More and more building owners and managers are recognizing that a “green”, sustainable building is not only the “right thing to do”, but also ultimately financially prudent. However, some decision makers balk at the high administrative and other costs of becoming formally LEED certified and want to implement beneficial changes quickly for the least upfront cost, even if it means they don’t get formal recognition.

One area that can be very effective in “greening” one’s building is “green” cleaning, typically focused on reducing the amount and toxicity of chemicals, equipment and procedures used to clean facilities. However, an effective “green” cleaning program can be achieved without overly considering cleaning chemicals, for example. An effective way of keeping buildings clean is to prevent dirt and microbes from entering in the first place. Studies have shown that one of the greatest sources of microbes, soil, chemicals, and other contaminants that enter a building and can get into the ventilation system is from the shoes and boots of users entering. Walk-off mats can remove much such dirt quite effectively at a low cost.

Studies have concluded that coliforms was detected on 96% of shoes tested, and, therefore, can easily enter and spread in a building. Transfer efficiency of bacteria from shoe bottoms to clean tiles inside a building ranged from 90 to 99%. It was also found that 1,000 people walking into a building over 20 days can track in up to 24 lbs of soil if no mats are in place.

When an effective matting system is installed, the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) estimates that as much as 70 – 80% of these contaminants can be stopped from entering a facility, causing users to be healthier and reducing cleaning requirements, which itself, saves the facility labor and chemical costs and reduces building impacts on the environment.

The USEPA’s Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools program recommends that mats be installed at all key school entries, as both an effective and a cost-effective action.

Not all types of mats are as effective at source control. Look for high-performance mats which do the best job of capturing soil matter. Look for mats with the following:

 Pile: Made using higher quality fibers and have a deeper, thicker pile, allowing them to more effectively capture and trap soil particles.

 Backing: Using a higher-grade rubber backing designed to be longer lasting, resist curling, and cracking. They hold up better under different conditions.

 Construction: Many are “bi-level,” allowing soils and moisture to be trapped below its surface so this is not transferred from the mat onto other’s shoes.

 Warranty: Because they are built using higher quality materials, high-performance mats last longer and have longer warranties, usually 1-6 years.

Another consideration is size. Studies indicate that for matting to be truly effective, at least 15 feet should be installed; it could be inside and/or outside the building.

CCES has the experts to help your building assess and meet LEED “green” building standards. If, instead, you wish to implement simple, effective steps for your buildings to be more “green” and healthier for all, we can help there, too, cost-effectively and with minimal disruptions and impacts. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or at karell@CCESworld.com.