Green Clean Schools at ISSA/Interclean North America
Meet the Green Clean Team in Chicago
Join Healthy Schools Campaign at the ISSA/Interclean North America conference in Chicago Oct. 6-9! We’re excited to visit with our Green Team sponsors, meet new leaders in the field and hear about the latest developments in the world of cleaning. If you’ll be at ISSA, be sure to take a moment to visit us and hear the latest about The Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools!
- Visit booth #1946 to pick up your free copy of The Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools and learn about plans for the third edition of the guide, coming in Fall 2010.
- Rochelle Davis, HSC founding executive director will speak on Marketplace and Policy Changes Shaping Today’s Schools Facilities on Friday, Oct. 9 at 11:45 a.m. in the ISSA Education Theatre
- Mark Bishop, HSC deputy director, and Kate Tomford, Director of Sustainability, Office of Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, will present an Overview of the Illinois Green Clean Schools Act as part of the Educational Conference on Friday, Oct. 9, at 8:45 a.m.
- Learn about how you can be part of the grassroots effort to bring green clean schools policies to every state.
We hope to see you at ISSA! To learn more, contact Sara Klinzing, HSC's manager of external affairs, at 312-419-1810.
Sponsorship Opportunities Available for Version 3.0 of The Quick & Easy Guide
HSC is pleased to announce that sponsorship opportunities are now available for Version 3.0 of The Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools!
The expanded third edition will include changes to ecolabeling programs and updates on current laws and regulations. Version 3.0 will also feature detailed information on green cleaning and H1N1 as well as an expanded section on food service. Check it out for the latest in training and operations for green cleaning programs and much more.
To learn more, click here or contact Sara Klinzing at 312-419-1810.
Green Clean Schools National Summit Brings Together Advocates, Industry Leaders
On September 15, HSC pulled together more than 60 advocates, cleaning manufacturers, distributors and national partners in Washington DC at our second Green Clean Schools National Summit. It was a time to network, share, and plan for more efforts to promote green cleaning policy.
The group reported on green clean state legislation activity during 2009, discussed guiding principles for model green clean state legislation, identified opportunities for moving legislation in 2010, and connected with others interested in promoting green cleaning in schools.
At HSC, we'll keep our eyes on legislation that is being introduced, work with our partners to support their efforts, and identify states where we can help introduce new bills to encourage greater adoption of green cleaning policy. Stay posted for details!
Spotlight on Green Seal & EcoLogo: Labeling Safe, Green Cleaning Products
By Lindsay Muscato, Writer/Communications Specialist
In an ideal world, all cleaning products would be safe -- both for people and for the planet, says Scot Case, vice-president of EcoLogo. But until that ideal becomes a reality, organizations such as EcoLogo help consumers identify the safest, most environmentally preferable products.
The organization researches the safety of products based on a variety of factors, including chemical composition and how the product is manufactured, and then places its seal on the top 20 percent of the safest products available, Case explained.
“All of our standards are transparent and open to the public,” says Case, “so that the public knows exactly what the product had to do in order to earn our label.”
EcoLogo, originally formed in 1988 by the Canadian government, is now managed by TerraChoice, an environmental marketing firm dedicated to promoting safer, greener products that meet its science-based criteria. EcoLogo’s seal has a presence in Europe and Asia as well as Canada.
In the U.S., it’s similar in design and mission to Green Seal, an independent nonprofit organization founded in 1989 that also labels products. Case says: “Both Green Seal and EcoLogo are Type 1 environmental labels which means they are environmental leadership labels. They focus on multiple issues and standards.”
Mark Petruzzi, Vice President of Certification and Strategic Relations for Green Seal, Inc. describes the need for EcoLogo and Grean Seal this way: “We do all the dirty work for you so, as a purchaser, you don't need to waste your time thinking about the chemical composition of each product. It's all been distilled down into a seal of approval. It’s like, when you go to the grocery store and are thousands of miles away from the point of production, there’s no way you can look a farmer in the eye and ask if your jug of milk is organic. So you look for the USDA organic seal.”
Petruzzi says that both Green Seal and EcoLogo look at the product’s manufacturing process from start to finish. . .
Keep reading on the HSC blog »
Schools, Green Cleaning and H1N1
By Mark Bishop, Deputy Director
From my perspective, the theme around the back-to-school season this year has been H1N1 -- swine flu.
Nurses have been overwhelmed with preparing, teachers have been getting information on prevention strategies, administrators are creating plans address outbreaks, and custodians are being held up as one of the key team members to reduce the spread of the disease.
And it seems like the spread is starting.
While most cases so far are mild, and the health care system is handling the load, officials say the number of people seeking treatment for the flu is unprecedented for this time of year.
So first of all, let's emphasize CDC's commonsense recommendations to protect your health from H1N1 and any infectious disease:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.
Second, let's look at our cleaning programs, and make sure that we're not over-compensating with the overuse of disinfectants. A green cleaning program is about reducing risk of chemical exposure and targeted use of disinfectants.
Disinfectant use should be limited to high-touch areas such as door handles, keyboards, light switches, and tables. When selecting a disinfectant, work with vendors to select the least toxic, most affordable option, and always choose EPA registered products.
This story has a good Q & A:
Many schools and classrooms are being stocked with soap, hand sanitizer, paper towels and tissues, and administrators are sending home letters to parents outlining prevention strategies.
Following guidelines issued by federal, state and county health officials, teachers, nurses and others will frequently stress the importance of hand-washing, and will be on the lookout for students exhibiting flulike symptoms.
Some schools are stepping up routine cleaning, especially for doorknobs, computer keyboards and other frequently touched areas.
So take precaution, wash your hands, follow sensible green cleaning procedures, stay home when sick, and look to the CDC for guidance. |
