CM/Spotlight: Sustainability for example, could be wasting more than two backyard swimming pools worth of water per month. To detect leaks, read the facility water meter during non-peak use hours when all water-using equipment has been turned off or is not in use. If the reading significantly changes in one hour, there may be a leak within the distri-bution system or within the facility. To ensure your facility continues to save water after you’ve made repairs, educate staff and users about proper maintenance and usage. Post signage to encourage employees and other users to report leaking or mal-functioning equipment to the appropriate contacts. Everything And The Kitchen Sink Dishwashing is one of the largest drains on water resources in commercial kitchens, in some cases accounting for more than two-thirds of the kitchen’s overall water use. Dishwashers should be run within man-ufacturer specifications and only at full capacity to get the best cleaning for the amount of water used. Scrape dishes with a rubber spatula instead of rinsing food particles. Commercial foodservice preparation includes a wide variety of water-using equipment beyond dishwashing. Here are just a few of the cleaning and maintenance practices from WaterSense at Work that can help prepare commercial kitchens for significant savings: Prevent steam from leaking from com-bination ovens by replacing gaskets when necessary, and keep door hing-es tight so the doors stay aligned and provide a good seal Ensure wok stoves’ cooling water is shut off when not in use, especially at the end of each day To remove scale buildup in pre-rinse spray valves and other water-using equipment, find appropriate cleaning products rather than cleaning manu-ally, which can use more water. Announcing the new better than ever! CMMOnline.com — Look Outside Landscape water use can range from seven percent for hospitals, 22 percent for office buildings and up to 30 percent for schools. A well-designed landscape can save water by incorporating healthy soils and appropriate grading, helping ensure water stays where it was applied. Keeping mulch on landscaped beds can help keep plants cool and minimize evapo-ration. Experts estimate that as much as 50 percent of outdoor water use is wasted by evaporation, wind or runoff due to over-watering. If your landscape includes an irrigation system, WaterSense partners are certified irrigation professionals that design, install, maintain and audit water-efficient systems to ensure a beautiful, low-maintenance landscape. CM New Multi-media pages • Podcasts • Video library Customizable news headlines • Customizable home page features Cleaning & Maintenance Management is proud to announce the launch of our new website, highlighting our award-winning design and editorial. Now you can nd answers to your questions in the form of articles, podcasts, online seminars, e-Newsletters and more all with just a click of your mouse. And when you register for the site (It’s FREE) you can customize your home page, comment on articles, rate articles and communicate with your peers on our Bulletin Board. 26 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • May 2011
CMM – Archives May 2011: 26
