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GREEN MAINTENANCE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Click on a question to get the answer.

Why do green buildings cost more than conventional buildings?

This is not necessarily true. Comparing different types of building, i.e. one with solar panels vs. a traditional building will show an initial upfront cost but the operating costs will be much more economical. This return on investment should cover and offset the initial upfront costs compared with a traditional building.

Does our heating or cooling operate over night?

Yes, unless you manually set your temperature down or up depending on your location. You may also be able to shut down your system overnight. A final option is to have a programmable thermostat. Using programmable thermostats automatically adjusts the target temperature for your system so you can minimize the amount of energy your system will use.

What is indoor air quality? How can I improve it?

The toxic chemicals found in most common building material negatively affect indoor air quality (what you breath every day). To help prevent some of this clean or replace your HVAC filters per the manufacturers instructions. Inspect and clean air ducts and both supply and return grilles on a regular basis to minimize dust collection and mildew.

How can we set up a recycling program?

Identify a central location for recycling in your building. In the past when land fill space was readily available and disposal fees were low, recycling or reuse was not economically feasible. Now recycling is the norm and many municipalities require recycling of corrugated paper, plastic and metal products. Designate a used goods area for reusable items like binders, folders, boxes and padded envelopes that may be reused.

The environmental benefits are nice but what can I do to conserve electricity costs in my office?

Turn off electronic equipment that is not in use. Energy savings is an essential part of being “green”. An easy way to start is to simply turn off electronic equipment that is not in use. For example turn off printers, computers, radios, lights, etc that aren’t in use. This should also include unplugging chargers that are not in use. While still plugged in chargers still use a small amount of energy. Using “Energy Star” office equipment or equivalent for all new equipment purchases will help reduce the amount of electricity used. Using motion sensors inside your building will reduce the amount of time that the lights are in use.