Green cleaning has become a large part of the commercial cleaning industry. Green cleaning is not only effective at producing a cleaner chemical free environment but also can create a more hospitable work or living environment. Air quality is an important part of green cleaning making the vacuum cleaners important for dust and allergen filtration. Dust and particles are heavier than air making them settle on surfaces and compound over time. Dusting has been an excepted method of removing dust and particles from an environment but utilizing a vacuum cleaner is much more thorough and effective. HEPA vacuum cleaners can remove up to 99.9 percent of particles from the air that measure over 1 micron. Vacuum cleaners actually filter the dust through a filtration system whereas dusting can propel particles back into to air.
The best type of vacuum cleaner for cleaning green facilities are HEPA vacuum cleaners. HEPA filter stands for high efficiency particulate air filter and utilizes tiny glass fibers to remove particles from the air. As a HEPA filter in a vacuum gets dirty it becomes more efficient gradually letting only smaller particles escape the exhaust until the filter becomes totally clogged. It is important to change HEPA filters on vacuum cleaners regularly to let the vacuum motor work at maximum efficiency and prevent premature burn out. HEPA filtration standards are regulated by such agencies as the CDC, OSHA and the EPA and a vacuum cleaner has to meet their requirements to be fully deemed a tru HEPA vacuum cleaner. HEPA filters were first developed in World War II for cleaning of sensitive military areas but have evolved over the years to become part of everyday life.
Another important part of green vacuum cleaning is noise level. Green cleaning buildings require that vacuum cleaner makes a noise below seventy decibels. Its is believed that vacuum cleaners that are quieter than seventy decibels do not disturb occupants as much and create a more serene environment. Making a vacuum cleaner perform with a noise level quieter than seventy decibels can be achieved with baffling and filtration. The major drawbacks to this method of noise suppression are the effects of reduction in power and lack of air flow through the motor system making the vacuum cleaner less powerful. The solution to this problem is the utilization of HEPA filtration to clean the air and suppress the vacuum motor noise.
Green cleaning vacuum cleaners come in many styles and can fit many uses. Upright vacuum cleaners can be fitted with HEPA filters to fit the green cleaning standards of a building or facility. Backpack vacuum cleaners are usually fitted with an external filter to fit these requirements and can either be purchased as HEPA units can be modified to HEPA clean air standards. The newest addition to HEPA and green vacuuming is the addition of HEPA wet dry vacuums which can be useful in the task of construction cleaning of green buildings. These HEPA wet dry units can pickup wet dry and then be quickly converted into a HEPA vacuum for on the spot cleaning.
When purchasing a vacuum for green cleaning, CRI seal of approval is a definite plus. The Carpet And Rug Institute Seal Of Approval means that vacuums with this certification the fall below the seventy decibel noise limit and cleans to green cleaning standards. CRI approved vacuum cleaners vary in price from two hundred dollars for base units to thousands of dollars for more robust air purification units.
