HSC Press Releases

For Immediate Release
Contact: Tara Kennon, 312-419-1810
tara@healthyschoolscampaign.org

Green Cleaning Award Offers Companies and Schools Opportunity for Recognition
Teams Implementing Exemplary Programs to Be Spotlighted

Chicago, June 22, 2007 -- A collaboration between the Healthy Schools Campaign, the Green Cleaning Network, and American School & University (AS&U) magazine has launched the first Green Cleaning Award for Schools and Universities.

Modeled after AS&U’s highly successful and prestigious Architectural Portfolio Awards Program, this new award offers an opportunity for cleaning product manufacturers, distributors and service providers to help their customers in educational institutions gain recognition for exemplary green cleaning programs.

"The goal of the award is to identify and recognize schools and universities that have gone beyond simply making green product choices,” said Steve Ashkin, author of the Healthy Schools Campaign's Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools and executive director of the Green Cleaning Network. “Although products are important, exemplary programs go much further—they include policies, procedures, training, shared responsibility and other efforts that result in an effective cleaning program that minimizes harmful impacts on the health of building occupants and custodians, and on the environment as a whole."

"Companies that provide green cleaning products and services should encourage their qualifying schools to apply," said Rochelle Davis, executive director of the Healthy Schools Campaign. "The award particularly seeks to recognize teams involved in implementing Green Cleaning programs, and vendors will be spotlighted along with administrators, custodians, parents and others who are helping to create healthier schools for students and staff."

The criteria for the award are modeled on The Quick and Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools, published by the Healthy Schools Campaign. Copies of this comprehensive guide are available online at www.greencleanschools.org.

The competition is open to all types and sizes of education institutions. The application process for the first award is simple and may be completed either online or by mail or fax.

Award winners will be profiled in the December issue of American School & University magazine, where more than 65,000 subscribers will learn about teams' accomplishments and perhaps emulate the exemplary practices.

The deadline for submissions is Sept. 14, 2007. For more information or to apply, visit http://asumag.com/green_cleaning_award.

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The Healthy Schools Campaign, an independent not-for-profit organization, is the leading authority on healthy school environments and a voice for people who care about our environment, our children, and education. Our mission is to advocate for policies and model programs that allow students and staff members to learn and work in a healthy school environment.