I try to take all this kind of information with several grains of salt.  Merely attaching the word “scientist” to a statement no longer holds the value that it once did.  In the post-Copenhagen twilight, the news of the tweaked climate models, and the controversial emails of scientists withholding all the facts they had in hand; I am no longer readily convinced that anything said by a scientist is reputable.

Now, I may agree that a real Christmas tree is essentially carbon neutral in that it is not a rain forest issue and new trees will replace harvested trees.   I still wonder at the partial and one-sided information that these kinds of public statements convey.  The lifecycle analysis of a real tree must include all the care it took to grow these trees, transport these trees, and dispose of these trees.  It is not merely about the carbon footprint represented by growing and disposing of the tree.

By the way, did you realize that a common mold can be brought into a home by the much-loved live Christmas tree?  Twelve times during a two week period, researchers measured mold counts in a room containing a live Christmas tree, beginning when the tree was brought inside and decorated. The tree was located 10 feet from a heat vent, and the indoor temperature was maintained at between 65 and 68 degrees.

For the first three days, counts remained at 800 spores per cubic meter of air, then began escalating, rising to a maximum of 5,000 spores per cubic meter by day 14, when the tree was taken down.  Mold allergy affects up to 15% of the population, and people with sensitivity to certain molds commonly experience nasal, eye, and throat irritation; nasal stuffiness; and headache. Additionally, there is a well-documented link between asthma attacks and molds, and the added risk of invasive fungal disease among people with compromised immune systems.  Normal indoor air has a mold level of 500-700 spores per cubic meter, and anything higher indicates a source of mold growth inside the building.

So, let me add another consideration to the “Green” representation.  The best definition of “Green” is the health impact of the actions that we take.  When we are talking about the carbon footprint, the proper designation is “Sustainability.”  The term “Green” has been broadly re-interpreted as nearly anything environmental, but we much not forget that health is a fundamental human issue, and Green is best defined relative to health impact.  Further understanding of Green also considers “proximity” as part of the process.  In other words, the closer you are to the problem, the more responsible you are to do something about it.  This redefinition of Green always sparks an anxious debate, but we need to keep our terms clear.  Although “Green” and “Sustainable” are complimentary terms, they are not synonymous.  Both terms would be sub-categories of the broad concept of environmentalism.

If the sole criteria is carbon footprint, then the live Christmas tree would win the “Greenest” tree, even though I would suggest the “Most Sustainable Tree” would be the correct designation.  If we look at the often-neglected indoor air quality that might be impacted by bringing in a live tree, the fake tree would be the the Greenest tree.  If  a lifecycle analysis was applied, the metrics change and the live tree would likely be the winner.  If you are a treehugger, than the fake tree is something to re-consider.

What I am ultimately demonstrating is called the “Trade Off.”  There are no perfect solutions, just better ones.  In many cases, the trade offs are nearly totally one-sided.  Personal jets, like the ones used by so many politicians, high-level business people; and even Al Gore, have no real defense even if they buy carbon credits.  The sheer waste of these luxuries are indefensible.  While we debate the wisdom of our next car choice, the laundry detergent that we buy, or the proper choice of a Christmas tree; those who are so public about climate change travel in private jets, live in mansions, and ignore all the smaller issues that they encourage among the “common people.”

If there is a “Bah, Humbug” factor in this Christmas season, it is the Scrooge-like hauntings of wrongs being done to others, leaving the lesser people suffer while the elite utter mocking words of concern.  As we gather around our live or fake Christmas trees this year adorned with energy-saving LED lights, and dress more warmly so we can cut back on our power consumption, congress contemplates the cap and trade legislation that will place another onerous and austere tax on the American economy.  Carbon emissions have mutated from a true science to a political power grab that seems to steal away the true concerns of valid environmental efforts to radicalized political agendas that never worry about “cooking the books.”

I believe that we all want to do our part in the world that we share.  The efforts of pragmatic environmentalism should not be stolen away by those who wish to use this issue, pervert the science, and leave the special interest groups in control of the majority’s welfare.  Perhaps, that is why more and more abused common people identify with Sarah Palin and her “common man” approach to politics, while elitists miss no opportunity to scourge her publically.  The “Change” that we need is not an elitist demagoguery and rules that apply to all but the wealthy.  I believe the best Christmas gift we can ask for this year is that the people in positions of power to stop telling us what is good for us while they hold secret meetings and trade favors among themselves, but that they finally ask how they can help improve our lives and protect our freedoms.  The harm done this Christmas season will return in Christmas ghosts at election time for those who think they know better than the common folks what we need in life.

The state of Illinois recognizes a serious problem with the amount of trash going our of businesses, schools, and government facilities.  This is a national problem, but the most effective solutions come from initiatives with a grass root involvement.

the governor of Illinois, Pat Quinn, recently signed SB99 into law, which encourages food waste to be commercially composted within the state and sold all throughout the country. Current Illinois rules provide only that business owners have the option to compost locally, but cannot transport their organic composting to another location or sell it.

This new law also gives businesses the ability to separate their food scraps from garbage to be composted into a reuasable product.  The composting law goes into effect in January of 2010.  Indiana and Iowa already have similar laws promoting composting projects.  Organic waste comprises about 20% of munipal solid waste, and can provide a rich soil additive once the composting process is completed.  Illinois is finally stepping up to the smart way to handle the increasingly troublesome problem of land fill management.

The founder and executive director of SCARCE (School & Community Assistance for Recycling and Composting Education), Kay McKeen, says this type of composting will benefit both the local environment and the general economy.  “This bill will benefit farmers, haulers, businesses, and is good for the soil, our water and for the environment,” remarks McKeen. “There are bills out there that are good for everyone and this is one of them.”  It seems that no one would disagree since trash in a huge problem with immense attached costs.

All states must continue to follow U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) regulations and retrieve permits while making such changes, the new legislation allows smaller composters to get started.   A new form of business will emerge for those interested in a new green job or business.  Every city should start project to collect and compost their organic trash.  Of course, the ability to sell the final product is another source of revenue.  Many composting projects sell their composted soil to farmers who can enrich their soil without fertilizers.

Certain businesses like grocery stores, restaurants, schools, and assisted living homes seem like the best sources for composting projects.  The first challenge is to organize the project in a way that allows free enterprise to pay for the cost rather than another charge to the local government.  This opens the door for an enterprising person to get the sanction of local official to collect the separated wast and take it to a site for composting.  It would seem that the investment is light compared to a steady environmentally-driven opportunity.

The new Illinois law excludes food scraps from the definition of normal garbage.  The new definition of garbage will speed up the new composting effort and reduce the cost of obtaining permits.  When food scraps are defined as trash, the ability to compost is nearly prohibited.  This new law is smart legislation that has immediate and profound impact on a variety of environmental benefit as well as the creation new green jobs.