Maintenance Specialists vs. Cleaning Generalists: Why Specialists Make More Business Sense

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Mop Bucket

As the manager of a facility, it’s up to you to determine how your facility is maintained in terms of many different components. These components range from basic upkeep and repair to maintaining assets and developing preventative maintenance processes.

Because maintenance is so instrumental to your facility, it’s crucial that you select the right people to keep the building maintained properly in order to reduce drastic replacement and repair costs in the future.

So what’s the difference between a maintenance specialist and a cleaning generalist? One of the main differences could be your bottom line. According to an article by the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), the difference can also help you to maintain a positive image for your business.

Understanding Cleaning Generalists

You may hire a janitorial company, or several different companies, that specializes in cleaning various areas of a building. In doing so, you’ll receive the same set of services that they provide any business that hires them. Your facility will then be maintained the same way as any other building without any special attention to your unique needs.

For example, while you may have your set cleaning company doing general maintenance and upkeep, you’ll also call in a carpet cleaner every so often when you begin to notice that the floor looks dirty.

Cleaning generalists stick to a standard checklist and address cleaning the same way each time.

Understanding Maintenance Specialists

Maintenance specialists, on the other hand, use a little more thought when it comes to your overall maintenance strategy. The IFMA states that “maintenance specialists are true experts that focus on specific areas of your space – carpet, textiles, hard surfaces, etc. These are partners that consider the unique needs of your business and proactively look for ways to improve your building’s appearance and extend the life of your assets.”

This means that you may choose a carpet care specialist to work with rather than having a cleaning generalist and hiring a carpet cleaner every now and then. This carpet care specialist will offer maintenance solutions for your floor’s appearance and to extend the life of your carpet.

Making the Right Choice for Your Facility

Deciding between cleaning generalists and maintenance specialists comes down to your facility’s needs, and you’ll need to consider the long-term investment of your facility, which many managers seem to overlook. It’s common to be worried about initial costs, but while you may be choosing the less expensive route to begin with, it could add up over time and end up being costlier.

Looking beyond the initial purchase can have a drastic impact on your facility, whether it’s maintenance costs like in this case or products. When making your decision, think about the long-term costs and savings of each option.

If you need quality, sustainable products for your facility, click here to find out where to buy Scranton Products.

Building an Energy Management Strategy That Works

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Enegry Management

When you’re creating a plan for your building or facility, energy management is one of the most crucial elements. It’s important for you to keep energy low for cost-effectiveness and to adhere to the many requirements put in place by the government. The only way you’ll be able to successfully minimize energy costs and make sure that you stick to these standards is by developing a sound strategy.

Keep reading to find out how to build an energy management strategy that works.

The International Facility Management Association has developed a sound strategy that facility managers should adhere to when developing their own energy management plan. This strategy involves five key phases: planning, installation, operation, optimization, and renewal.

Consider Your Options

When you begin to develop your plan, consider the options that you have so you can create the best plan possible. To do so, gather a committee of facility operators and employees that each contributes to the plan with new perspectives and ideas that fit the organization’s objectives.

Make sure to schedule consistent brainstorming meetings where each person gets to express their own ideas, then continue to create different parts of the plan until you have a solid strategy in place.

Determine Installation and Suppliers

Once you’ve created your plan, the facility managers and other executives will want to negotiate terms with suppliers in order to be the most cost-effective and get the most for their investment. Energy prices are constantly fluctuating, and the cost of energy can drastically impact the facility’s profits based on this step of the planning process.

Energy Operations and Maintenance

As a facility operates and maintains energy management systems while controlling costs, the facility managers must be able to accurately measure their energy and resource consumption. This allows them to stay on track and determine if they’re meeting their goals or to understand where they’re going outside the plan.

In some cases, facility managers look into energy consumption devices to allow them to better determine where energy can be reduced.

Optimization

In the same way that it’s important to measure the amount of energy that’s consumed, it’s also crucial for facility managers to execute targeted efficiency projects with demonstrable ROI in order for the energy management strategy to be effective. By optimizing energy and resource consumption, organizations help to reduce costs, improve processes, and meet sustainability goals.

Renewing the Strategy

Facility managers must analyze the performance of their strategy and determine if it’s working with reporting capabilities. The key to an energy management strategy is being able to report progress, so an analysis of the performance and determining whether goals have been met is crucial to the process.

If goals aren’t reached and progress isn’t made, it’s up to the facility managers to determine what isn’t working and where the strategy can be improved.

Keep these tips in mind when developing your energy management strategy. If you need durable, sustainable products for your new facility, click here to find out where to buy Scranton Products.

Are Bathroom Hand Dryers Unsanitary?

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Many facilities install hand dryers in their bathrooms instead of paper towels to reduce the waste created by paper towels and the germs that paper towels could leave behind when drying your hands. Recently, however, studies have shown hand dryers causing more harm than good in terms of bacteria and germs.

If you’re designing a bathroom or a related facility and you’re unsure of whether you should install hand dryers, learn more about the pros and cons of this option.

Facts About Hand Dryers

British researchers from the University of Leeds conducted a study to determine the effectiveness of warm-air dryers, high-powered “jet-air” dryers, and paper towels. Jet-air dryers were found to be the worst option, with bacteria levels in the air around them 4.5 times higher than with warm-air dryers and 27 times higher than with paper towel dispensers. Even five minutes after use, 48% of the bacteria was collected around the hand dryers, and they were still detected 15 minutes after use.

Mark Wilcox, team leader of the University of Leeds study, said, “These findings are important for understanding the ways in which bacteria spread, with the potential to transmit illness and disease.”

Keith Redway of the University of Westminster in London also conducted several studies to determine the most germ-free method of hand drying, yielding the same results: Jet-air dryers increase the amount of bacteria on your hands after washing them.

Hand Dryer Advantages and Disadvantages

While hand dryers allow people to dry their hands without having to create waste from paper towels, the air that comes from inside the jet dryers isn’t sterile. A filter beneath the dryer is supposed to be cleaned weekly, but many places don’t clean it properly. This leads to layers of bacteria becoming caked on the dryer’s vents. The air then travels through these bacteria, contributing to a dirtier bathroom, with machines sending germs more than 6 feet away.

Another disadvantage of hand dryers is that people don’t always use them correctly. People don’t always keep their hands beneath the dryer for long enough to dry their hands. Many walk away with damp hands, which act like a magnet for germs and bacteria.

Paper Towel Advantages and Disadvantages

One advantage that paper towels offer over electric hand dryers in terms of bacteria removal is that the action of rubbing your hands with paper towels can help with removing the bacteria. In addition, using a paper towel to open the handle of the bathroom door can help you from coming in contact with an area that contains a lot of bacteria.

On the other hand, paper towels are discarded into bins, so the bacteria that was wiped onto them is now collected into one area. The bacteria then multiply as people continue to toss their used towels into the bin.

It’s important to keep these facts in mind when determining what type of product you’re going to use in your facility.

If you’re looking for bathroom partitions, vanities, or lockers, click here to find out where to buy Scranton Products.

Are Your Facilities Up-to-Date on ADA, OSHA, and Water Compliance Regulations?

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Regulations

Regulatory codes and health regulations are always changing, which is something that you must pay careful attention to as a facility manager in charge of bathrooms or bathroom updates. Many facility managers are experiencing legal and regulatory issues for failing to do so.

To avoid these issues, find out more about the regulations to which your facility must adhere.

What Are ADA and OSHA?

The most notable requirements that restrooms fail to adhere to fall under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA).

The ADA came to fruition over 25 years ago, and the law states that it “prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in employment, state and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities, and transportation.”

However, not all facility bathrooms adhere to the regulations that the ADA has set. There are many issues with restroom design and construction.

OSHA’s sanitation standard reviews facilities and requires them to maintain sanitary conditions.

Understanding Accommodation Compliance

Facilitiesnet.com spoke with Joan Stein of Stein Consulting, who explained that in order for a facility to be ADA compliant, special attention must be paid to design, construction, and maintenance.

For example, there must be adequate room in a bathroom stall to move around in, and the height of dispensers and other equipment must be accessible. Often, the stalls aren’t wide enough, and the toilets aren’t set at the proper height.

Another common issue is getting to the bathroom. Restaurants and other establishments want the bathrooms to be kept out of sight, which typically means putting them in a spot that can be difficult to reach. During construction, the design should incorporate a bathroom that’s easily accessible by those in wheelchairs who don’t have to maneuver through difficult angles.

In the bathroom, sink height is typically appropriate, but the pipes beneath the sink can end up bumping the person’s wheelchair so they can’t reach it comfortably. Often, these pipes are also uninsulated. Insulating pipes can remedy this issue.

In addition to ensuring that the design of a bathroom adheres to regulations, it’s important that facility managers maintain the accessibility in the bathrooms. This means paying attention to the placement of objects around the bathroom, such as waste baskets, and keeping them out of the way of those in wheelchairs. It also means keeping paper towels, soaps, and other necessities within their reach.

Understanding Water Compliance

The US Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense initiative also sets regulations on water usage in restrooms that facility managers must be aware of. There are new plumbing codes and standards to adhere to, and restroom designs can help the facility’s bottom line.

As a facility manager, it’s important to be aware of these standards and make sure that you follow them accordingly. You want to make sure that the people who utilize the facility are properly accommodated.

If you’re looking for reliable, sustainable bathroom partitions or vanities for your facility, click here to find out where to buy Scranton Products.

Will Solar Energy for Commercial and Educational Facilities Become a Permanent Trend or a Flash Fad?

solar energy

Utilizing solar energy has been on the rise over the past few years, and it has also undergone many advances that have been beneficial for reducing emissions. Reducing emissions has been a main goal among energy conservationists, and requirements have been put into place for federal and commercial facilities.

But is it just a fad? Based on the efforts of the government and many other dedicated organizations, solar energy is here to stay. It will only become more prominent in the future based on advances in solar energy and the requirements and laws being put in place.

Learn more about solar energy and the steps that we’ve been taking toward it to reduce emissions.

Emission-Reducing Efforts

The Energy Independence and Security Act was signed in 2007. According to the act, “The three key provisions enacted are the Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards, the Renewable Fuel Standard, and the appliance/lighting efficiency standards.” This act requires federal facilities to reduce their energy use for both new and existing facilities.

This act also details the Net-Zero Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative. This initiative began in August 2008 and is “the overarching effort of the Department of Energy’s Commercial Buildings Program which aims to achieve marketable net-zero energy commercial buildings (NZEBSs) by 2025,” according to the initiative.

Federal facilities must work toward emissions reduction by following the goals of Executive Order 13693. Established in 2015, the executive order details the official planning of federal sustainability all the way into the next decade. It discusses improving environmental performance and federal sustainability by reducing energy and cost while also researching and obtaining renewable or alternative energy solutions.

New Solar Energy Technology

Facility managers are finding advanced ways to meet emissions requirements, which has led to new developments that we haven’t yet seen in facilities that exist today. Facilitiesnet.com reviews these new developments.

Perovskites: These materials, found by Northwestern University and the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, is less costly when used in solar panel production than the silicon-based materials that are typically used in solar panels. Though the product isn’t available in stores yet and will need to be further researched, more people will be able to afford less costly solar panels.

Nanotechnologies: The US National Nanotechnology Initiative has been utilizing nanoparticles and nanostructures within solar energy technology to improve light absorption and increase the conversion of light energy into electrical energy. Other benefits include lower production costs, lower installation costs, and higher efficiency.

Solar windows: Solar windows have a liquid coating that uses the energy from the sun. This liquid turns the windows into electricity generators.

Facility managers must adhere to strict requirements, and utilizing these new developments allows them to do so affordably and efficiently.

While the most effective and affordable methods and tools for incorporating solar energy into facilities are still being developed, they’re well underway and will be beneficial far into the future. Click here to find out where to buy sustainable products for your facility from Scranton Products.

New Research Shows Positive Connection Between Classroom Design and Learning

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The team designing and executing a school facility has a lot of responsibilities, including student safety. Recently, it’s been discovered that design can impact the students’ attitudes and even the way they retain information.

When designing a school facility, use this information to inspire the design and increase students’ performances in reading, writing, and math.

The American Institute of Architects has discussed UK-based HEAD (Holistic Evidence and Design) findings regarding this information.

Key Findings

HEAD spent three years studying 153 classrooms in 27 schools in Blackpool, Hampshire, and Ealing, UK, that involved 3,766 students. They found evidence that shows how important classroom design is to students’ learning and what factors yield these results.

The study looked at three dimensions or design principles that have been used to suggest and structure the factors that should be considered to keep students engaged in different activities. These dimensions are naturalness, individualization, and stimulation.

Naturalness is about the light, sound, temperature, air quality, and other links to nature. Individualization is about a student’s ownership, flexibility, and connection to the environment. And stimulation is about the appropriate level of complexity and color.

Using this three-part structure, the study focused on the impact of various elements of school environments on students. Its findings are directly related to the facility’s design and construction, such as natural light and the shading of the windows as well as their location.

A classroom should have distinct characteristics and a location that allow students to be relaxed but also promotes a sense of ownership. And to appeal to the appropriate level of stimulation, the overall atmosphere must be engaging but free of clutter. Bright colors should be used only as accents.

Classroom Designs and Materials

Studies have demonstrated that an aesthetically pleasing environment designed in a certain way will better contribute to students’ learning and comfort. Architects and engineers should consider this information when creating a building’s design.

In addition to the layout, window placement, and other factors necessary for a stimulating facility, it’s important to ensure the use of materials that are safe for the children and provide for a healthy environment.

Scranton Products utilizes high-density polyethylene (HDPE) to reduce the environmental impact and improve facilities’ indoor air quality.

Solid plastic HDPE doesn’t absorb moisture, resists mold and mildew, and has a 25-year warranty. The partitions and lockers can be power washed and steam cleaned, so you never have to use harmful chemical cleaners. They contain a solid color throughout, so you’ll never need to paint them, which eliminates VOC emissions.

Click here to find out where you can purchase Scranton Products for your facility.

How Much Do You Know About Your Building’s Carbon Footprint?

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Air Pollution
Lately, we’ve been more aware of our actions and what we can do to reduce our carbon footprint. But are we taking into consideration the buildings we construct and work in and visit every day?

According to the US Green Building Council, buildings account for 39% of the carbon dioxide emissions in the United States each year. Commercial and residential buildings account for more carbon dioxide emissions annually than any other sector and more than any other country except for China.

It’s important that we’re not just aware of our own carbon footprint but also the ones left by our buildings, especially due to the large impact on the environment.

Learn more about buildings and emissions in the United States and what you can do to reduce emissions.

Understanding Building-Related Emissions

To reduce the energy that your building uses, it’s important to first understand greenhouse gas emissions. They can be broken up into two types: direct emissions from the on-site combustion of fuels used for heating and cooking, and emissions from the end use of electricity to heat, cool, and power a building.

Emissions can be reduced by cutting down on the energy supply used in the building both in the design and construction phase and after production.

Factors Contributing to Building Emissions

You should look at some key areas when determining what actions to take to reduce energy consumption. The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions details these categories as embodied energy, building design, building envelope, on-site or distributed generation, and energy end uses in building.

Embodied energy is the energy required to extract, manufacture, transport, install, and dispose of building materials. This category is more about substituting bio-based products to reduce the building’s emissions.

Building design refers to the building’s overall architecture and engineering. Being aware of emissions from the initial design can help to determine the amount of lighting, heating, and cooling that’s used.

Building envelope is “the interface between the interior of a building and the outdoor environment.” Energy shouldn’t seep from the building because this will require using more of it.

On-site or distributed generation refers to the energy produced at the point of use. This can include renewable sources, fossil fuel sources, and small energy storage systems.

Energy end uses in buildings include utilizing efficient technologies that can reduce emissions by moderating energy use, which will also lower your monthly utility bills.

Incorporating Low-Emission Products into Your Building

When constructing a building, it’s important to use products that support a healthy environment. Scranton Products are made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which reduces the environmental impact and offers initial and long-term improvements to the indoor air quality of your facility.

If you’re interested in using Scranton Products’ bathroom dividers, lockers, and other materials for your facility, click here to learn where to buy them.

What Is the Living Building Challenge?

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Building Plans
About the Living Building Challenge

The Living Building Challenge “calls for the creation of building projects at all scales that operate as cleanly, beautifully and efficiently as nature’s architecture.”

Those who take the Living Building Challenge must ensure that building projects meet a series of ambitious performance requirements over a minimum of 12 months.

Performance Areas

The Challenge is made up of seven performance areas that are referred to as “petals”: Place, Water, Energy, Health & Happiness, Materials, Equity, and Beauty. Each petal is divided again into 20 imperatives that focus on a specific sphere of influence.

Certification

Building projects are eligible for three types of certification: Living Building Certification, Petal Certification, or Net Zero Energy Building Certification. Each project path adheres to three different steps: Registration, Documentation + Operation. and Audit + Certification.

  • Registration: When registering, the team will outline the project details, including the Typology (renovation, infrastructure + landscape, building, community) and Transect (natural habitat preserve, rural agriculture zone, village or campus zone, general urban zone, urban center zone, urban core zone). The team members join the Living Building Challenge Community, which gives them access to resources within the challenge.
  • Documentation + Operation: A team can begin submitted documentation regarding their project after the registration process has been completed. The documentation process continues throughout construction and the operational phase, which is 12 consecutive months of operation. During this time, project performance data is recorded. Once the operational phase is complete, teams can submit their data to be audited.
  • Audit + Certification: The institute first must verify that the team has submitted all necessary documentation. An independent auditor will then perform a review of the documentation and conduct a site visit. The auditor creates a final report, which is reviewed by the institute. The institute then notifies the team of the results and certifies the project, if appropriate.

Red List Building Materials

Red List materials contain harmful components that affect living creatures and the environment.

A Living Building Challenge Red List contains materials used in construction that don’t meet the challenge’s criteria. According to the International Living Future Institute, the list is made up of materials that should be phased out of production because of health concerns. It’s continuously updated as new items emerge. The list includes both chemicals and chemical groups. This Red List falls under the Materials petal of the Living Building Challenge.

The Living Building Challenge “is a tool for regenerative design. It is not a net neutral program; it most decidedly is about creating a pathway and vision for a truly sustainable, regenerative living future. Nature doesn’t do zero—it is net positive in energy, food and flows.”

Scranton Products believes in equipping your facility with sustainable products to reduce harmful emissions. Click here to find out where to buy Scranton Products.

The Importance of the Green Movement in Your Own Backyard: Why Scranton Products Supports USGBC Central PA

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Earlier in the year, Scranton Products sponsored the USGBC Central PA 2016 Kick Off Party at the Governors Residence in Harrisburg. David Casal of Scranton Products also spoke at the event about the importance of using sustainable materials in design of buildings.

The USGBC of Central Pennsylvania was originally founded as the Green Building Association of Central Pennyslvania when design and construction professionals “recognized the need to educate themselves and their colleagues about sustainability.”

This is an idea that is shared by Scranton Products, whose products are made from recycled materials and contain pre-consumer and post-consumer content. They also resist mold, mildew, fungus and bacteria and offer improved air quality to your facility.

Learn more about taking advantage of these sustainable products and how you can help do your part in the green movement.

Ecosystem

About USGBC in Central Pennsylvania

According to the USGBC Central Pennsylvania Chapter, their mission is to ” is to promote environmentally responsible design, planning, construction and operation of the built environment through education, outreach and networking.” They also have a vision to create a sustainable built environment and that green practices become mainstream.

The USGBC aims to accomplish this mission with a list of the following goals:

  • Goal 1: Increase market demand for sustainable building practices in Central Pennsylvania
  • Goal 2: Develop top-notch educational opportunities in the region.
  • Goal 3: Ensure that the USGBC Central Pennsylvania Chapter serves as the region’s premier source of reliable information about green building technology
  • Goal 4: Secure USGBC Central Pennsylvania Chapter’s organizational capacity and stability
  • Goal 5: Represent the diverse needs of the region and leader the community in sustainable solutions in the built environment
  • Goal 6: Advocate for sustainable practices, materials, and products through legislation at state and local government levels

One way the USGBC has been on accomplishing these goals is with the Green Apple Day of Service. They host three different types of events for schools that are interested in participating, including new projects, educational awareness and maintenance projects.

New projects can be planting a garden or trees or painting a mural. Educational awareness is a program that helps students of all grade levels understand the importance of sustainability and green buildings. Maintenance projects are aimed toward improving the school facility’s air quality, energy use, waste or water consumption.

Scranton Products’ Green Products

Scranton Products is dedicated to providing you with products that are safe for the environment and safe for your facility. All bathroom partitions and lockers are Greenguard Gold Certified. Greenguard Gold certification offers stricter certification criteria, considers safety factors to account for sensitive individuals (such as elderly and children) and ensures that products are acceptable for use in environments such as healthcare facilities.

If you’re interested in improving your facility with better quality air and sustainable products, click here to learn where to buy Scranton Products.





Sustainable Building Products




Using Products with Purpose in the Dallas School System Redesign

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Scranton Products provides bathroom partitions, lockers, showers and dressing compartments and vanities for facilities looking for visually appealing, durable, long-lasting, sustainable products. They provide the best products in the industry, utilizing High Density Polyethylene plastic, or HDPE, for high performance that offers improvements to a facility’s air quality and reduces environmental impact. When the Dallas school system was in need of a redesign in 2008, the citizens approved a $1.35 billion bond program to reshape the school district through 61 different products. Dated facilities were replaced with state of the art environments including elementary, middle and high schools across the city.

Scranton Products Used in Redesign

Among the many products selected specifically to meet the needs of the Dallas school system was the broad-based installation of bathroom partitions from Scranton Products, (This sentence doesn’t make any sense which according to were among the products preferred by Dallas ISD’s maintenance department. Available in an assortment of colors and styles, Dallas’ partition of choice was Hiny Hiders Paisley Color with a EX Texture, a black bespectacled with white dots with a ridged texture. In addition to their appealing look and feel, the Scranton Products partitions also met numerous other criteria cited by the city for its new school bathrooms. This included absorbing all the forms of punishment that thousands of students, teachers and parents could deliver every day for the foreseeable future. These benefits include the ability to never rust or delaminate as well as resist dents, scratches, graffiti, corrosion, mildew and moisture. They are also fully power-washable and can be firmly installed in three configurations; floor mounted overhead-braced, ceiling-hung or floor-to-ceiling.

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The Preferred Choice

Scranton Products were a top choice for the redesign of Dallas’ school system. Architect Jason Mellard commented on the choice to selected Scranton Products. “Durability was certainly an important consideration when we planned this project. It really must be able to stand up to just about anything, while constantly dealing with relentless wear and tear. That’s why the Scranton Products’ partitions were chosen by the district for installation throughout the school system. They are exceptionally tough and with the proper support are virtually impossible to rip from the floors. Plus, they just look nice. Their black finish with textured dots provided an attractive complement to our overall design and color scheme.”

 

Products for a Sustainable Environment

Scranton Products are created with HDPE plastic, which allows facilities to support a healthier environment. These products reduce environmental impact and offer improvements to the indoor air quality of your facility. They’re also Greenguard Gold certified, a certification that offers strict criteria and considers safety factors that account for sensitive people such as children and the elderly. If you’re interested in reducing your footprint and creating a healthy environment with clean air, click here to find out where to buy Scranton Products.