Green Cleaning's Growing Role in Healthier Buildings

By Jake Meister, Managing Editor 

Keith Schneringer, Senior Director of Marketing and Sustainability for ImperialBrady, discusses how green cleaning supports green facility certifications and healthier indoor environments. He explains that programs such as LEED, WELL, UL Verified, and Healthy Green Schools all share similar core principles: evaluating cleaning chemicals, consumable products, hand hygiene systems, equipment, and how cleaning practices are implemented.

Schneringer says upcoming changes to LEED Version 5 will place greater emphasis on worker training, supply chain impacts, greenhouse gas emissions, and indoor air quality (IAQ). He notes that the pandemic and recent wildfires increased awareness of poor indoor air quality and highlighted the important role cleaning plays in maintaining healthier buildings.

Using an example from a Midwest school district, Schneringer describes how monitoring particulate levels in classrooms showed that vacuuming and dusting often reduced airborne particles to acceptable levels. He emphasizes that allergens, dust, fragrances, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are major considerations, especially in schools, healthcare facilities, senior living centers, and office buildings where occupants may suffer from asthma or allergies.

Schneringer also addresses misconceptions about green cleaning during the pandemic, when many organizations overused disinfectants. He stresses that green cleaning is fundamentally about protecting health while minimizing environmental impact and waste. Proper cleaning practices—including understanding the difference between cleaning and disinfecting—remain essential.

Regarding workforce challenges, Schneringer acknowledges that implementing new cleaning programs can be difficult due to turnover and resistance to change. However, he argues that training employees is critical, even if retention is a challenge.

For organizations looking to begin a green cleaning program, Schneringer recommends first conducting a baseline assessment to identify current sustainable practices and then prioritizing a few high-impact improvements instead of trying to change everything at once.

Jake Meister is the Managing Editor for Trade Press Media Group's Cleaning Group of brands. He works on three magazines: Sanitary Maintenance, Contracting Profits, and Facility Cleaning Decisions, as well as on Cleanlink.com, the home of all three publications. Jake has over five years of experience covering the commercial cleaning industry as an employee of Trade Press Media Group, but also spent time as a freelance journalist for the company.
Jake has attended many commercial cleaning events where he enjoys connecting and networking with representatives from all corners of the industry. This often lays the groundwork for profile articles featured across the group. He excels at identifying outstanding individuals and/or programs that showcase the great things the commercial cleaning industry represents.
In addition to writing, Jake moderates many of CleanLink's educational webcasts, and he is the voice behind much of the social posts.

Follow Jake on LinkedIn here.

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posted on 6/8/2026