Laurent Auguste is president and CEO of Veolia Water Americas, part of Veolia Water, the world’s largest water services company.

Under pressure

Industries and businesses should understand that water will become one of the critical elements responsible for ensuring the reliability of their operations. Put simply, if you don’t have reliable access to water, you cannot run any business; and if you are unsure about the reliability of your access to water, then you’ve got a challenge in terms of making investment. Water will ultimately impact the decision-making processes of investors and companies as they decide where to locate their facilities.

And the challenges associated with water are growing: there’s research that says by 2030 the gap between availability and need will be about 40 percent.³ Veolia recently conducted research with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) that shows that today about 20 percent of the world’s GDP is produced in water-scarce areas. By 2050, if we go on with business as usual it will be 45 percent. This means that businesses and communities will be increasingly exposed to challenges associated with a lack of water. With smarter management of water resources, we could reduce this economic exposure to only about 30 percent.

To avoid being surprised, companies should make water part of their strategic planning and risk assessment. Some companies understand this and are already ahead of the game—starting with the food and beverage industry and companies such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and SABMiller. Obviously, water is a key ingredient of their products.

Other companies are probably behind, and they should consider what the future looks like to avoid exposure to operational or reputational risk—particularly in cases where there might be competition between a company and the local community having access to an important part of the water resource. There was a case recently in India where a large steel company wanted to establish itself in a particular location but faced challenges from farmers.⁴ It was really a trade-off between giving the steel mill access to the water resource versus having enough water for farming.

These types of challenges are likely to increase as we move toward having a larger concentration of people in cities. Today, 50 percent of the world’s population lives in large cities; we are moving toward 70 percent. The greater density in certain cities will most certainly put more pressure on water resources.

The landscape is changing, and there’s a greater need to raise awareness— because a resource that used to be considered infinite is under pressure. We need to manage that resource in a smarter way.

The municipal challenge

The main challenge with water is that there’s a lack of good management of water resources. Cities typically are in charge of water, for example, but a watershed is usually much larger than a city. So a mayor will make decisions about water management without necessarily having the big picture.

Awareness is also a very big issue. People in the developed world definitely take water for granted. In some large US cities such as Chicago, for example, most homes don’t even have meters, and many residents pay water bills based on the width and height of their buildings, so people basically don’t have to be concerned about their consumption of water and have no incentive to reduce it. And rates across the country are pretty low—often lower than what people pay for their monthly telephone bill.

Even for mayors whose cities require substantial investment in water infrastructure, it’s difficult to consider raising rates because people consider water essential, so therefore it should be basically free. But what is free has no perceived value. The challenge is to find the right balance, recognize the real value of water, and set rates accordingly. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be creative in terms of rate structures to make sure water is affordable, but first we need to find the right balance.

Another challenge with water is that it is local. And since it is local, people manage it in isolation—in silos—without necessarily understanding the level of performance that’s possible, or without seeing the good ideas developed in other parts of the world.

Part of what we do at Veolia, therefore, is to work with our industry colleagues, scientists, academics, and NGOs⁵ to share these stories and make available the data, relevant case studies, and best practices so that decision makers can better understand their situations and begin to find solutions.⁶

Water innovations

One of the nice things with water is that, unlike oil, you can reuse it a number of times. Indeed, water is too precious to use only one time. So at Veolia, we like to speak of wastewater treatment plants as bio refineries. Whether it comes from a municipal or industrial activity, we should think of wastewater as a resource for energy or for recovering raw materials. This is something I believe we’ll see more and more of in the future.

There are new technologies that allow us to produce energy from wastewater treatment, and also to separate what’s in wastewater to recover some of these resources. We are, for instance, focusing on phosphate these days. Phosphate is an essential resource for fertilizer (and therefore food), but as a global resource, phosphate is limited, concentrated in countries such as Morocco. Being able to recover phosphate from wastewater and prevent it from reaching the sea and being wasted is a good strategy. More and more, I think we’ll see companies use wastewater as a resource.

Consol Energy, for example, is a large mining company that operates in West Virginia. They’ve been under a consent decree from the US Environmental Protection Agency to have better treatment of their wastewater, and so they are putting in place a very advanced solution to do this. But they also see it as a potential business opportunity. Because they are in the shale gas area and there’s a growing need to treat the “frac” water⁷ that these mines produce, the company recognizes that sharing their facility might help them get more business in the future. By addressing one challenge, they are potentially creating a business opportunity for themselves.

Another interesting example of turning a water challenge into an opportunity is Singapore. Singapore has been buying water from outside the country, and this is something they consider a risk. So what they’ve done in response is develop a wastewater treatment plant that enables the reuse of wastewater for industrial purposes. This treated water—which they’ve branded “NEWater”—is brought to the level of “pure” water, which is necessary for production in the semiconductor and electronics industries. This is obviously very attractive to businesses because they don’t have to treat the water themselves, and it has supported the development of an industry cluster.

Finally, there’s the recent example of the cosmetics company L’Oréal, which is moving to reduce both the carbon footprint and water footprint of its facilities around the world. With Veolia’s support, they’ve begun in Suzhou, China, by reviewing processes to minimize their water consumption, increase reuse, and even turn their wastewater into energy. I believe this will be critical for L’Oréal for both their public image and also in terms of reducing their operational risk. Such moves will be increasingly important in China and other countries where challenges of water availability are a concern.

A Guide to Green Cleaners

Green cleaners are effective, cost-efficient, and come with a host of secondary benefits.

By Jennie Morton

 

Orange, lemon, thyme, and coconut. You can find these ingredients at the grocery store, but they’re also used in green cleaners.

The benefits of non-toxic cleaners abound, but the variety of product formulas can make it difficult to select the right ones. Wash away confusion with these guidelines.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Arm yourself with some basic knowledge before switching products. Don’t take terms such as natural or eco-safe at face value without third-party certification. Instead, choose cleaners with bio-based ingredients, low toxicity levels, and concentrated formulas.

“Look for products that are 95-99% naturally derived from renewable and biodegradable resources, dermatologist approved, and never tested on animals,” recommends Lynda Lurie, marking manager for Clorox Professional Products Company.

“Be sure that they offer sustainable packaging, a closed-loop dispensing system, and full ingredient transparency.”

Also stay away from formulas that have known carcinogens, don’t biodegrade, cause asthma, or are highly volatile.

Remember that one green ingredient doesn’t mean the entire product is safe. “You must look at both individual ingredients and the product as a whole,” cautions Roger McFadden, vice president of Staples. The use of citric acid alone, for example, doesn’t counter other harmful chemicals used.

Once selected, green cleaners can replace virtually all of your conventional cleaners, but examine labels to confirm they can be used in the same applications and provide the same performance as the ones you replaced.

Keep in mind that there are areas where the risk of transmission or the presence of pathogens cannot be addressed by green agents, such as a hospital operating room or a blood spill in a school. Your best defense, argues McFadden, is to take a proactive stance against such situations by reducing their likelihood.

THE PROBLEM WITH DISINFECTANTS
Viable alternatives to disinfectants are problematic. “The fundamental purpose of a disinfectant is to kill an organic compound,” explains McFadden. “That violates the very first principle of a green product – to move to a non-toxic solution.”

The EPA requires most disinfectants to be registered as pesticides. While this ensures the product’s efficacy is verified, comparative claims can’t be made within this chemical designation.

Fortunately, minimal-risk pesticides are exempt. These compounds are derived from natural materials, such as thymol, citric and lactic acid, and hydrogen peroxide.

It’s critical to follow the directions when using any sanitizer. “Many disinfectants require the surface to be cleaned before application to work properly,” says Cheryl Baldwin, vice president of Green Seal.

Case in point: hybrid cleaner-disinfectants are often misused. These dual products require the formula to be left on a surface for up to 10 minutes – a step often skipped. Not only does this render the product ineffective, but you’re wasting money by only using one of the formula’s properties.

Instead, use a two-step approach of cleaning combined with targeted disinfecting. “By adopting the mentality of ‘go green where you can, disinfect where you must,’ facility managers can feel good about using green products for cleaning and be assured that their facility is safe against superbugs and viruses,” Lurie says.

THE BIG PICTURE
It’s a misconception that green cleaners are more expensive. After accounting for dilution rates and price per pound, sustainable products often come out the same or even cheaper than conventional options.

Green chemicals also offer these secondary benefits:

• Workers are less likely to sustain an injury or develop a respiratory condition.
• “Green products are often designed to be just as effective in tap water as they are in warm water,” says McFadden, which ultimately saves energy.
• Green cleaners encourage other eco-friendly practices, such as using microfiber cloths and mops.
• You have to pay a landfill to dispose of old cleaning chemicals, but green cleaners are often biodegradable and sewer-friendly.
• You can improve IAQ with sustainable cleaners.

“Using naturally derived products may seem like a small step,” says Lurie, “but businesses can receive measurable financial gains due to improved employee productivity and retention, as well as lower operating costs and obtain certain government incentives.”

 

Jennie Morton (jennie.morton@buildings.com) is associate editor of BUILDINGS.

 

It can be quite difficult to know which are the best vacuums when shopping because of the multitude of vacuum cleaners available in the market today. In order to handle this problem, it is helpful to do some research first and identify those features that you desire. As there are various types of vacuum cleaners, the first step is to identify which type of vacuum you want. Continue to read to discover more about the various categories of vacuums, what features they offer and how to determine the best vacuums that would be ideal for your home.

The most popular type are the upright vacuums. These vacuums are made by many different manufacturers and offer lots of features. For example, some have HEPA filters to trap allergens. Some are made especially for homes with pets. There are uprights that require vacuum bags and those that are bagless. The bagless upright traps the dirt in a container that is removed and emptied. Many people like the bagless vacuum because they don’t have to deal with the expense and hassle of replacing vacuum bags. When shopping for the best bagless vacuum cleaner, look for features you want such as superior pet hair removal or allergen filtration. You might want an upright vacuum that is suitable for both carpet and hard flooring.

Another type of vacuums are the canister vacuums. They are more difficult to navigate because they are bulkier. However, they offer better suction power on average. According to Consumer Reports, they are good at removing pet hair from furniture and upholstery. This type of vacuum has a canister with an attached wand and cleaning head. Canister vacuum cleaners are also better than uprights for vacuuming stairs, drapes and furniture. When selecting a canister vacuum look for a name brand manufacturer and compare features and prices of your top picks.

Besides those described above, there are other categories of vacuum cleaners, such as stick and handheld vacuums. Regardless of what type you need, you can learn about the best vacuum cleaners by looking for reviews from trusted places like Consumer Reports and Good Housekeeping. There are also consumer review sites where you can read what other shoppers thought of a particular vacuum. Epinions is a consumer review site. Amazon is a shopping site, but it features consumer reviews. Once you have noted the features you require and done some browsing, you can make a short list of the best vacuums and choose the one that best suits your criteria and your budget.

Often, we forget that carpeting is a textile, just like our upholstery, linens and clothing. When we pay $50 for jeans, we are not upset when the seat and knees become threadbare. Why, on the other hand, do we feel that carpet should last a lifetime? After all, it is a fabric, similar to other products made from textiles.

The main reason a carpet shows signs of premature wear is because of improper maintenance. If major traffic lanes were vacuumed more frequently and spots and spills were cleaned properly, carpeting would look better and last longer.

Traffic lanes and patterns are usually caused by the following factors: Traffic lane gray, soiling, matting and wear. We will review each problem, how it is caused and what can be done to prevent it.

Traffic Lane Gray

Carpets are known to eventually show signs of wear. This wear creates an illusion of soiling, which often causes frustration and misunderstanding between homeowners and carpet care experts. Even though a carpet has been cleaned, it doesn’t mean that it will look the same as the rest of the carpet. Wear often causes what is known as traffic lane gray, a condition that has been nicknamed “ugly out.”

There is not a lot that a carpet care expert can do with “ugly out.” If a 10-year-old carpet is cleaned, you have a clean 10-year-old carpet. Just as a clean pair of old jeans will show wear and discoloration around the knees, a clean old carpet will show signs of wear in the traffic lanes.

Soiling

The main cause of traffic lane soiling is tracking in soil, dust, airborne pollutants, and food and beverages spilled on the carpet.

Soil damages a carpet as well as making it look dirty. The main problem caused by soil is called fiber abrasion. Fiber abrasion is created by dirt particles scratching and scraping the fiber surface. Scratches and scrapes block light reflection causing these areas to look even dirtier and gray. The easiest way to prevent soil from damaging the fiber is to vacuum regularly.

Matting

There comes a point when carpet fibers no longer return to their original shape. As fibers lose their shape, they begin to look twisted, frayed or distorted, causing the carpet to look dirtier and gray. The easiest way to avoid matting is to vacuum and rake the carpet often. Rearranging furniture also helps to prevent traffic lanes and patterns.

Wear

Wear is a combination of several things. Soil, heavy traffic, loss of fibers, improper vacuuming, improper cleaning and time… all contribute to a worn carpet.

Regular Maintenance

The best way to prevent excessive wear is to properly maintain your carpet. Vacuum every day if possible. Vacuuming removes loose soil before it becomes embedded in the fiber. Removal of abrasive soils from the carpet helps extend its life.

Do not use any products on your carpet unless advised by us. We offer the HOST Carpet Spot Removal Kit which can remove most common spots and spills without causing carpet damage or rapid re-soiling.

Call us to have your carpets cleaned at least once a year. The removal of embedded dry dirt, greasy soil and spots and spills refreshes the appearance of your carpet while ridding the fibers of abrasive materials.

Heavenly Housekeeping, Inc.

352/351-2169 or 800/658-0405

 www.heavenlyhousekeeping.com

Minimize disruption and health concerns when replacing your carpet

By Janelle Penny

No matter how kind your occupants are to the carpet, eventually you’ll face the arduous task of replacing it at minimal expense, time investment, disruption, and health effects. Follow these four tips to put the new carpet down as smoothly as possible.

1) GET OUT THE ELBOW GREASE
Take a proactive stance toward potential health concerns and thoroughly vacuum the flooring you plan to replace. This will root out dirt, dust, and biological debris that would otherwise go flying once the flooring installer starts to tear up the carpet.

“When you’re removing carpet, nobody’s thinking of cleaning it,” says Jeff Bishop, administrator of Clean Care Seminars, Inc. “Maintenance stops and you get a buildup of pollutants that tend to be aerosolized in the removal process.”

A high-efficiency filtered vacuum cleaner will minimize the health complaints triggered by airborne pollutants, Bishop adds. One recent investigation in Tampa, FL, involved students who frequently developed respiratory problems by mid-week, recovered over the weekend, and became sick again the following week.

“We traced it to vacuum cleaners that were part of a 17% cut of the maintenance budget,” Bishop explains. “They quit using the high-performance filter bags and started using cloth bags. It flung all of these things into the air that were doing no harm in the carpet, but students were getting sick.”

If the old carpet is especially dirty or has been contaminated with mold or animal urine, take extra steps to protect occupants’ health by rolling the old carpet in plastic as it’s removed. Afterward, vacuum the subfloor before you install the new carpet.

2) MAKE A GAME PLAN
Once the old carpet is clean, coordinate with your contractor, flooring installer, and other key players. Plan around occupants’ schedules to minimize the number of people you’ll displace, and choose the quickest, most painless way to remove partitions and other items.

Look into sending the old carpet to a recycling center instead of a landfill. Many flooring manufacturers will take the carpet back when you’re finished with it and turn it into new products.

“It can be turned into new carpet or used for other purposes, like automobile parts, park benches, toys, or parking lot stops,” explains Lew Migliore, president of LGM and Associates Technical Flooring Services. “There is value to it – it’s not something that you just take out and throw away.”

3) PULL IT UP AND PUT IT DOWN
Check the substrate after the old carpet is removed. Is it capable of supporting the new flooring material? What type of adhesive was used to install the previous carpet? Depending on the age of the building, removing the old adhesive may be costlier and more time-consuming than you first anticipated.

“You have to determine what the old adhesive was, particularly if you’re taking out old vinyl tiles. A lot of them could be vinyl asbestos,” Migliore says. “If they are going to come up, there’s a potential for you to be dragged into an abatement process, which can be very costly.”

You may find cutback, a black asphaltic adhesive, beneath vinyl tiles or left over from a previous installation. Bring in a firm familiar with asbestos and cutback removal, Migliore says. Not only is abatement a possibility, but leftover cutback remnants can react with the backings of carpet tiles.

“If you’ve got multipurpose adhesive, typically all you have to do is scrape that off the floor, make it level, and install the new carpet,” Migliore explains. “Cutback is a game-changer.”

When the adhesive is gone and the concrete is exposed, check for moisture in the concrete – it can seriously jeopardize an installation. The backings of floor coverings can trap moisture, which triggers chemical changes with the adhesives and deals a serious blow to the carpet’s functionality and aesthetic appeal.

4) KEEP UP APPEARANCES
Once the new carpet is installed, don’t walk away from upkeep. Without adequate maintenance, the carpet will rapidly lose its appeal.

“You have to have a maintenance program established prior to the product actually being used,” Migliore explains. “You don’t want to put something down and then all of a sudden say ‘You know what? This thing is getting very dirty.’ You want to keep it looking good from day one.”

Vacuum the low- and moderate-traffic areas at least once a day, and pay special attention to high-traffic areas such as entrances and lobbies, which may need several passes with a vacuum every day.

“If maintenance personnel would spend more time on 1 to 2% of the floor space, they could prevent particles from outside being tracked in and further ingressing throughout the building,” Bishop explains. “If you don’t have a planned program of maintenance and regular cleaning, you’re defeating the purpose of the floor covering.”

 

Janelle Penny (janelle.penny@buildings.com) is associate editor of BUILDINGS.

Before

A residential carpet in pretty rough shape.