General Building Maintenance Corp.

In an effort to be more earth friendly, GBMC has incorporatedmore green practices, chemicals and equipment.  We are incorporatingchemicals that are "Green Seal Certified" and do not sacrificeeffectiveness.  We are using vacuum cleaners that are "Green LabelApproved" to help improve air quality.  Our new scrubbers are"Green Certified Equipment".  GBMC is proud to announce that ALL ourcarpet cleaning products are Green Seal Certified.  Using Green SealCertified product ensures the health and safety of our customers and theenvironment. Look for more advances in green cleaning in the future.

What is green cleaning?

Cleaningthat protects health without harming the environment.

Benefits of Green cleaning...

Improve indoor air quality

Promotes safer and healthier work environment Increase work productivity  

Reduce sick days and associated health care cost  

Peace of mind  

Minimizes exposure to aggressive chemicals  

Reduces water and air pollution  

Reduces waste with concentrated products 

Reduce packaging waste with recyclable packaging 

Ways to Green Your Workplace...

• Makesure that your computer and monitor are adjusted to the most energy-efficient settings.
• Turnoff the lights when you leave a room, and power down equipment at the end of the day.
• Return ink and toner cartridges to be refilled or recycled.
• When discarding old computers and other electronic equipment, keep it out of a landfill by donating it to an organization that will refurbish it and pass it on to a charitable agency, if possible, or ensure that it is recycled.
• Start a bring-your-own coffee mug policy for the break room and ditch the foamcups. 
• Your company will reduce waste & save money as well.
• Bring real plants into the office. Fake greenery might be low-maintenance, but the real thing adds beauty and oxygen to your surroundings.
• Reprogram the thermostat. Each degree warmer you leave the thermostat in the summer, and each degree cooler you set in the winter can save 6-8 percent in energy costs.
• Consider replacing aging desktop computers with laptops instead, which can use up to 70 percent less electricity and generate less heat waste.
• Unplug electrical equipment when possible.  Every computer left turned on overnight and every coffee pot left plugged in eats up electricity and costs your company money.
• Plant a Tree:  Treesprovide shade and reduce your air-conditioning costs.
• Power down:  Turn off computers at lunch and at night.
• Start a Recycle program:  In your lunchroom make a separate disposal for pop cans and paper and cardboard in your office?
• Use green stationary: Products made from recyclable materials are now more common place than ever before.
• Be a paperless office: Stop printing or photocopying emails and other computer generated materials.  Start forwarding emails and use a computer filing system.
• Use fluorescent lighting: Replace those old incandescent light bulbs today.
• Workplace upkeep: Ask that janitors and cleaners use environmentally-friendly products. Same goes forl awn maintenance workers and general contractors.
• Be water wise: If your workplace has a water cooler, ditch the disposable cups. If your workplace doesn't have a water cooler, but instead has a vending machine that sells bottled water, ditch the bottled water (we don't need more plastic). Employees can use their own cups for water.
• Create your own Green Team:Workplace green policies will be much more efficient and successful if it's employee-driven. Develop Green Teams that are put in charge of conducting a light bulb audit, reviewing janitorial practices, lawn care practices, hydrousage, products used during office parties (i.e. stop using paper plates,plastic cutlery and paper cups. Start using washable dishes, silver cutlery and washable mugs; for Christmas parties, stop wrapping gifts with Christmas paper and start using reusable gift bags), etc.
• Start Composting: Many municipalities have green bin programs for food waste. Or, if you are in the appropriate location, install a regular composter. Who knows... there may be gardeners among your employees who would love the free compost!

Going green doesn't happen overnight but every effort can make a big difference.