Corporate events are a great way to enhance employee morale, create connections, and strengthen teams. A number of construction companies have events to showcase the importance of using new technology to construct buildings more efficiently.

These events serve as crucial platforms for professionals to exchange innovative ideas, showcase eco-friendly technologies, and discuss the latest trends in sustainable construction. Attendees, including architects, builders, engineers, and policymakers, are increasingly focused on strategies that prioritize energy efficiency, waste reduction, and the use of renewable materials. The integration of sustainable design principles not only mitigates the environmental impact of construction projects but also fosters economic resilience, healthier built environments, and a brighter future for generations to come. As the construction industry evolves, sustainability remains at the forefront of these events, driving positive change and inspiring a greener, more sustainable built environment.

However, they can also negatively affect the environment because they create waste and carbon emissions. This is counterproductive for eco-friendly construction companies that want to do their part to help the planet. By hosting a sustainable corporate event, you can lower your environmental impact and create a more meaningful experience for employees.

Read on to learn how to incorporate sustainability at your next business event. You may be surprised by how effective these tips are for lowering your carbon footprint.

Book an eco-friendly venue

This is one of the best ways to make your event more sustainable. Some venues may even have energy-efficient appliances and/or lighting as well as water-saving features such as low-flow toilets or recycled water. Additionally, hosting a meeting in an ecolodge, dude ranch, convention center, or self-sufficient hotel provides employees with a memorable experience and a nice change of scenery. 

Offer sustainable transportation

If the venue is not within walking distance of employee accommodation, consider offering sustainable transportation options. These may include shuttle services and public transportation. You can even offer staff members an incentive for carpooling. Because air travel also contributes to high carbon emissions, think about hosting an online event.

Reduce food waste

Did you know that at public events, every participant creates about 2.5 pounds of waste? That’s a significant amount of food that goes uneaten and thrown away. To reduce food waste at your next corporate event, consider providing employees with no-waste catering. You can even source fair-trade food such as coffee and seafood. Moreover, you can opt for plated meals instead of buffet style to reduce food waste.

These sustainable food and beverage options typically include locally sourced and organic food, compostable serving ware, and plant-based options. Not only will you be doing your part for the environment, but also you’ll be supporting local businesses in the community.

Give ecofriendly gifts

Make your corporate event even more special by providing attendees with an environmentally friendly gift. These may include recycled plastic water bottles and digital gift cards, for example. An alternative option is to forgo the fun swag and donate to environmental causes or animal conservation.    

Hosting a sustainable corporate event lets you spread the message about climate awareness and introduce new sustainable contracting events. It can even help your company gain publicity and brand awareness. For more ways on how you can incorporate sustainability at your next business event, see the accompanying resource.

Infographic created by FIRST

The post How Contracting Events Can Incorporate Sustainability appeared first on Green Building Insider.

In 2019, the global contract cleaning services market value was USD$292.6 billion and is expected to expand at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of approximately 6.1% between 2020 and 2027. (1)(2)

With this forecasted increase in market value, you’re somewhat assured that if you do business in this arena, you have a good chance of thriving. Whether you intend to clean toilets, office floors, yards, or carpets, your business can be a profitable and successful one. 

Knowing where to position yourself in the market is incredibly important. An increasing number of consumers are rightly demanding greener suppliers, including from their commercial cleaning contracts. Consider carefully before you start whether or not to offer green cleaning services. 

Once you are confident this is the right path for your start-up, here’s how to get started:

1. Buy cleaning equipment, supplies, and other tools

First and foremost, it’s critical to know the equipment, supplies, and tools you’ll need for your commercial cleaning business. Here’s a list of some of the must-haves to consider when you plan and budget at the very beginning:

• Cleaning equipment: You’ll need equipment like commercial buckets, dusting tools, floor washers, commercial brooms, floor waxing machines, carpet cleaning machines, pressure washers, and high-performance commercial vacuums.
• Essential cleaning products: Go for cleaning products that don’t have harsh chemicals that can harm the environment. One way to ascertain their eco-friendliness is to check whether they’re certified by mainstream institutions, such as Greenguard or Ecologo. 

Some of the things you’re likely to purchase include hand soaps, disinfectants, general purpose detergents, bleaching chemicals, specialty cleaners, and trash bags. Consider eco-friendly carpet cleaning techniques if/where applicable.

• Marketing and office supplies: For your brand to stand out, you may also need to design a professional-looking uniform with your company’s name and logo. Also, make sure to budget for other office supplies and equipment. You are likely to need access to a computer and business phone. 
• Commercial cleaning business software: If you intend to have a team of workers, no-matter how small, it’s critical to get a reputable cleaning business app like the specialist one developed by Jobber. This will help you effectively coordinate and schedule jobs, and assist you in delivering a professional and consistently high level of service.

2. Register your business with the government

First, you need to follow the legal steps required in your particular jurisdiction. Most states and countries require you to register your business with the government. The registration requirements vary depending on the structure of business you choose. 

Your commercial cleaning business can fall under any of the following structures:

• Limited Liability Companies: You’d want to operate your commercial cleaning businesses as a company if you want your personal assets to be separate from the business assets. Note that a limited company may comprise several directors, shareholders, and employees.
• Sole proprietorships: This is the type of business where you own and operate the business yourself. But the business assets and your assets aren’t separate. So, in case of any financial risk or bankruptcy, your assets are at risk of getting auctioned. The primary advantage of this structure is that you always remain in control of your business.
• Partnerships: You can team up with a friend or two and co-own the green cleaning business. This way, you reap the benefits of putting together several minds to work towards a given cause.
• Corporations: Corporations offer the most protection to business owners, but they might be a bit costly to start. However, remember, you’ll still have to pay income tax on top of the business taxes you pay each year to the government.

Once you’ve decided on the business structure you want to adopt, you need to invest time in developing a unique and memorable business name. Once you’ve done this, you then register your business and get a business license. You’ll also need to register with your country’s tax authorities to ensure compliance with the tax regulations. (3)

3. Get insurance for your business

You need to protect your business and its assets by getting an insurance cover. A commercial cleaning business workers’ compensation insurance cover can help protect you in case your team members sustain injuries in the course of duty.

Also, if you damage your client’s property as you clean it, liability insurance should help bail you out. Thirdly, you can take equipment insurance to cover your expensive assets against theft.  

4. Craft a suitable payment model

The next thing is deciding how your clients should pay you for your services. Carrying out proper market research may help you understand your customers’ preferences and the average market prices of common cleaning services. Apps like the aforementioned one from Jobber make it super easy for clients to pay you by linking directly to the preferred payment method from the invoice.

When considering how to price your services, here are some models to help you decide:

• Hourly: This is a good payment option, but note that some clients may expect you to work extra-hard without enough rest to justify the number of hours you spend on their job.
• Weekly or monthly:This is a good option if you have a long-term contract with the client.
• Flat project rate:Choosing a flat rate for any given project allows you to work at your pace without undue pressure. But make a point of knowing all the job details before proposing the charges so you don’t underquote for a heavy workload.
• By square footage:This is what many commercial cleaning companies use, wherein you charge a fixed amount for every square foot you work on.

5. Create a sales and marketing plan

To get started on your green commercial cleaning journey, you first need to have an idea of what type of services you want to offer and how much you will charge for them. Once this is established, the next step is to create a professional-looking logo for your new business. A logo generator app can help you quickly create a unique design that captures the spirit of your business and stands out from other potential competitors. This helpful tool allows users to customize their logos by adding text and images or choosing from various templates. With this app, creating a memorable branding identity is fast and easy!

Without customers, there’s no business. So, you must devise ways to attract clients. Fortunately, you can easily get them by creating a solid sales and marketing plan. 

Since you’ve already conducted your market research and proved the feasibility of your business idea, all that remains is to attract customers to hire your services, despite the likelihood of there being several other cleaning companies in your locality.

A comprehensive marketing plan captures the current market situation, its size, competitors, your potential target customers, threats and opportunities, marketing objectives, the goals of your business, and more. (4)

Additionally, you need to settle on an effective advertising strategy. One of the best approaches is to identify where your customers generally hang out, and go there to hang out with them. If most of your target customers use a particular social media platform, it’s only logical for you to create an account there and advertise your services.

Conclusion

The green commercial cleaning business is currently on an upward trend globally. If you start this business, you’re assured of making high returns as long as you plan well and remain diligent. 

Some of the primary things you must do when starting a cleaning business include registering your business, getting insurance, buying cleaning products, setting the rates, and creating sales and marketing strategies. All in all, know that it’s a feasible business idea that prove profitable year after year with the right management, systems and processes in place.

References

1. “Contract Cleaning Services Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Service Type (Window Cleaning, Floor & Carpet Cleaning, Upholstery Cleaning, Construction Cleaning), By End-use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 – 2027,” https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/contract-cleaning-services-market#:~:text=The%20global%20contract%20cleaning%20services%20market%20size%20was,rate%20%28CAGR%29%20of%206.1%25%20from%202020%20to%202027.
2. “Cleaning Services Market by Service Type(Commercial) Window Cleaning, Vacuuming, Floor Care, (Residential)Maid Services, Carpet & Upholstery- Global Opportunities Analysis and Industry Forecasts, 2014-2022,” https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/cleaning-services-market
3. “Legal Essentials For Business,” https://business.gov.au/Planning/New-businesses/Legal-essentials-for-business
4. “The Ingredients Of A Marketing Plan,” https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/43026

The post How To Start A Green Commercial Cleaning Business? appeared first on Green Building Insider.

The dangers of fossil fuels have been espoused in numerous resource articles. Governments the world over are looking at ways and means to incentivize individuals and businesses that are looking to make the transition. In this regard, mainstream adoption of solar energy has been highly prioritized. 

In this resource article, we look at seven reasons why commercial offices should take the plunge and invest in solar energy. If you are a business owner that wants to cut down your operating costs and energy bills, you should pay attention to this article and follow our advice. 

List of the Top 7 Reasons Commercial Offices should go for Solar Energy

There are a lot of things eco-friendly contractors and businesses are doing to be environmentally friendly. One of the biggest things they have done is invest in solar. Here are seven of the top benefits of solar energy in the commercial sector.

1. Much more affordable than traditional sources of energy- 

Every business is facing the challenge of rising energy costs. In most countries of the world, energy bills are rising as companies look to make the most out of the growing energy requirements. In this regard, shifting to solar energy can be a great way of cutting down your energy costs. 

While you might face a one-time investment of installing solar panels, getting a storage system, and other infrastructure, in the long run, these charges will be far less than what you are paying every month on thermal energy. 

2. Storing energy and using it according to your needs- 

One of the top attractions for commercial offices is the fact that by using solar energy, you can save it for later use. All you need to do is use a credible company that can help you with efficient energy storage systems in Singapore. 

You need to understand that you are generating the energy and not simply using it. It is just like what a power company does. If you have storage facilities for your energy, you can use them anytime you want. This means that there is a certain sense of freedom that you will get with solar energy. 

3. Promoting environmental sustainability and demonstrating responsibility- 

There is no doubt that customer buying preferences have changed in recent years. This has been brought upon by the news and information on Global Warming and Climate Change. People want to buy from businesses that promote sustainability and are environmentally responsible. 

As a business, you would have heard about glaciers melting, unnatural forest fires, and more. All this is happening because we are exploiting our natural resources and using them in an abusive fashion. Shifting to renewables will help improve the environment and slow the progression of global warming. 

4. Low maintenance and expenditure on servicing and upkeep- 

Contrary to popular belief, maintaining and storing solar energy is not an expensive proposition. Systems and appliances react better to this form of energy than thermal sources. Solar energy solutions require far less expensive in terms of service. 

A solar panel will easily last you more than a decade. The same goes for energy storage solutions. The best part is that these technologies do not get damaged or spoiled within a short time frame. This means you will not have to pay additionally to get them fixed. 

5. Improves the overall valuation of your commercial property- 

Whether you run a commercial facility like an office or you are a factory owner, you would want your assets to appreciate. If you have a solar setup installed, you can rest assured that the valuation of your property will increase. This will improve the appreciation value. 

Real estate companies and agents have gone on record to say that properties that have solar energy solutions command a higher premium in the market. If in the future, you would want to move to a newer location, you will be able to sell your existing property for a higher market value. 

6. Government benefits like lower taxes and other incentives- 

Look around you. Almost all governments are providing incentives for EVs. The same goes for commercial buildings and their tax structures. This is another area of financial benefit you stand to make if you opt for solar energy solutions. 

Even things like the initial company registration, set-up charges, and license costs will get reduced if you state that your premises will be running on solar energy. You will be eligible to gain from tax breaks, write-offs, and many other concessions. 

7. Encourage employees to feel positive about their organization- 

Several studies have shown that employees feel more strongly about their companies if it is attached to a good social cause. By going the solar route, you will be able to motivate and encourage your employees to side with something that the world is taking seriously. 

When you are opting for solar energy, you will also be benefitting local suppliers and contributing to the development of the economy. This is something that can become the social watchword about your business, which can be marketed on search engines and social media.

The Bottom Line

Engaging with renewables can also help you explore a new form of technology. There is no doubt that in the coming years, this is going to become very big. If you start now and explore this avenue, you might be able to see an opportunity in the industry. 

Every business wants to use the latest software tools, and use the best and most advanced technologies. In this regard, solar energy is the best avenue for you to explore a form of an energy solution that is going to become the norm in the next coming years. 

If you have any other questions, you would like us to answer on solar energy installations, drop your answers in the comments below. We would be more than happy to address all your concerns and queries. 

The post Top 7 Reasons Commercial Offices Should Go For Solar Energy appeared first on Green Building Insider.

The cost of obtaining customers has never been higher now that so many companies are competing for their interests. Rivals are all vying for the same clients, and it’s up to you to find your space in the race. Do you spend more on advertising? Maybe you pump a little more cash into research and development. You can always opt for a shiny new building that portrays financial success. So, what’s the answer? All of them! And it’s not even as difficult as you might think.

With more than half of small businesses in the United States expecting growth this year, it’s no wonder that the market is saturated by the voices of your competition. Much of that influx of revenue will be spent speaking to the customers that businesses rely on. Customers want quality, and you have to find a way to let them know that you deliver it. Almost half of small business feel confident about managing their finances, but where things get tricky is marketing. Only 30 percent of businesses are confident about their tactics in this area. You know what that means for you? Opportunity.

Looks Matter

No matter what business you’re in, you want to convey an aura of success. Like it or not, most customers look at physical queues to determine what a company can provide. For those in construction, landscaping or design industries, this is great news. And for those in ecommerce, software development or another white-collar occupation, this is also…good news?

Yes, it is! Your building says something about you! It’s a different dynamic to marketing. It’s simple: A beautiful structure and grounds is attractive to customers. It looks like success. It looks trustworthy. And all that means it’s worth it to invest in your company’s infrastructure. Here are the best ways to start.

Look the Part

The hard costs of construction can be back-breaking for a small business. If your company can afford to generate something entirely new, then great — you’re already ahead of the game.

Unfortunately, most businesses can’t. That’s why they need to make up the difference with an exterior aesthetic appeal. Customers see the outside of your building, and it is an indicator of how you run your business. If you want to be successful, you have to look successful. And nothing looks as successful as a lush, green lawn.

Commercial lawn care is a booming business for one reason: It’s worth it! The better your grounds look, the more appealing your company looks. An awesome patch of green space looks great for any business. It shows you’re environmentally conscious and that you’re organized, neat and detail-oriented. There’s not one industry in the world that doesn’t want their customers to think they don’t have those qualities. And the best part is that you won’t even have to pay through the nose to get great lawn care for your company.

Talk the Talk

If you’re going to look the look, you might as well have the signage to back it up. People need to know what your business is, and there’s no better way to do this than with a bright, attractive sign that everyone can see. Maybe it doesn’t need to be neon lettering, but having a beautiful structure that piques potential customer’s interest is worth an investment.

Walk the Walk

Great groundskeeping goes further than just having a lush lawn. It’s also about placing eye-catching structures on your property. Hardscaping can add a lot of value to your business. Retaining walls, walkways and stone features add to the appealing aesthetic that locals will be sure to notice. Improving your grounds is a sure-fire way to increase your company exposure, and there’s no better place to start than with these great tips!

The post Building Your Businesses’ Public Profile, the “Green” Way appeared first on Green Building Insider.

These five firms represent some of the most celebrated and awarded firms in the U.S. Each firm is making a global impact on architecture and green building design and represents the leading edge of design and engineering in architecture. Their recognition by the American Institute of Architects and Architect Magazine stems from their innovative approaches to green building design and their contributions to the field at large.

Today’s architectural community is more committed than ever to green building design, and these firm’s tireless commitment to the USGBC’s LEED Green Building standards is becoming the standard for the industry – over 2.2 million square feet is LEED-certified every day. As leaders in their respective areas of focus, each of these firms drives the next generation of built infrastructure across the Uni.

1. HOK

HOK is the largest architecture-engineering firm in the United States and winner of countless design, engineering, and architecture awards across the globe. In 2017, HOK ranked as the number one architecture-engineering firm in Architectural Record’s Top 300 and number one in Engineering News-Record’s Top 500.

HOK’s most famous green building projects include New York’s LaGuardia Airport Central Terminal B, the LG Science Park complex, and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium—North America’s first LEED-Platinum sports arena. HOK stands out as a top architectural firm for their leadership in architectural research, which guides their innovative approaches to green building design. HOK embeds current and future trends in business and workplace efficiency, organizational theory, and sustainability into every project. HOK is pioneering collaborative office designs that promote innovation and growth.

2. Lake|Flato

Lake|Flato is a national leader in eco-conservation projects. It’s the recipient of over 270 distinguished design awards, including the American Institute of Architects Architecture Firm Award and ten Top Ten Green Project Awards from the AIA Committee on the Environment.

Lake|Flato’s design ethos hinges on sustainable building designs that work in tandem with the natural world. The firm specializes in buildings that harmonize with their natural environments, like the Naples Botanical Garden Visitor Center and the Dixon Water Foundation Josey Pavilion, winner of the AIA Committee on the Environment’s Top Ten Project Award.

3. Miller Hull

The Miller Hull partnership has won an AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE) Top Ten award every two to three years since 1998, making them one of the most consistently recognized firms in the U.S. Their roots go back even further; cofounders Robert Hull and David Miller began designing solar buildings in the 1980s.

Miller Hull’s iconic Pike Place Market project in downtown Seattle, one of the firm’s most recent award-winning designs, turned a parking lot into a vibrant cultural hotspot, a revitalization of a lost urban space. Their commitments to social improvement through innovative architecture is no better emblemized than in their Gohar Khatoon Girls’ School project in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan. Their sustainable design helps the school operate on little to no heating fuel or electricity, providing an invaluable contribution to the inclusion of women and girls in Afghan society.

4. BNIM

BNIM is a leader in workplace building design, focusing on human performance as a metric of building success. Their projects have garnered numerous awards, including two Architect’s Newspaper 2017 Best of Design awards for their Princeton University Lewis Center for the Arts building and their 10^th and Wyandotte Parking Garage project.

BNIM is also a national leader in green building design. It helped the U.S. Green Building Council further develop the LEED Rating System, the standard for green architecture throughout the US. BNIM’s people-first designs prioritize natural light, aesthetics, energy efficiency, and human performance; the firm regularly features improvements in work-related tasks as testaments to their designs.

5. LMS Architecture

LMSA, a unique firm that blends education with practice, is last year’s National AIA Architecture Firm Award winner. Their diverse portfolio includes everything from adaptive reuse of historic buildings to affordable housing projects that blend social equity, historic preservation, and cutting-edge sustainable design. The firm has been recognized with over 140 design awards.

LMSA makes significant contributions to the field of architecture by teaching the next generation of thought leaders and innovators. This small firm utilizes an open office environment often reflected in their workplace designs. Their most celebrated buildings, like lead architect William Leddy’s LEED Platinum Nueva School at Bay Meadows, emphasize their unique approach to uplifting public and private spaces.

What Common Threads Make These Firms Exceptional?

Many firms in the U.S. regularly achieve LEED Platinum certifications on building designs, but the firms that design transformative, award-winning spaces for public and private use go beyond building specifications, tapping at the emotional elements of workspaces, schools, and public buildings.

Human-Focused Performance Metrics

These top firms universally share a commitment to spaces that improve or enhance the lives of their occupants. From BNIM’s human performance benchmarks in building design to HOK’s collaborative office spaces, these firms recognize that an office space should support its workforce with the technology, tools and environments that maximize productivity. Spaces that inspire and nurture occupants have the capacity to dramatically change the landscape of their neighborhoods.

Better Work Environments

These firms also share a collaborative approach to organization within their own businesses. LMSA’s educational focus and Miller Hull’s incorporation of regular staff retreats speak to a more holistic, human-centric work environment, a trend that repeats in the leading businesses and companies it designs buildings for. If there’s a lesson to be learned from these architectural firms, it’s that office buildings should focus on the aspects of design that nurture and inspire creativity and collaboration.

Evaluation and Internal Review

At these top firms, projects never end when the ribbons are cut. These firms understand the importance of iterative design processes, where evaluation plays a key role in building off successful projects. BNIM conducts regular performance reviews of buildings before and after construction to gauge the impacts of their designs, and Lake|Flato’s Post-Occupancy Evaluations allow for continuous improvement to designs.

Hands-On Management

Each of these firms showcases a more thoughtful approach to management practices where leaders within each company work alongside other staff to see a project through to completion. The active and involved managers at these firms break down hierarchies and play a central role in each firm’s design process. Miller Hull’s founders have played a central role in the firm’s design process for over 40 years, and Lake|Flato’s managers work with every stakeholder and project team member to ensure the vision of their clients is fully met.

The benefits of thoughtful, human-centric working environments speak for themselves. These practices help these firms consistently rank at the top of their field, decade after decade. It should come as no surprise that these working environments influence the designs of so many top architecture firms. These five show that sustainable building design can transcend physical performance metrics, encompassing the human implications of the built environment.

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