WASHROOM Green to Be Clean
Be an eco-warrior, improve the user experience and save money all at once? Dr. Peter Barratt, Technical Manager at Initial Washroom Hygiene, offers his advice on creating washrooms that residents, visitors and the planet will love.
It is the responsibility of care home managers to ensure their washroom facilities are kept to the highest standard of comfort and cleanliness for residents and visitors. Healthcare watchdogs ensure that care homes adhere to strict regulations around hygiene to ensure that the spread of germs is kept to an absolute minimum.
Maintaining these high standards should be a priority for attracting new residents and protecting the welfare of current patients, but enhancing the appearance of your washroom can come at a price. Added to spiralling water and energy costs, this can put further strain on already tight budgets.
Nevertheless, the benefits of an eco-friendly washroom should not be overlooked by organisations, especially when one considers the long-term savings that the installation of green technology can bring. Furthermore, investing in a greener washroom and highlighting the benefits to those who use it can enhance the user experience.
Saving Energy Energy bills can quickly spiral out of control if not managed carefully, but simple changes in the washroom can help keep bills in check. For example, using an energy-efficient hand dryer in the washroom (when appropriate) can deliver energy savings as well as making your business more eco-friendly.
This may be brought about by either reducing the number of paper towels being used and disposed of, or by replacing old, energy-intensive dryers with low-energy modern equivalents.
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There are a number of different solutions available to care homes when it comes to hand dryers, and washroom managers should seek advice from suppliers to compare those available on the market.
“The benefits of an eco-friendly washroom should not be overlooked by organisations, especially when one considers the long- term savings that green technology can bring.”
Many other simple and cost- effective improvements, such as installing energy and water efficient technologies, can help to achieve considerable cost savings for the premises as well as demonstrating to residents and employees that the home cares about the environment.
Saving Water There are also a number of ways in which organisations can actively save on the amount of water being used, with specific devices for urinals and WCs both available. Relatively uncontrolled urinal flushing in male washrooms remains one of the principal causes of wasted water, while some urinals have little or no water flushing capabilities, which can result in unpleasant odours.
Traditional urinal cleaning systems can waste water by automatically flushing the urinal periodically,
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even when it isn’t being used. By introducing a carefully timed water management device a business can reduce urinal flushing to between four and eight times a day.
An example of an environmentally friendly system is the Eco-Clear Urinal Hygiene Solution, which can dramatically reduce water use, without increasing smells or blockages. It has a patented sleeve that creates an odour lock and contains friendly bacteria that keep odour-forming germs at bay. This system also has a built-in cleaning programme which uses a gentle biological cleaning fluid around the urinal bowl removing the requirement for the daily use of harmful chemicals. By reducing washroom smells and scale build up, the washroom environment can be dramatically improved.
While the use of green technologies in the washroom can save money and energy, it should also have a positive effect on the washroom experience of visitors. Ensure that you double check the specifications of any equipment that you wish to install, as these can often be supported with technology to enhance the reduction of bacteria; for example, antibacterial surfaces. These technologies will help avoid spreading harmful microorganisms among the residents via cross contamination.
If in any doubt about your options, it’s best to seek advice from the hygiene experts, who are trained in the latest technology and legislation to give you peace of mind in your washroom.
www.initial.co.uk
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