HDPE (high-density polyethylene) is a durable solid plastic that has a variety of applications. Most notably, HDPE is used for bathroom partitions and stalls, commercial lockers and student lockers within educational facilities. Many businesses and schools have implemented HDPE materials with amazing results. So, why is HDPE being considered a super material for facilities?

Durability

As a facility manager, when it comes time for remodeling and renovations, you need to think ahead. Choosing a highly durable material has its advantages because you want the material lasting throughout the years without having to pay a fortune for replacements. HDPE has proven to be a stronger, more stable material than most plastics, wood, and even metal. It’s impact-resistant, so it can stand up to the pressures and elements of your facility.

When you choose HDPE, you no longer have to worry about any exterior damages. HDPE won’t scratch or dent, so you don’t have to have replacements on-hand. You don’t even have to worry about graffiti, because with HDPE, it can be easily wiped away.

Improving Air Quality

One of the main reasons why HDPE materials are utilized as restroom stalls is because it not only provides security and privacy, but it can also help keep the air quality high. Restrooms are a hotbed of moisture and humidity. Most plastic partitions have a kraft paper or cardboard core that can become moist, and eventually will sprout mold. Mold will not only lower the air quality, but it’ll result in a pungent odor that won’t be corrected with air fresheners.

When standard plastic partitions have mold sprouting inside of them, it’s too late, and they’ll have to be replaced in order to get rid of the mold. HDPE, on the other hand, resists mold growth because of its solid plastic construction. Because mold can’t grow in HDPE partitions, your air quality won’t drop, and you won’t have to replace your partitions anytime soon.

Low Maintenance

One phrase that facility managers love to hear is “low maintenance.” HDPE plastic doesn’t require a lot of upkeep. Because it’s a highly durable material, it doesn’t get the normal wear and tear that most materials get. In fact, it can outlast most plastics and won’t rust like metal. It doesn’t even require any fresh coats of paint because of its homogenous coloring. All that HDPE requires is a light cleaning every now and again.

Sustainability

Another major benefit to HDPE is that it’s made from 100% post-consumer recycled material. They’re even recyclable themselves. You can effectively take your facility in a greener, more eco-friendly direction by installing HDPE lockers and partitions. Because it doesn’t require new coats of paint, you greatly reduce the risk of VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions in the air, which can reduce the quality and have a negative effect on occupant health.

 

To learn more about why HDPE is a superior material, download our FREE eBook, The Ultimate Guide to HDPE Plastic Lockers, or contact us at Scranton Products.

Do you ever try to come up with new ways to improve your school’s efficiency? Making a pre-existing school facility greener can be a frustrating concept; but it’s not that hard to take the building in a greener direction with a few implementations and additions. Here are 10 ways that you can make your existing school a greener facility.

 1. Use Green Cleaning Products.

One of the best ways you can take a step toward making your school greener is by using green cleaning products. These products are free of harmful chemicals and leave very little effect on the environment.

 2. Improve Recycling Programs.

Getting behind a more thorough recycling program is essential. Make sure that your facility is executing these practices. You can also use it to educate students about the importance of reusing, reducing, and recycling.

 3. Use Green Building Materials.

If you’re considering any remodels or renovations in the coming year, you may want to utilize green building materials that’ll not only last, but will make your facility more efficient. Materials like HDPE (high-density polyethylene) not only provide high durability due to being impact-resistant, but they’re also recyclable and require very little maintenance due to being power-washable.

 4. Open the Windows.

If the weather’s right, you may want to consider opening the windows, rather than relying on the HVAC system. It helps by providing fresh air to students and faculty, and it helps you save energy costs.

 5. Get Plants for the Classroom.

Placing a plant in each classroom has numerous benefits. A plant can help reduce dust and carbon dioxide levels while preventing the growth of pollutants. It can also help improve humidity.

 6. Find Weaknesses in Your HVAC and Water Systems.

There’s nothing like a flaw in your energy systems to prevent your school from entering the green realm. Conduct an audit of your HVAC and water systems to find out if there are any repairs you should make in order to avoid wasting energy.

 7. Improve Your Air Quality.

Improving your air quality is one of the benchmarks for greening your facility. While air fresheners can be effective, seeking out the culprit that’s reducing the quality of your air is far more effective. Oftentimes, the stalls and partitions in the restroom and locker rooms of your school are sprouting mold. Consider replacing them with the previously mentioned HDPE, which is resistant to moisture and humidity.

 8. Consider Going Solar.

A lot of schools and commercial buildings have made the jump to solar energy. With just a few panels, you can reduce your energy costs while having your facility run on clean solar power.

 9. Test Your Water.

It’s always smart to ensure that you’re supplying your students and faculty with the cleanest drinking water possible. Check the quality of your water supply to make sure it’s in good standing.

10. Reduce Your Energy Use.

While the classrooms and hallways should be well-lit, there are other ways that you can reduce your energy use. One of the best and easiest ways is by turning off all the computers before leaving for the day, rather than setting them to sleep mode.

 

By implementing a few of these practices, you’ll see a noticeable difference, and your school will become greener every day. Do you want to learn more about how to make your school greener? Download the Sustainable Building Products: How to Make Your Facility Eco-Friendly from Top to Bottom eBook, courtesy of Scranton Products.

You may have heard the word “sustainability” a lot recently, and as a facility manager of a school, you may be wondering how you can make your school more sustainable. Many educational facilities across the country have been implementing sustainability and green plans to make their schools more eco-friendly and energy efficient. But what makes a school sustainable?

What Makes a School Sustainable?

In recent years, many organizations and schools have begun taking the necessary steps to reduce their carbon footprint though various means. The most popular route that schools have taken is with recycling. Ramping up their recycling process, and even hosting recycling-oriented events have proven successful in not only reducing waste, but also educating students on the environmental benefits of properly recycling their trash.

While recycling is effective at reducing waste and taking the necessary step toward eco-conscious practices, there are other ways that schools have made their facilities more sustainable. Cutting down on unnecessary energy by opening the windows during particularly nice days and utilizing non-toxic cleaning materials and school supplies have become popular practices. Even implementing green materials during renovations have proven to be highly effective. 

Making Your School Sustainable

Taking the necessary steps toward making your school sustainable has numerous benefits, including student health, reducing waste, conserving energy, and helping the environment. There are many different ways that you, the facility manager, can help make your school more sustainable and eco-friendly.

 

Using Green Materials

Whenever you need to renovate or remodel a portion of your school, you should implement green building materials wherever you can. Green building materials can help you use your resources and energy more efficiently. Materials like cork flooring, solar hot water heaters, and even recycled carpeting go a long way in increasing your school’s sustainability. Updating your school’s corridors with HDPE (high-density polyethylene) lockers has numerous sustainability benefits, and they even last longer than traditional lockers due to their durability and rust/mildew resistance, resulting in effective lockers that require very little maintenance.

 

Cleaning Your Air

One of the scourges of the environment is poor air quality. Unless you’re regularly testing your air, you may be dealing with poor air in your school. Touching up or completely repainting sections of your school can release VOC (volatile organic compounds) emissions in your air, which over time can result in poor air quality and health complications.

 

Focusing on the Bathroom

One of the best ways that you can move your school into a greener direction is by updating your restrooms. Whenever there’s a drop in your school’s air quality, the restrooms tend to be ground zero. Due to the constant barrage of moisture and humidity, mold will sprout. If it’s on the walls and on the floor, it can be easily removed. However, mold could be inside the stalls and partitions, so you’ll need a more durable and eco-friendly replacement. Utilizing HDPE materials for your stalls will not only reduce the mold growth, but it’ll also increase the air quality of your restrooms for a long time.

Taking the necessary steps toward sustainability will not only reduce waste, but it’ll be more cost-effective and eco-friendly.

 

Want to learn more about how to make your school more sustainable? Read Sustainable Building Products: How to Make Your Facility Eco-Friendly from Top to Bottom, courtesy of Scranton Products.

Whether you’re designing a new facility or looking to do some renovations on your current facility, utilizing green building materials is a smart route to take. Sustainability is important when picking your building materials because you want them to last a long time. Luckily, there’s a variety of green building materials and sustainable products that can be used to make your facility structurally sound and eco-friendly.

Green Building Materials & Why You Should Use Them

When planning to build or renovate, choosing the right materials based off of sustainable design practices is crucial. When you choose a green material, it means that not only are you getting a quality product that will last for a long time, but you’re also doing your part to positively impact the environment long-term.

Sustainable Flooring

If you’re starting at the ground level, flooring will probably be your first step. Several types of flooring look good and also are sustainable, meaning that you likely won’t have to replace it in the short-term.

Linoleum, for example, is a smooth, eco-friendly flooring made from linseed oil, jute, and flax that doesn’t release VOCs (volatile organic compounds) like other types of flooring, such as vinyl. Repurposed wood is also a great option because it looks good and has been recycled.

Sustainable Roofing

Your roofing material needs to be durable so it can resist the elements but also sustainable enough that replacement will be far down the road. Tile is a good option because it’s thicker, so it helps to keep cool or warm air inside. Choosing a lighter color also has benefits because it reflects less heat into the atmosphere.

Sustainable Windows

A lot of considerations go into choosing sustainable and eco-friendly windows, especially if you intend to meet LEED standards. Starting with the frames, you should always choose a stronger material that’s more likely to improve insulation.

When it comes to choosing the glass, you could get multiple panes that will trap air between the panes to improve the facility’s insulation. If you prefer single-pane windows, you could get a clear coating that doesn’t affect the visibility but does enhance the ability to retain warm and cool air inside the facility.

Sustainable Plastic School Lockers, Bathroom Stalls & Partitions 

Making your facility greener isn’t just about the overall construction but also the materials inside. When designing your bathroom, instead of choosing a  metal or stainless steel for your stalls and partitions, try HDPE (high-density polyethylene). It’s a durable material that is resistant to moisture, scratches, and graffiti. It also doesn’t require painting, which results in less VOC emissions.

Another benefit is that HDPE products such as partitions and lockers contain recycled post-consumer products. By choosing HDPE, you take a huge step in making your facility more green and sustainable.

Eco-Friendly Building Materials

When renovating or erecting an eco-friendly building, it’s essential embrace to pick the right building materials. Then you can consider better ways to use solar energy and recycle rain water.

Want to learn more about how you can make your facility green? Download our eBook Sustainable Building Products: How to Make Your Facility Eco-Friendly from Top to Bottom.

If you have any questions about the benefits of HDPE and the sustainability of our school lockers and commercial bathroom stalls, contact us at Scranton Products.

Far from a fad, green building and green design have entered the mainstream. What was once a novelty for designers and architects has now become a staple in the industry. Some of what’s helped to make green buildings so popular is their ability to solve some of the most common construction problems, especially those having to do with energy and water consumption.

In this post, we take a close look at the types of construction problems that can be solved by building green.

Energy Loss through Heating & Cooling Systems

One of the most common construction problems has to do with wasted energy. Architects and contractors are tasked with creating a facility that can optimize energy use. This can be especially difficult with heating and cooling units when doors are frequently opened, letting in outside air. Windows can also be a source of energy loss, allowing air to seep in through cracks or gaps.

To help the HVAC system run more efficiently, you can use energy-efficient windows, which lock in air and block outside air from entering. You can also create a double door entrance to prevent outdoor air temperatures from affecting the indoor climate control system.

This method uses one door that leads from outside into a small room. This climate-controlled room has another door that leads into the rest of the building. This prevents untreated air from rushing into the building or treated air from rushing out every time the door is opened.

Would you like more information about making your building more green friendly? Download our FREE eBook Sustainable Building Products: How to Make Your Facility Eco-Friendly from Top to Bottom.This free guide will teach you about using recyclable materials, reducing harmful emissions, and much more. 

High Water Consumption in Restrooms

Water consumption is another primary concern when creating a new building, especially if you’re responsible for the building’s future operational costs. Bathrooms are notorious for consuming high volumes of water. Using green building design, you can help to reduce the amount of water used.

This can be achieved by installing low-flow toilets or urinals, which use no more than 1.6 gallons of water with every flush. Similarly, low-flow faucets in the restroom can help to minimize water waste when guests are washing their hands without reducing the effectiveness of the sink itself.

Wasted Energy in Unoccupied Spaces

Facilities waste large amounts of energy (and revenue to pay for that energy) due to lighting unoccupied areas. An easy solution for this common construction problem is to install motion-activated lighting that’s on a timer. This is perfect for buildings that have areas staffed 24 hours as well as areas that are only occupied for part of the day.

These automatic lights replace traditional switches, so there’s no risk of someone accidentally leaving the lights on in an unused area, and it ensures that the lights are only running when needed.

 

We live in a world where environmental consciousness has become the new status quo for everything from designing candy wrappers to spaceships. But architects are left to wonder, how do you build a facility with premium features without negatively impacting the local environment?

The answer to that could easily fill a book (and it has!), so for this post, we’ll narrow it down and focus on how to design and eco-friendly bathroom.

Conserve Energy with Motion-Detectable Lighting

One of the best ways to make your bathroom more eco-friendly is to reduce the amount of wasted energy. Installing lights that rely on a motion sensor to turn on will help to keep them from running when the room is unoccupied. Just make sure to set the auto-off timer to an appropriate interval to give guests enough time to use and exit the facility before the lights shut off.

Use Automatic Faucets to Reduce Water Waste

When it comes to water waste, hand washing is one of the top perpetrators. By using an automatic faucet, you can be sure that the water is running only when someone is washing their hands.

For additional water conservation, opt for using slow-flow faucets, which use significantly less water while still offering the same amount of hand washing capability.

You can also add automatic soap dispensers, which might not save on energy costs, but they can help to make your bathroom more sanitary.

restroom cleaning checklist

Opt for an Air Hand Dryer Instead of Paper Towels

Paper towels add to the amount of waste your facility produces. Not only that, but they also contribute to the deforestation of woodland areas around the world. So instead of using paper towels in your facility, you can have an air hand dryer installed. These high-powered air dryers work just as well as paper towels without the wasteful by-product.

As a bonus, use an automatic hand dryer that will help to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria within the facility.

Install High-Efficiency Toilets

High-efficiency or low-flush toilets have been around for years, but many people have the misconception that low flush somehow equates to low quality. Nothing could be further from the truth. These highly efficient toilets use a fraction of the water of full-flush toilets but are equally as effective.

Consider installing low-flush toilets and urinals in your bathroom to make it eco-friendly.

Use Eco-Friendly Materials

When you sit down to design the bathroom, it’s important to consider what materials you’ll use. Will they need to be made from scratch or are there eco-friendly options made from recycled resources? Materials like high-density polyethylene (HDPE) offer the greatest opportunity for eco-friendly material sourcing.

HDPE is made up of recycled materials and is itself 100% recyclable. The durable plastic can be used for manufacturing bathroom vanities and toilet partitions as well as shower stalls, lockers, and other applications.

Want to learn about other ways to make your building eco-friendly? Download our FREE eBook Sustainable Building Products: How to Make Your Facility Eco-Friendly from Top to Bottom. This helpful guide will walk you through where you can implement recyclable materials, how to combat harmful emissions, and more. 

locker

Although teachers, administrators, and staff do their best to make American schools a safe place for children to learn and play, there are some dangers that simply can’t be avoided. What’s even more precarious is that many of these dangers seem fairly innocent, playing a mundane role in the daily lives of school children.

In an article published by HealthGrove, experts used data from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission to evaluate the most dangerous items involved in school-related injuries reported between 1997 and 2014. The resulting list of 20 items included some unsurprising offenders, such as scissors (No. 19) and paint (No. 17). However, at No. 8 on the list, an average of 7,558 injuries each year involved something much more commonplace. The culprit: ordinary lockers.

Lockers: A Hidden Danger to Children?

Although many people might have fond memories of their high school locker, hanging pictures of their favorite bands or celebrity crushes, a surprising number of injuries each year involve these convenient hallway hideaways. In addition to impact injuries, metal lockers pose another serious threat: tetanus. Even in areas not subject to excessive moisture, rust can form on metal lockers and cause additional damage as the rust spreads.

Slowly, the rust will deteriorate the locker, leaving behind sharp edges that can easily cut or injure a student. This is one reason why many schools are transitioning away from traditional metal lockers and looking toward newer and less harmful materials. One possible answer lies in HDPE solid plastics.

A New Kind of Locker for Your Child’s School

Unlike metal lockers, lockers made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) are resistant to rust and corrosion. These non-porous lockers are also resistant to odors, dents, mildew, and even graffiti, making them not only safe but cost-effective for school officials. Lower maintenance costs mean those budget dollars could go toward programming or purchasing school supplies.

In addition to possibly reducing the number of injuries and helping schools save on their yearly budget, HDPE lockers are quieter than metal lockers, reducing noise in the hallways between or during classes. And some lockers made from this durable material are GREENGUARD Gold Certified, making them safe for the environment.

What Is GREENGUARD Certification?

GREENGUARD Certification means that the certified product has met some of the highest standards for low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air indoors. According to the GREENGUARD website, the “Gold standard includes health based criteria for additional chemicals and also requires lower total VOC emissions levels to ensure that products are acceptable for use in environments such as schools and healthcare facilities.”

All of the brands produced by Scranton Products, including their HDPE lockers, are GREENGUARD Gold Certified. This certification increases the safety level of these lockers as a terrific replacement for traditional metal lockers found in many schools.

Contact Scranton Products for more information about their building solutions.

Energy Costs One of the main concerns when managing a facility is keeping energy use in check for several reasons, one being cost and the other regulations. But eliminating excess energy usage is easier said than done.

So what are facility managers doing to measure their energy usage and detect problems caused by energy waste? Keep reading to learn more.

Utilizing Diagnostic Tools

Maintenance departments utilize diagnostic tools so technicians can identify problems that can potentially be costly. Recently, a new-generation technology “offers technicians a higher level of sophistication and ease of use,” according to Facilitiesnet.com.

Examples of the diagnostic tools are infrared imagers and electrical test equipment. They offer additional benefits such as reducing energy waste that relates to HVAC and electrical systems.

Facilitiesnet.com describes infrared thermography as “a non-destructive, non-contact technique that uses an infrared detector to map thermal patterns on the surface of an object. They operate on the principle that any object with a temperature above absolute zero emits heat.”

Using the infrared technology can determine issues that are occurring in the building that the human eye cannot detect, such as heat loss, water leaks, air leaks, moisture intrusion, and construction defects. Thermal imaging can even pinpoint areas where the highest amount of heat is being lost. This can help facilities identify the areas and rectify the situation to prevent further energy loss.

Developing Energy-Saving Strategies

With buildings and facilities taking up so much energy during both the construction phase and the post-construction phase, it’s important to put strategies in place that will conserve energy. An article on Facilitiesnet.com discusses Todd Isherwood, who works with the City of Boston’s facility managers, energy department, and budget office for more structured energy efficiency goals and strategies.

One of his job responsibilities is determining how to reduce energy use in Boston’s buildings in the best way possible. He focuses on Boston’s aggressive greenhouse gas emission goals, which are 25% reduction by 2020 and 80% by 2050 compared to 2005 levels. He always must consider the Building Energy Reporting and Disclosure Ordinance, which “requires all non-residential buildings greater than 50,000 square feet to report energy and water use to the city.”

Isherwood works on reducing energy use in Boston’s buildings by gathering data, standardizing systems, and doing retrocommissioning and energy audits. His next steps include identifying projects then creating energy performance contracts, which is part of an initiative called the Renew Boston Trust.

Once you determine your goals and put your strategies in place, you’ll be able to start seeing the money that’s being saved from energy efficiency.

If you’re a facility manager looking to install eco-friendly products in your facility, click here to find out where to buy Scranton Products. These products are made of HDPE plastic, so the materials are sustainable and good for the air quality in your facility.

solar energy

Utilizing solar energy has been on the rise over the past few years, and it has also undergone many advances that have been beneficial for reducing emissions. Reducing emissions has been a main goal among energy conservationists, and requirements have been put into place for federal and commercial facilities.

But is it just a fad? Based on the efforts of the government and many other dedicated organizations, solar energy is here to stay. It will only become more prominent in the future based on advances in solar energy and the requirements and laws being put in place.

Learn more about solar energy and the steps that we’ve been taking toward it to reduce emissions.

Emission-Reducing Efforts

The Energy Independence and Security Act was signed in 2007. According to the act, “The three key provisions enacted are the Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards, the Renewable Fuel Standard, and the appliance/lighting efficiency standards.” This act requires federal facilities to reduce their energy use for both new and existing facilities.

This act also details the Net-Zero Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative. This initiative began in August 2008 and is “the overarching effort of the Department of Energy’s Commercial Buildings Program which aims to achieve marketable net-zero energy commercial buildings (NZEBSs) by 2025,” according to the initiative.

Federal facilities must work toward emissions reduction by following the goals of Executive Order 13693. Established in 2015, the executive order details the official planning of federal sustainability all the way into the next decade. It discusses improving environmental performance and federal sustainability by reducing energy and cost while also researching and obtaining renewable or alternative energy solutions.

New Solar Energy Technology

Facility managers are finding advanced ways to meet emissions requirements, which has led to new developments that we haven’t yet seen in facilities that exist today. Facilitiesnet.com reviews these new developments.

Perovskites: These materials, found by Northwestern University and the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, is less costly when used in solar panel production than the silicon-based materials that are typically used in solar panels. Though the product isn’t available in stores yet and will need to be further researched, more people will be able to afford less costly solar panels.

Nanotechnologies: The US National Nanotechnology Initiative has been utilizing nanoparticles and nanostructures within solar energy technology to improve light absorption and increase the conversion of light energy into electrical energy. Other benefits include lower production costs, lower installation costs, and higher efficiency.

Solar windows: Solar windows have a liquid coating that uses the energy from the sun. This liquid turns the windows into electricity generators.

Facility managers must adhere to strict requirements, and utilizing these new developments allows them to do so affordably and efficiently.

While the most effective and affordable methods and tools for incorporating solar energy into facilities are still being developed, they’re well underway and will be beneficial far into the future. Click here to find out where to buy sustainable products for your facility from Scranton Products.

Air Pollution
Lately, we’ve been more aware of our actions and what we can do to reduce our carbon footprint. But are we taking into consideration the buildings we construct and work in and visit every day?

According to the US Green Building Council, buildings account for 39% of the carbon dioxide emissions in the United States each year. Commercial and residential buildings account for more carbon dioxide emissions annually than any other sector and more than any other country except for China.

It’s important that we’re not just aware of our own carbon footprint but also the ones left by our buildings, especially due to the large impact on the environment.

Learn more about buildings and emissions in the United States and what you can do to reduce emissions.

Understanding Building-Related Emissions

To reduce the energy that your building uses, it’s important to first understand greenhouse gas emissions. They can be broken up into two types: direct emissions from the on-site combustion of fuels used for heating and cooking, and emissions from the end use of electricity to heat, cool, and power a building.

Emissions can be reduced by cutting down on the energy supply used in the building both in the design and construction phase and after production.

Factors Contributing to Building Emissions

You should look at some key areas when determining what actions to take to reduce energy consumption. The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions details these categories as embodied energy, building design, building envelope, on-site or distributed generation, and energy end uses in building.

Embodied energy is the energy required to extract, manufacture, transport, install, and dispose of building materials. This category is more about substituting bio-based products to reduce the building’s emissions.

Building design refers to the building’s overall architecture and engineering. Being aware of emissions from the initial design can help to determine the amount of lighting, heating, and cooling that’s used.

Building envelope is “the interface between the interior of a building and the outdoor environment.” Energy shouldn’t seep from the building because this will require using more of it.

On-site or distributed generation refers to the energy produced at the point of use. This can include renewable sources, fossil fuel sources, and small energy storage systems.

Energy end uses in buildings include utilizing efficient technologies that can reduce emissions by moderating energy use, which will also lower your monthly utility bills.

Incorporating Low-Emission Products into Your Building

When constructing a building, it’s important to use products that support a healthy environment. Scranton Products are made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which reduces the environmental impact and offers initial and long-term improvements to the indoor air quality of your facility.

If you’re interested in using Scranton Products’ bathroom dividers, lockers, and other materials for your facility, click here to learn where to buy them.