By HFT Staff

Servicon has issued a report detailing ways hospital and healthcare center environmental services (EVS) providers can scale back water usage to become more sustainable. The study suggests these daily practices for hospitals and EVS providers: 

Communication. Getting the entire hospital EVS team on board with any EVS provider's water-saving efforts should be the first step. This begins with a discussion of the "whys" for water conservation, which include helping the environment and future generations while also saving money for the hospital. The "when" should be as soon as possible, followed by the "who," which includes everyone from top management to EVS frontline personnel. Finally, talk about "how." This should include specific actions, such as the ones listed below, to assist the EVS team in conserving water. 

Use microfiber. Microfiber can clean a surface dry just as well as it can clean it wet in many circumstances. Microfiber holds more water while taking up and retaining more debris than other cloths if a damp towel is required. As a result, EVS personnel will be able to clean surfaces more effectively while using less water. 

Dust first. Microfiber cloths can be used to clean many areas where surfaces are rarely touched, such as storage spaces or infrequently used conference rooms, without the use of water. When cleaning with water is required, dusting to remove dirt and loose particles can cut down on the amount of water needed to get a clean surface. 

Explore healthcare innovations. There are many new technologies designed to reduce water consumption that are designed for healthcare EVS.