On Tuesday, after several months of classes, around 70 Service Employee International Union (SEIU) Local 1 janitors working at the Merchandise Mart grated from the Green Janitor Education Program – a groundbreaking environmental program that creates safer working conditions for janitors and building tenants and puts money back into building owners pockets. The Green Janitor Education Program is member-led, meaning Local 1 janitorial leaders teach the classes. The program provides education in green building practices to meet the latest energy, water and green initiative standards covering energy efficiency, recycling, waste management, water conservation and sustainable cleaning practices.  These lessons benefit not just the janitor’s health and work environment, but also the environment for the tenants in the buildings these janitors clean. The building’s carbon footprint is lowered, and moreover, the building saves money enacting these lessons. This program takes place in Merchandise Mart, one of the largest buildings in Chicago by square footage, making one of the biggest single-building impacts possible. This program also took place at 321 N. Clark in Chicago, from which SEIU Local 1 janitors graduated last month.

Photo Credit: SEIU Local 1