Green Team Newsletter

• Green Clean Schools News: New Sponsorship Opportunities, Green Cleaning Award Program
• National Survey: Tell Us What You Think; Get a Free Pass to Green Cleaning University
• Legislative Updates: State, Local Policies Require Green Cleaning in Schools
• School Success: Improving Indoor Air Quality in N.Y.
• Expert Perspective: Q&A with AFT's Darryl Alexander
• Ask Steve: Staffing Reductions, Green Disinfectants, Styrofoam, and more
• Blog Entries: Environment 101
• Submit Your Story: Help Shape the Next Version of the Guide!

Green Clean Schools News

New Sponsorship Opportunities Available

HSC is now accepting new additions to its Corporate Green Team for The Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools. Join 24 other companies, all leaders in the green cleaning movement, and 12 national education organizations in sponsoring our efforts to promote green cleaning in schools.

Learn more about sponsorship benefits and how you can get involved.

Green Cleaning Award Program Seeks Entries

HSC is pleased to announce an award program designed to recognize the outstanding efforts of schools around the nation to move forward with green cleaning.

American School & University's Green Cleaning Award, created in conjunction with HSC and the Green Cleaning Network, honors schools and their partners that embrace green principles and practices in their maintenance operations.

Awards will be presented to multiple exemplary programs, and winners will be profiled in a special supplement of American School & University magazine.

Learn more or submit information about your school's green cleaning program at the American School & University award page.

Plus: Discuss the Green Cleaning Award at HSC's blog »

Tell Us What You Think; Get a Free Pass to Green Cleaning University
Survey Results Will Shape Second Version of the Quick & Easy Guide

How have you used the Quick & Easy Guide? What new features would you like to see? When you take a few minutes to complete our survey by July 20, 2007, you'll receive a free pass for a training seminar of your choice at Green Cleaning University (a $99.00 value).

HSC is gathering feedback to shape a second version of the Guide that will be designed to meet the specific needs of users around the country.

Speak your mind today: take the survey and enjoy your free course at Green Cleaning University!

State, Local Policies Require Green Cleaning in Schools

Children, teachers, and school staff in Illinois will soon breathe a little easier during the school day—and the rest of the nation may not be far behind.

In May, Illinois became the second state in the nation to enact legislation requiring green cleaning in schools.

"Illinois is becoming a national leader in providing healthy learning environments for our children,” said Mark Bishop, HSC's deputy director. "This simple step goes miles in protecting the health of everyone in the school building. It's an important milestone for Illinois, and it's simply the right thing to do."

Similar legislation was enacted in New York in 2006, and stakeholders report that the transition to mandatory green cleaning has been a smooth one. (See our recent article for more information on the transition to green cleaning in N.Y.)

Legislators in other states – including Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Washington – are considering bills that would require green cleaning in schools.

The movement toward green cleaning is also gaining steam at a local level.

. . . More »

School District Improves Indoor Air Quality, Makes Smooth Transition to Green

When the state deadline to clean green came for New York schools in September of 2006, one school district was ready. Years before, the Locust Valley Central School District in Locust Valley, N.Y., began using equipment that would help improve the overall indoor air quality in the district’s seven buildings.

Henry Alilionis, the director of school facilities and operations for the district, went on the search for a vacuum that would effectively capture the fine dust that can trigger asthma, allergies and other illnesses.

. . . More »

Green Cleaning at Wisconsin's First "Green and Healthy" School

This success story comes from Pat Meyer, director of buildings and grounds for the Unified School District of DePere in DePere, WI.

Our district is composed of five schools with a makeup of about 3,500 students. We implemented HEPA vacuums five years ago after a construction project to promote better indoor air quality. We have also implemented district wide microfiber use in our schools.

The benefits, while better at some schools than others, have been realized. The schools where we use microfiber technology almost exclusively have realized quicker completion of tasks and less chemical usage and have found creative ways to use microfiber to complete tasks daily that were being completed only weekly with our old method.

. . . . More »

Darryl Alexander

Q&A with Darryl Alexander, American Federation of Teachers

How did you become interested in green cleaning?

"About 20 years ago, we started discussions with American Federation of State and County Municipal employees. We became aware that custodial maintenance staffs were exposed to a soup of toxic substances like phenols, bleach and toluene and other solvents." . . . . More »

Steve Ashkin

Q: My school district is considering cutting custodial staff along with other district programs and staff in order to deal with a budget reduction in the coming year. Do you know of any studies or data available that I could use that shows the impact of custodial staffing levels on student achievement and student health? View Steve's response »

Q: How do you select a green disinfectant when they're aren't any certifications? View Steve's response »

Q: I am concerned about all the Styrofoam breakfast and lunch trays that are being dumped into our landfills. Is there a "greener" version of the school Styrofoam lunch tray that is available for schools to purchase? I want to encourage my school district to think green! View Steve's response »

HSC's staff experts discuss news stories and new developments every week at the HSC Blog. Stop by and leave a question or comment. And while you're there, enter your email address for automatic delivery on days when a new blog entry has been posted.

Here's a look at some of our recent posts on green cleaning:

Green Clean Victory in Illinois! | by Mark Bishop
Wow! After years of implementing pilot programs, developing recommendations, and creating networks of supporters from health, education and industry, we've gotten the State of Illinois to adopt green cleaning requirements for Illinois schools! ... Read more »

Environment 101 | by Claris Olson
As part of a recent package of stories on global warming and green living, the San Francisco Chronicle looked at steps that schools are taking to go green.Besides using environmentally friendly and energy efficient-building designs, schools are adding solar panels, building gardens, implementing recycling programs and, of course, switching to green cleaning products and procedures ... Read more »

View all blog entries »

Help us shape the next version of the Quick & Easy Guide!

How have you used the Quick & Easy Guide? What new features would you like to see? Please take a few minutes to complete our 25-question survey by July 20, 2007, and receive a FREE pass for a training seminar of your choice at Green Cleaning University, a $99.00 value! Take the survey »

Guides distributed since April 2007: 4,048
Total numer of guides distributed: 47,000

Number of speaking engagements since April 2007: 7
Total number of speaking engagements: 15

June 28-29: National Association of School Nurses Conference | More

June 28-July 1: St. Louis
PTA National Convention | More

View all events »

GreenBiz
Illinois Becomes Second State to Pass Green Cleaning Law | More

Cleaning Specialist
Green Clean Schools Act Would Impact Schools | More

View all coverage »

Sign up for HSC's monthly newsletter and free magazine »