What price sustainability in office buildings?

MELBOURNE, Australia - Oct. 2, 2014 - PRLog -- Williamstown company Ionic Systems Australia is claiming the trifecta for a new cleaning technology which offers sustainability improvements, well-being benefits and cost savings.

There is strong appeal for all stakeholders in the building: owners, managers, tenants and commercial cleaners.  Sometimes it may seem like getting these separate groups to agree on a course of action is like trying to herd cats, but the long and the short of this solution is something good for everyone.

In the normal scheme of things, an economic payback within a couple of years, with additional savings to follow, makes a compelling business case.

With claims of an economic payback within months, and substantial dollar savings to follow, there is an element of no-brainer about the new systems.

Then marry in significant sustainability savings, an actual improvement in the level of cleanliness achieved, and the use of cleaners with health benefits to users and clients alike - the logic of the new technology becomes irrefutable.

In-depth analysis of the quantity and type of chemical cleaners used across three CBD office towers over just one year produced data which is summarised briefly in the table attached.

REMOVED is removed from initial manufacture. transport, storage, use, disposal, waste.  SAVED are real dollar savings.  Note that each of the containers also had a lid or trigger sprayer.

Over three years, the three sites analysed achieve total financial savings in excess of $150,000.   The reduction in chemicals used is over seventeen tonnes, and over 15,000 plastic containers and lids are removed from circulation.

And this is across just three buildings.   Imagine the savings if more of our building owners, tenants, managers or contractors pushed for a genuine sustainability improvement?

What price sustainability?  Perhaps the real question is: what price not?

Les Miles

October 2nd 2014