Green Team Newsletter

• Green Clean Schools News: HSC Launches Green Clean Schools Webinar Series; Second Annual Green Clean Award; Missouri Law
• School Success: Mayfield City School District
• Expert Perspective: Q&A with Gary Walker, Advocate for New Green Clean Schools Law in Missouri
• Ask Steve: Are There Times When RTU Cleaning Products Are Appropriate?
• Blog Entries: What Do VOCs Have to Do with the Air We Breathe?
• Submit Your Story: How Does Green Cleaning Benefit the Staff at Your School?

Green Clean Schools News

HSC Launches Green Clean Schools Webinar Series

HSC, American School & University and the Green Clean Network are pleased to announce an exciting summer series of webinars to help schools develop green cleaning knowledge and learn best practices.

All webinars include expert insight and practical advice from a highly-regarded panel of green cleaning leaders including Steve Ashkin of the Ashkin Group LLC, HSC Deputy Director Mark Bishop, and award-winning facilities managers from schools recognized in the first annual Green Cleaning in Schools awards. The webinars are accessible to those just getting started with green cleaning and will provide the next level of knowledge to those who have already taken steps to go green.

The webinars also offer an excellent way to prepare for the Second Annual Green Cleaning Awards!

The webinars feature two topics to help participants integrate green cleaning more fully into all aspects of facilities maintenance:

Green Cleaning: Beyond Cleaning Chemicals
July 22, 2008
This webinar is generously sponsored by SCA Tissue.

Green Cleaning and Infection Control
August 7, 2008
This webinar is generously sponsored by Kaivac.

Second Annual Green Cleaning Awards Accepting Applications

For the second year in a row, American School & University magazine will present the prestigious Green Cleaning Award, created in conjunction with HSC and the Green Cleaning Network. The award honors schools and their partners that embrace green methods and practices in their cleaning and maintenance operations.

The criteria for the award are based on the five simples steps to a healthy school environment outlined in The Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools.

Judges from HSC and the Green Cleaning Network will evaluate proposals from educational institutions around the country. Winning schools, which must demonstrate exceptional dedication to green cleaning, will be featured in an upcoming special supplement of American School & University magazine. Click here to check out the special supplement from 2007.

Applications are due by Sept. 12, 2008.

Coming Soon: Quick & Easy Guide, Version II

Since releasing The Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools in October 2006, HSC has distributed more than 57,000 guides with the support of 30 sponsors and 14 participating organizations. Now, we're preparing to release the updated and expanded second edition of the Guide.

HSC conducted a survey in 2007 and, based on that feedback, are making changes for an improved second edition. Among other things, the new version will feature additional information about integrated pest management, green cleaning in food service, new technologies and a redesigned product directory.

Stay posted for more updates on the release of this exciting new Guide!

Frank Sever of the Mayfield City School District
Honorable Mention Winner in the first annual Green Cleaning in Schools Awards

What feedback have you received since implementing your green cleaning plan?
It was a tough sell at first—people like to smell what they think is clean, fragrances like pine. But we made an effort to educate people about what we were doing. Now, people see why we decided to take this road several years ago. There’s a lot more acceptance now. One custodian even told me, “My home has gone green.”

What are the most important benefits?
It’s the connection to student achievement and attendance. Green cleaning also increases awareness of the environment and promotes a growing understanding of health and environmental responsibility. Now, our custodians try to be creative and find ways not to harm the environment, not to pose a risk to the kids.

How do you see the future of green cleaning?
It’s the way to go. Green cleaning is going to be a way of life, it's going to be a wave across the country soon. The safer we can make the air in schools, the better for our kids, the better for our country.

PLUS: American School & University is now accepting applications for the second annual Green Cleaning Awards! Learn more and apply online today »

Q&A with Gary Walker
Leading Advocate for New Green Clean Schools Law in Missouri

Gary Walker

What inspired you to propose legislation requiring green cleaning in schools?
After I witnessed New York and Illinois take action, it encouraged me to do the same in Missouri with the hope that it would spread to the rest of the country. I wanted to create a green momentum that would encourage the rest of the nation to remove toxic chemicals from our schools.

How did you become interested in green cleaning?
I have owned a cleaning company for nearly 20 years, and being exposed to toxic chemicals has affected my health and the health of my associates in a negative way. I have had extreme sinus problems and numerous adverse reactions due to my exposure to hazardous chemicals over the years. It is my passion to educate as many people as possible on green cleaning as a safer, effective to traditional cleaning methods.

What challenges do you face in your efforts to promote green cleaning?
Some of the challenges are costs, tradition and opposition to the idea of a mandate. . . .
Read More »

Steve Ashkin

Q: Do you think there are times when Ready To Use (RTU) cleaning products are appropriate in place of concentrates?

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:

What Do VOCs Have to Do with the Air We Breathe?| by Claris Olson
Indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools (and in any building, really) is affected by a huge array of factors that leaders in facility management and environmental health have been discussing for years; one of those factors that we’ve lately been hearing people talk about outside of the usual groups is VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds. So just what are VOCs and what is contributing to them in the indoor environment? More »

California Assembly Considers Green Clean Schools Legislation | by Claris Olson
California may be the next state to bring green cleaning to schools, following the lead of New York and Illinois. In April, the Green Schools: Environmentally Sensitive Cleaners act (Assembly Bill 2808) was approved by the education subcommittee.  It will now be going through appropriations and then to the full assembly. More »

How Does Green Cleaning Benefit the Staff at Your School?

What benefits does green cleaning have for you and for the people you work with? Tell us your story, and you’ll be entered to win a copy of Fresh Choices by HSC founding executive director Rochelle Davis! Share your story »

Since October 2006...

Number of guides distributed: 57,000+

Number of visitors to greencleanschools.org: 7,000+

July 22 | Green Cleaning: Beyond Cleaning Chemicals Webinar | More

Aug. 7 | Green Cleaning and Infection Control Webinar | More

Sept. 8-11 | ISSA Interclean Trade Show| More

Nov. 21-23 | Lighting the Way, Illinois Management Alliance Annual Conference| More

View all events »

New law to make cleaning schools more environmentally friendly
4.20.2008 | Quad-Cities Online | More

Green cleaners required in Illinois schools
5.15.2008 | AP | More

Going green to clean schools
5.04.2008 | Daily Herald | More

View all coverage »

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