By Jenelle Madrid
Studies have shown a link between indoor air quality and student performance, according the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“As we purchase machines (and cleaning products), we look for noise and air quality,” said Graves. “We want to keep our employees, students and faculty healthy and help impact the learning process.”
The department not only looks for equipment that is environmentally friendly, but also those that are “ergonomically” beneficial to employees, in order to lessen bodily stress and injury.
“We are trying to be as innovative as we can,” said Graves. “We are doing anything we can for sustainability and to save labor and chemicals.”
A product she was particularly excited about was a floor finisher, INVINCIBLE™, that uses nano-technology to shine the floors as opposed to adding layers of polish that tends to yellow after a while.
She said that the machine uses diamond bits to strip the floor, while quartz is formed to fill in pores.
She recommends visiting a portion of the McCoy Hall, where part of the hallway is completed with the product while the other is not.
Also, her plans are to replace every mat on campus with those made out of recycled water bottles and tires.
“They are good for air quality, especially on rainy days when mud is tracked into the building,” said Margie Brownsberger, who is in charge of special projects associated with Custodial Operations. “It holds the mud better, which means less chemicals and products to mop the floor with.”
Another one of their go-to products is the use of microfibers.
Lance Trotter, trainer and workshop supervisor at Custodial Operations, showed a microfiber cloth, another go-to product that the department is in the process of implementing into their “green” plans.
“Microfiber cloths soak up three to five times more than cotton pieces,” said Graves. “They last longer so we are not buying them as frequently, and they are better on employees’ bodies.”
Green training also plays a key role in the success of the program.
They have a conference room where they have held teleconferences with the Association of Physical Plant Administrators, a non-profit organization for facility management.
Graves said that although the project costs more and will take about five to ten years to complete, the results will be more permanent.
The department is also seeking a LEED certification through the U.S. Green Building Council, which provides the framework for building owners and operators in implementing “green” operations and maintenance, according to the USGBC Web site.
“We do more than just mop floors,” said Graves.
Fermin Torrez, custodial supervisor of Custodial Operations, said that the department is also involved in the university’s safety council and in the community.
Torrez said that the department provided nearly 300 table fans last year for elders living in nursing homes in the Austin and San Marcos area.
Currently, the custodial operations department is in the process of preparing a presentation to show ASG next week.
Photo by Jenelle Madrid
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