CleanOffice, a commercial cleaning service provider, has recently been awarded GS-42 status from Green Seal after successfully completing a comprehensive program that included audits and evaluations of operating procedures, training programs, products and equipment, and general management processes.

Green Seal is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to safeguarding the environment. The GS-42 standard has been created to identify environmental leadership for commercial cleaning service-providers.

“During my audit of CleanOffice’s buildings as well as all their documentation and paperwork, I found everything to be professionally maintained and organized, one of the best programs I have seen throughout the country,” said Michael D. Von Splinter, senior environmental analyst, Green Seal, Inc.

CleanOffice becomes only the third Cleaning Service Provider in Virginia to attain the GS-42 status.

The company also announced the introduction of its GreenZone cleaning program, which provides customers with proven, environmentally-responsible cleaning practices. It combines certified solutions, tools, processes, training and support, creating a complete and effective cleaning method that protects our health without harming the environment.

GreenZone fully complies with “green” procedures and practices as identified in Green Seal’s GS-42 specifications. As a certified GS-42 provider, the CleanOffice GreenZone program can assist commercial properties in the effort to achieve LEED certification.

The Concourse Building, a 350,000 square foot Class A office building in Tyson’s Corner Va, is one of Green- Zone’s first customers.

“Having CleanOffice’s GreenZone program in place at The Concourse has had a positive impact on all of our tenants and guests,” says Paula Wobby, portfolio manager, CBRE. “Additionally, it will help us achieve our LEED Gold Level certification by gaining additional points as a result of CleanOffice’s Green Seal-GS-42 certification.”

To promote the program, CleanOffice selected the Red Eyed Tree Frog as its mascot. These delicate little creatures make their homes in the rainforests of Central and South America. Although they are not endangered, National Geographic states that their “habitat is shrinking at an alarming rate.” CleanOffice’s goal is to raise awareness about environmental concerns and to implement practices that will preserve all of earth’s precious habitats.

Profits Down 29% for Ecolab

Due to significant charges for restructuring and other items, Ecolab Inc., a cleaning and pest-control services company, said its second-quarter profit plunged 29 percent.

Net income slid to $99.1 million, or 41 cents per share, from $139 million, or 55 cents per share, in the same quarter last year.

Excluding restructuring and other items, the St. Paul, Minn.-based company reported income of 50 cents per share.

Revenue of $1.44 billion for the quarter ended June 30 was down 8 percent from $1.57 billion in the same period last year.

Sales for Ecolab’s U.S. Cleaning & Sanitizing operations increased one percent to $671 million. Kay and Healthcare led sales results with double-digit gains. Ecolab’s U.S. Cleaning & Sanitizing operating income rose 18 percent to $126 million.

U.S. Other Services sales declined five percent to $115 million in the second quarter. However, operating income increased 40 percent to $18 million as cost reductions improved profitability over last year.

Sales of Ecolab’s International operations, when measured at fixed currency rates, declined one percent to $656 million in the second quarter. Canada and Latin America enjoyed strong sales growth while Asia Pacific showed good gains; Europe/Middle East/Africa sales were lower.

“Results were on target, and we are very pleased with our progress,” said Douglas M. Baker, Jr., Ecolab’s chairman, president and CEO. “We generated strong new account growth, appropriate pricing and significant cost savings to offset weak market conditions and higher raw material costs, yielding the good pro forma earnings improvement. Our team continues to deliver in spite of tough conditions.

“While it appears the economy is stabilizing, we have not yet seen markets turn up and we are not relying on a recovery to deliver our results. We continue to work aggressively, driving market share growth and keeping spending in check. The company has assets of $4.9 billion, and liabilities of $3.1 billion.

USF to Service Triplex Buildings

U.S. Facilities, Inc. (USF), a maintenance services provider, has announced a new contract with the City of Philadelphia for facilities operations, maintenance and support services at three of the City’s key municipal buildings: the Municipal Services Building, the Criminal Justice Center, and the One Parkway Building.

The three buildings often referred to as the TRIPLEX, total close to 1.5 million square feet of office space. Since 2003 USF has provided full-scale facilities management services at the TRIPLEX and will continue to partner with the City of Philadelphia to develop and implement cost effective energy water and waste reduction initiatives. “We are excited to continue our work at the TRIPLEX.

These buildings house important operating departments essential to the City’s ability to deliver first-class services. We are proud to be a part of keeping the City operational and providing sustainable solutions for maintaining the TRIPLEX,” said James Dobrowolski, president and CEO of US Facilities, Inc.

USF provides 24/7 building operations and maintenance services through a dedicated staff of managers, supervisors, and skilled technicians for the TRIPLEX facilities, which house municipal services and city departments, such as the Department of Human Services, the City’s central judicial system of 65 court rooms, judges’ chambers, administrative offices, and prisoner holding cells, as well as executive and general office space.