A study on the green cleaning benefits for malaysian public school

• Published in: Malaysian Construction Research Journal
• Main Author: Ramli N.A.; Zawawi E.M.; Ariff N.R.M.; Zainol N.N.; Kadir S.S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Construction Research Institute of Malaysia 2019
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85081628868&partnerID=40&md5=65497bd9325df8c4dead3f2a3c42802e

Operation and maintenance (O&M) phase for any types of building or business comprises of various significant activities including cleaning. Several researchers related to school building’s O&M have clearly identified that the cleaning activities contributed the most significant impact to the school’s healthy and safe environment, thus encourage a better performance and productivity of staffs and students. However, the current practice of conventional cleaning in school; the usage of cleaning chemicals which contain an extreme levels of volatile organic compound (VOCs) and also poor equipment (poorly filtered vacuum) leads to a harmful impact especially on the aspect of social, economic and environment. For example, health and performance issues of students, staffs and also the janitors. Therefore, Malaysian built environment industry has highly encouraged the building managers to make changes to more effective and efficient cleaning so called green cleaning practices. A study has been carried out by identifying the critical benefits which can be achieved by the green cleaning implementation in Malaysian public school. A thorough literature has been conducted and twelve (12) benefits were recognized. The researcher was then conducted a pilot test and survey involving 71 Malaysian cleaning service providers, those registered with Malaysian Association of Cleaning Contractors (MACC). In order to identify the ranking of the green cleaning benefits, the analysis technique involved are the Frequency Calculation and Criticality Index Calculation. Hence, according to the methods of analysis outcome, it shows that the benefit of “improve indoor air quality (IAQ)” and “provide safe and healthy environment to occupants and janitors” identified as the most critical benefits that the Malaysian public school can be gained through the implementation of green cleaning. The outcome of this survey can provide input especially to the O&M stage in the built environment industry, which can encourage practitioners to make a move to green cleaning practice instead of conventional cleaning. © 2019, Construction Research Institute of Malaysia. All rights reserved.