Green Janitorial & Building Maintenance Best Practices
Taking steps to prioritize environmentally friendly maintenance and cleaning practices isn’t just about keeping tenants, regulatory agencies, and investors satisfied with your efforts – sustainable strategies also improve indoor air quality, reduce long-term costs, and enhance your brand reputation.
Here are some strategies the right janitorial and maintenance service partner can provide and the benefits you can expect.
The Case for Sustainable Cleaning & Maintenance
- Health & Indoor Air Quality
Many conventional cleaning products release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to poor indoor air quality and can irritate occupants with asthma or allergies. Sustainable cleaners reduce harmful chemicals, use low-VOC formulas, and focus on ventilation and safe practices. For buildings with residential tenants, health concerns often translate directly into satisfaction. Tenants will notice fragrance intensity, smell, or stuffiness. Prioritizing green products promotes well-being. - Long-Term Cost Savings
Eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient systems often have higher upfront costs, but savings in energy bills, reduced waste disposal fees, longer asset life, and lower chemical usage can outweigh initial expenses. For example, investing in microfiber cleaning tools can allow cleaning with less water and fewer chemicals. Proper maintenance of HVAC filters or sealing windows reduces energy loss. These add up. - Regulatory Compliance and Incentives
Local and national regulations are increasingly regulating water usage, emissions, chemical safety, and waste disposal. Some jurisdictions even offer incentives or tax breaks for green building certifications (LEED, Energy Star, etc.). Staying up to date with compliance requirements helps avoid fines, improves eligibility for grants, and boosts marketability. - Tenant & Investor Appeal
Environmentally conscious tenants, residents who value sustainability, investors looking for ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) alignment — these segments are growing. Buildings advertised with features that include green cleaning, waste reduction, and energy efficiency practices often enjoy better occupancy rates, higher valuations, and stronger community goodwill.
Sustainable Practices in Janitorial & Maintenance
Here are specific strategies property managers can request or encourage in their service contracts, particularly with providers like ABS.
Green Cleaning Products & Equipment
- Use non-toxic, biodegradable cleaners when possible; avoid harsh bleach, ammonia, and high VOC solvents.
- Favor disinfectants certified by third parties (e.g., Green Seal, EPA’s Safer Choice).
- Use microfiber cloths and mops: they trap more dirt with less chemicals and water.
Energy & Water Efficiency
- Maintain HVAC systems regularly to ensure filters are clean, ducts are sealed, and equipment is running efficiently.
- Install energy-efficient lighting (LEDs), motion sensor lighting in less-used areas (storage, restrooms, hallways). Ensure that maintenance includes prompt replacement of bulbs to avoid energy waste or safety issues.
- Utilize water-saving fixtures in restrooms and efficient cleaning methods that minimize water runoff.
Waste Reduction & Recycling
- Provide recycling bins in common areas and ensure janitorial crews are trained to handle recycling correctly.
- Use reusable cleaning supplies where feasible (microfiber clothes, refillable containers).
- Manage chemical packaging waste and disposal responsibly.
Sustainable Flooring & Surfaces
- Choose durable flooring materials that resist wear and require less frequent replacement.
- Regular maintenance of hard floors to reduce slips and falls, and to improve their appearance (e.g. proper buffing, stripping & waxing schedule).
Scheduling & Preventive Maintenance
- Regular scheduling prevents emergency repairs, which often are less sustainable (more waste, inefficient resource use).
- Inspection routines to identify issues (e.g. leaks, water damage) early, before they cause mold or structural damage which require heavy, resource-intensive remediation.
Implementing Sustainable Janitorial Services
With a provider that offers a wide range of services and takes a strong approach to professionalism and documentation, integrating green practices can be practical and effective.
- Request Sustainability: Ask about their sustainability practices and let them know if you have any specific requirements.
- Include Building Maintenance: this ensures issues that could cause safety hazards are fixed quickly rather than being ignored (e.g. burned-out lightbulbs and broken door handles).
- Tracking & Reporting: Encourage service providers to document not only issues, but also resource usage (e.g., chemicals, water), so you have data to improve operations and make decisions. ABS uses documentation (photos/video) as part of their processes.
- Site-Specific Requirements: Let your provider know how you want them to work, which can include turning off lights, how you want waste disposed, etc.
Tangible Benefits: What You Can Expect
- Fewer tenant complaints, higher rates of lease renewals, and higher occupancy
- Fewer emergency maintenance issues and repairs
- Lower utility bills, especially lighting and heating/cooling
How to Get Started
As property needs and tenant expectations evolve, sustainability is increasingly important. Building owners and managers who partner with janitorial and maintenance providers that prioritize green practices will likely see increased occupancy, higher lease rates, and cost savings—a powerful combination.
For companies like ABS—combining professionalism, comprehensive services, and strong documentation—embracing sustainable practices is an important way for us to amplify our value for property managers and tenants alike. Get started by requesting a walkthrough and quote today.