By Travis Measley | Published Thursday, June 4, 2009
The Decatur Civic Center, already one of the most critically acclaimed community centers in the greater metropolitan area, has taken another step towards providing the best atmosphere for its customers and employees - its going green.
In January, the civic center was awarded a Level I Clean Zone certification by JanPak Inc. for the center's commitment to creating a healthier workplace environment through the implementation of responsible cleaning products, systems and program solutions.
JanPak's goal is to educate building owners and businesses on the proper environmentally safe cleaning methods and products that are also cost effective.
"For people and businesses that want to be green, we try and teach them about certain cleaning products and tools that are 'green,' but also work just as effectively as what they may be currently using," said John Davis, an account manager for JanPak Inc. "We even work with them achieving cleaner air and eventually a recycling program."
At the beginning of the year, surveyors with JanPak, the leading supplier of distinctive and responsible cleaning and packaging solutions, came to the civic center and did a check of cleaning procedures and products and gave certain recommendations to civic center director Duffy Terry.
"We added some motion detector lights to save energy when we weren't around and changed out the lights that are always on with lower-voltage bulbs," Terry said. "We also installed automatic flushers in the toilets, as well as touchless soap dispensers and towel dispensers in the bathrooms."
Terry even said they replaced most of the floor mats in the building with ones made completely out of old coke bottles.
"They are supposed to function and last just as long as regular floor mats, and I can at least promise they are as heavy as the old mats," Terry joked.
The idea of "going green" has come to the forefront in the last decade as more negative information about the current state of the planet has become available, and Terry said that he knows every little bit helps.
"With all that is going on, all that we hear on the news about the state of the environment, we all have to do our part to better conditions," he said.
The civic center is currently working toward the Level 2 certificate, which includes things such as a recycling program, a corporate environmental policy, a commitment to transactional/business efficiency and a workplace wellness program.
