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Designing for Sustainability

A learning environment must be cleaned and maintained without doing harm to natural surroundings. Certain chemicals and practices can be unhealthy for both people and the environment. We avoid those.


Implementing a green program requires some changes to many aspects of your operation. AFS has the knowledge and experience to create a first-rate, custom plan that will focus on all areas of sustainability, including:

  • Green cleaning
  • Rainwater recapture
  • Reduced water usage
  • Green space management
  • Sustainable building design
  • Recycling, composting and waste management
  • Energy management and reduction of consumption

Not Just About the Environment

It is incumbent upon professionals in our business to embrace concepts that can be replicated. Proven practices and innovation are both important, and both must also be sustainable over time.

  • Sufficient planning to avoid duplication
  • Cross training to increase value and flexibility
  • Schedules that repeatedly achieve desired results
  • Financial decisions with both short and long range focus
  • Sound practices like "just-in-time" delivery of goods
  • Decisions that neither overcomplicate nor oversimplify
  • A balance of customer needs and team requirements
  • Labor designed to maximize productivity and job satisfaction
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A Little More Detail to Consider

These are ideas that we employ when we can. While not every campus can accomplish all of these, many are worth considering because they tend to:

  • Improve air and environmental quality
  • Have minimal environmental impact
  • Reduce waste and energy consumption

Custodial

  • Certified green chemicals that deliver a high quality result and have minimum environmental impact
  • Technologies like microfiber mops, cloths, HEPA filtered vacuums, and cleaning methods that use less water and chemicals

Recycling

  • Enhancement to existing program or development of one specifically for you
  • Reduced waste stream and costs, and positive environmental impact
  • Promotion of a "green consciousness" among students, staff, visitors and administration

Food Waste Recycling

  • Creation of compost or fertilizer supporting your landscaping
  • Potential of biofuel for use in vehicles and/or equipment

Maintenance

  • Adjustments to maximize efficiency of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and electrical systems
  • Large or small infrastructure upgrades delivering long term savings

Landscape

  • Environmentally friendly lawn care products
  • Equipment selections that support sustainability

Gardens

  • AFS will support local gardens placed on your property as a learning opportunity for students and staff.
  • Rooftop gardens have the potential to reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 25%.

New Construction

  • Assistance with material selection ensuring maintainability, lower cost of ownership, less environmental impact
  • Support for LEED certification or just a healthier and more energy efficient building
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