What is LEED and Why Should Cleaning Companies Learn More About It?

By Steve Hanson

Companies and businesses across the country are becoming more environmentally conscious and many are starting to adopt LEED standards and protocols. LEED stands for Leadership in Environmental Design. The US Green Building Council, a nonprofit organization, which is working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, launched the LEED rating system. The overall goal of the program is to make the places we live in and work at become healthier environments. There are two classifications for LEED; one for existing buildings - LEED-EB and one for new construction - LEED-NC.

As cleaning companies it's no longer enough to just supply good cleaning services to your customers. Cleaning companies need to be aware of this growing trend towards becoming LEED certified. One important aspect of becoming LEED certified is integrating green cleaning into a building's overall janitorial services and practices. Continue Reading >>

What's In a Name?

Have you ever stopped and thought "Why are There So Many Cleaning Companies"? You know, there really are not that many. But when you take into account how many of them do the "This Months Name" routines then it gives the appearance of Cleaning Company Overload.

In the cleaning business your name and reputation is really all that you have. So many cleaning companies continually change their names to stay in business. I have noticed that when companies start getting reputations for lack of and poor service they change their names. What people have to realize is the name is not the problem. It is those in the business behind the company name. Those running the business is the problem. Same slick salespersons using the same old sales pitches with New Business Cards. Cash and Dash or Trash and Dash for Cash are my terms for the attitudes of these companies. The Names change but the people stay the same. So the nature of how they do business never changes. But why should it matter to them? It's just a name. While you have paid thousands of dollars to fund their 'Trash n Dash' programs. All it cost them is the price of purchasing New Business Cards and Letterhead.

A companies name and reputation go hand in hand. At Century we have been the Same Name Same People for over 18 years. We are proud of our name and how we run our business. We have the National Companies calling wanting to Sub Contract with us so they can get the benefits of a Good Companies Name. My response is sorry but Century does not and will never do Sub work. One major reason is we do not want our Name Associated with companies that will leave as much dirt on our name as they leave in your offices every night. I will never jeopardize the Century name for any amount of money. We want people to think of Quality, Honesty, Integrity, Longevity when they hear the Century Name. I have worked to long and hard to build a good reputation only to allow someone else to damage our good name. Today, Tomorrow, and Forever we will be Century.

At Century we do very little advertising. Our customers are the best advertising we have. They refer us to business associates and friends. We have even had customers go to meetings and refer us to their competitors. If you look around your office and feel as if you could "Not" refer your current cleaners to someone you know. Then you need to contact us today. The only name change in our future is changing the name of your cleaning company to Century. Give us a call and let's talk about putting Century to work for you.

Mike Underwood
Owner for 18 Years and counting.