Green Gains Mainstream Traction

This week, the front cover of a Milwaukee-area business magazine, Small Business Times, featured the headline “Cashing In With Green Buildings.”

The accompanying article documents the cost savings many facility owners and managers are realizing by updating or building their facilities to include more efficient lighting, heating and cooling systems, and energy-efficient architecture and design. The article discusses the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system, and the extent to which “green” building upgrades, such as waterless urinals and low-flow toilets, and other energy strategies are linked.

Facility managers warm to the terms “green” and “sustainability” when they learn how much money these principles can save them.

Are distributors in the dark when it comes to programs like LEED and their connection to so-called green cleaning products and procedures? That’s the opinion of some industry building service contractors I spoke with for the article, “LEED: The Rating System’s Role In the Green-Cleaning Movement,”. These contractors contend that distributors fall short when it comes to serving as green resources. (Hint, hint: now’s the time to start brushing up on these green-related facility issues.)

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In this month’s cover story, “A Feel For the Future,” Associate Editor Liz Greenawalt shares the results of SM’s “Looking Ahead” survey. Liz talked to readers about the issues most likely to keep them up at night — including the rising cost of doing business and shrinking margins.

Despite those concerns, distributors are optimistic going into 2006 — 92 percent of the distributors surveyed expect sales to increase next year. Find out more.