Demands for high results and quick turnarounds can often turn facilities managers away from sustainable machines for fear that they cannot provide the expected results. These doubts need to be cast aside due to the growing technological advancements of sustainable machines. Updates to the hardware on machines has allowed them to optimise energy output to maintain the power needed for a quality finish, whilst simultaneously reducing noise levels for daytime cleaning.
As facilities managers look to meet their cleaning goals, understanding the right equipment to look for and adopting subtle but effective cleaning practices will reduce the overall carbon impact of the cleaning industry.
Selecting the right equipment for the job
Taking advantage of new added benefits, such as reduced energy and water consumption, is one way that cleaning managers can get closer to their sustainability targets. With more choice than ever before, it’s important to focus on the added technology that machines offer. Features such as eco!efficiency from Kärcher help facilities managers to deliver high quality results whilst reducing their overall environmental impact.
eco!efficiency has been carefully designed to deliver where it matters most. The machines feature brushless motors and noise absorption features to greatly reduce the noise pollution of the machines. This allows them to be used in a wider range of applications, particularly during daytime cleaning which is increasingly being expected by facilities users who want to see cleaning in action.
Scrubber dryers such as the B 110 R Bp DOSE come with an eco!efficiency mode as standard to help reduce the amount of water that’s used during the cleaning programme. As the machine moves over the cleaning surface, the water dosing technology works to control water usage by adjusting to the speed of the machine. When moving slowly, the water output is reduced to allow for more effective cleaning. Likewise, when the machine is cornering, it helps to reduce the amount of water flow to eliminate standing water and facilitate quicker drying times.
Whilst focusing on day-to-day functions is key when selecting a machine, understanding manufacturers’ after-life process is crucial to ensure that the overall impact of the equipment is kept to a minimum. With this in mind, Kärcher collects and assesses equipment that reaches the end of its contract lifecycle. During this process, its team of experts will look to restore the machine so it can be purchased as a pre-loved machine by another business. If the machine is beyond economical repair, the machine will be stripped down to its materials and recycled as part of the Biffa Transform WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) scheme.
Looking for manufacturers who offer added benefits that help to reduce environmental impact daily, as well at the end of the product’s lifecycle, is key for reaching long-term sustainability goals. Whilst day-to-day functionality will be the most important factor when selecting a machine, understanding what will happen to the machine at the end of its lifespan will help owners make a full environmental impact assessment as part of their sustainability targets.
www.tomorrowscleaning.com "Savings can be
achieved by moving from classical to top
stripping with orbital scrubbing.”
Making the change to machines such as a compact or walk behind scrubber dryer can greatly reduce these figures. When cleaning the same amount of space over the same time, using the BR 35/12 C Bp walk behind scrubber dryer from Kärcher would use just 43L of water and as little as 0.15L of detergent. This results in an overall 88% reduction in water usage, 86% reduction in detergent usage, and an overall cost saving of 40%.
Similar savings can be achieved by moving from classical stripping to top stripping with orbital scrubbing. By switching to top stripping with an orbital scrubber, users reduce their chemical usage by 100%, labour costs by 53%, and overall total cost by 61%.
These changes help facilities managers reduce their costs whilst driving overall productivity, helping them to meet their goals in a more efficient and effective manner.
In summary
Focusing on the efforts of manufacturers is crucial for facilities managers who are looking for ways to meet their overall cleaning targets. Understanding the value that moving to sustainable machines will deliver for them, as they look to provide productive high quality cleans for their customers, will in turn help to drive a more sustainable outlook for the industry. Factoring in elements such as after-life recycling, maintenance packages, and built-in technology, creates a positive environmental outlook for all.
www.karcher.co.uk FEATURE | 23
Adapting daily cleaning practices
Small, incremental changes made to the way that cleaners approach everyday cleaning tasks can go a long way to reducing water and detergent usage, thus ensuring a more sustainable clean. These changes are also a lot more digestible, rather than rewriting the playbook.
When it comes to cleaning spillages, traditional mop and bucket cleaning continues to dominate as an easy and efficient way of removing the unwanted dirt. However, mop and bucket cleaning uses a vast amount of water and detergent. On average if someone were to clean 200m2
per
day for over two years using a mop and bucket, they would use a staggering 360L of water and over 1.1L of detergent.
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