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The Exclusive Magazine for the Building Service Contracting Industry Since 1981

Sustainable Solutions for Challenging Building Issues

Written by  John Schauff


 Sustainability can be simply described as utilizing resources today without compromising the future generation’s ability to do the same. The sustainable building concept is becoming more popular with owners and managers as they realize that buildings are not just potentially healthier and safer, but that often these practices have a financial benefit as well.

Some of the more obvious sustainable practices include the reduction of energy through conservation practices, improved building materials and routine cleaning products, such as glass cleaners and all-purpose cleaners.

Some sustainable programs are not as easily recognized. Preventing the associated problems with grease plugging the drain lines, foodstuffs building up in the lift stations, noxious odors permeating from trash chutes or dumpster rooms, can also easily be remedied using sustainable practices and products.

How do these products work? By eating the organic soils with naturally occurring digesters, eliminating the waste, which is the source for odor-causing gases. As they eat, the digesters produce moisture and energy. The energy is converted into more digesters, allowing the process to continue until the waste is completely gone.

Sustainable products not only safely reduce the build-up, they also are responsible for reducing the need to manually clean out drains. In many cases, they reduce sewer charges by eating the excessive organics that are otherwise being flushed into the city sewer system through the grease interceptors. The digesters keep eating the organics soils, thereby safely cleaning the surfaces.

Traditional counterparts, such as sulfuric acid-based products, simply emulsify the soil, moving it downstream, while generating extreme heat that can potentially damage the very pipes you are trying to clean.

Dirty dumpster rooms and trash chutes put off foul odors that often intensify breathing issues for people with respiratory issues. Perfumes provide a temporary mask, as they desensitize the nose in an effort to cover up the odor. This process potentially adds to the respiratory issues. Sustainable products actually eat the organic, thus removing the odor-causing source.

Think sustainable to safely digest the organics that are causing issues in your building.

A native of Tucson, Arizona, John has been associated with Spartan since 1991 as regional manager; in the Utah, Idaho, and Montana regions and in the San Francisco region. John graduated from Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, with a BSBA (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration) in 1988. John has been certified as an instructor of continuing education hours by the IEHA (International Executive Housekeepers Association) and is also qualified to teach several OSHA training modules.

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