Building service contractors and facility managers throughout North America and Canada embrace green cleaning and operating procedures, and many are now seeking LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. As this movement evolves, the design, operation, cleaning, and maintenance of buildings is changing rapidly, as are the supplies used to perform these functions. 

One area where the impact of this "green" drive is certain to be felt is the restroom. The way restroom fixtures, walls, and partitions are manufactured and operated will alter dramatically in the coming years. In fact, many forward-thinking buildings have already started to incorporate some of these changes.

The Chicago Center for Green Technology in Chicago, IL, is an example of one such facility. Designers and architects from all over North America have paid visits to the building learn what can be accomplished when a building is designed to incorporate as much green and sustainable technology as possible.

A Look Inside
Now city-operated, the center started out as an industrial facility built in 1952—and it was anything but green. The previous owners had used the 17-acre property as an illegal refuse dump. The U.S. government closed down the operation in 1999 and planned to demolish the structure. Then, officials realized the site could provide a prime opportunity to demonstrate what could be done to green a facility under the worst of conditions.

Four years and US$9 million later, the building reopened and was hailed as one of the most energy-efficient buildings in North America—incorporating the highest standards of green technology available.

Among the facility's core green features is that most of the materials used in its construction are recycled or have a high recycled content. Considering that building construction and furnishing materials accounts for one-half of all the raw material used in North America, this is quite impactful.

Ground-breaking and innovative describe the building’s restrooms, as well. Plaques at the restroom entrances indicate that the wall and floor tiles are all made predominantly from recycled tile chips, glass, porcelain, and ceramic. These resilient, low-maintenance tiles require nothing stronger than a properly diluted, all-purpose, pH-neutral cleaner to maintain them.

Another plaque states that the restroom partitions are made from recycled cardboard and milk containers. Not as durable as metal-style partitions, these will need to be treated a bit more delicately when cleaned. But again, a neutral, all-purpose cleaner should be sufficient.

Interestingly, the restrooms are equipped with both hand towels—made of recycled paper, of course—and electric hand dryers, selected because they use less energy than many conventional systems. The hope is that building occupants will select the dryers over the paper, which saves the building owners money and minimizes or eliminates trash collection for the cleaning staff.

Fixed on Fixtures
In most office facilities, the restroom accounts for the vast majority of the potable water used. However, potable water is a diminishing resource in the United States. Additionally, water-based restroom fixtures consume other resources, including electricity to pump water, and tend to require frequent servicing, which can be costly.

Although a variety of toilet systems that use less water have been introduced in the past few years, the dual-flush, low-flow model is increasingly popular and is the model installed in the center's restrooms. The user is instructed to pull the flush handle up for liquid waste, using about .8 gallons of water, and down for solid, using 1.6 gallons or fewer.

Early low-flow toilets were susceptible to clogging and were not always efficient, which meant the interior bowl tended to yellow and stain frequently, causing extra work for cleaning personnel. For the most part, these problems have been eliminated, and the new generation of dual-flush or low-flow toilets do not need any special cleaning attention.

All of the center’s men’s restrooms have waterless urinals installed, which can save as much as 40,000 gallons of water per urinal per year. With a waterless system, a trap or cylinder is inserted in the base of the urinal to keep sewer odors from escaping. Similar to a conventional urinal, liquid waste collects in the trap and then eventually flows into drainpipes.

These urinals have a highly polished interior bowl that stays dry. Bacteria do not grow, nor do water stains develop, so they require less attention than a water-using urinal. To clean, a properly diluted mild cleaner or disinfectant should be misted onto the surface of the waterless urinal or a cleaning cloth, and the area should be wiped clean. Harsh chemicals should not be used, because they could harm the trap or cylinder on some systems.

Additionally, the trap inserts will need to be changed periodically, a job frequently handled by cleaning personnel. The duration of the life of the trap varies, as does the cost of the trap. Facility managers are advised to investigate these issues before selecting a waterless urinal system.

A Final Note
Only environmentally preferable cleaning products are used in the restrooms and throughout the center. Different chemicals were tested and evaluated before the final selections were made.

The cleaning staff is considered key in keeping this facility green. They are instructed on what cleaning chemicals to use in the restrooms and other parts of the center, how they are to be used, and why they have been selected.

Although the Chicago Center for Green Technology is unusual in that it encompasses so many green features, it has one thing in common with other green buildings all over North America. Their managers prioritize cleaning because they know the strong connection between cleaning and health—that of janitorial staffers, building occupants, and the environment.