According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), more than 17 billion square feet of commercial buildings have achieved LEED certification, including 20 percent of new commercial buildings, with building owners adding more than 2.2 million square feet of LEED-certified space per day.
The Council says the green building trend is driven by several objectives, including:
- Reducing energy consumption and costs;
- Attracting and retaining employees and customers; and
- Enhancing health, well-being and productivity.
In addition to using sustainable construction materials and energy-efficiency products and practices, LEED-certified building managers also need to meet and document their use of LEED High Performance Cleaning Standards. The standards are designed to provide a safe and healthy indoor environment by preventing and removing indoor air contaminants. Among the standards are having a comprehensive cleaning plan, providing training processes for cleaning crews, minimizing the use of chemicals and using certified floor care equipment.
For example, vacuums must meet the requirements of the Carpet & Rug Institute’s (CRI) Green Label program for the capture of at least 96% of particulates of 0.3 microns and an operating sound below 70 dBA. Meeting the sound specifications also allows many building managers to shift cleaning activities from night to day, providing the added benefit of reducing energy requirements for heating, cooling and lighting buildings at night.
Sanitaire has responded to the move toward greener cleaning by adding several machines to its product lineup that are LEED qualified and hold the CRI Gold Seal of Approval, the institute’s highest rating. “We have focused our product development efforts on building vacuums that allow our customers and end users to meet LEED standards,” says Brad Hoare, product manager for Sanitaire.
One such product is the CRI Gold certified Sanitaire® EON™ ALLERGEN upright. Operating at 68 dBA, this machine meets the rigorous requirements of the LEED green building certification program and allows for 24/7 quiet cleaning. And as the first commercial vacuum certified asthma & allergy friendly® by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the EON™ ALLERGEN allows you to reduce exposure to allergens and irritants while creating an exceptionally clean environment.
The innovative EON™ ALLERGEN is entered in the ISSA Innovation Award program. Check it out in person at the ISSA Show 2018 (Dallas, October 29 to November 1) Innovation Marketplace & Lounge awards showcase, booth 3405, and attend the awards presentation on November 1 at 1:00 p.m.
You can also learn more about the EON™ ALLERGEN by visiting the Sanitaire booth 3633 throughout the convention or by visiting sanitairecommercial.com/eon.
