Green Cleaning Techniques Green cleaning programs promote health, safety and social consciousness. Processes focus on improving indoor air quality, recycling, and minimizing the use of raw materials and toxic products that require disposal. Green cleaning has the following benefits: Help decrease air pollution, water pollution, ozone depletion and global climate change. Help reduce health problems associated with allergens, chemical sensitivities and contaminants, such as mold and bacteria. Green cleaning products contain low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) levels that emit fewer fumes and are gentler on the facility itself. Increase worker satisfaction, improve morale, reduce absenteeism, and increase productivity, efficiency and retention. These statistics are well documented. Help reduce costs to building management, tenants, and/or the janitorial company, including costs associated with sick leave, health care, and productivity loss. In addition, green cleaning practitioners use energy-efficient equipment and focus on preventative maintenance to reduce expenses. Enhance an organization?s reputation and brand equity, because being socially conscious has become a desirable business trait. Thorough green cleaning programs will take a holistic view of the building. Each aspect of ?green? operations and maintenance will be viewed in the context of goals and benefits the customer expects to derive from green cleaning and indoor air quality programs they wish to implement. Some basic principles of green cleaning programs include: Focus on entry ways inside and out. Most pollutants enter the building on people?s feet, so it?s important to implement indoor air quality programs, which will help to trap and remove dirt before it enters the building and to frequently clean the entrances and entryway mats. Minimize particles and chemicals in the air. Mechanically capturing dust and dirt, using course spray for chemicals, and applying the cleaner to the cloth rather