CM/Spotlight: Sustainability Making Green The Way To Go The technological advantages offered by spray-and-squeegee touchless cleaning systems go hand-in-hand with the increased emphasis on green cleaning processes. By: Bill Taylor Bill Taylor is the ICS Sales Manager for Cincinnati, Ohio-based Hydro Systems Company, the world’s largest independent manufacturer of proportioning, dosing and dispensing systems for con-centrated chemicals, serving the janitorial, institutional, food service, commercial cleaning, industrial and automotive-care markets. Bill can be contacted at (513) 271-8800 or [email protected]. More information can also be obtained at www.hydrosystemsco.com. T Thereʼs no question that when it comes to the cleaning, sanitation and general upkeep of the nationʼs schools, hospitals, hotels, office buildings and supermarkets — among many, many others — green is becoming the new black. “Green” as in green cleaning practices that are being put into place encourages — and, in some states, even mandates — the use of environmen-tally friendly cleaning supplies, water conserva-tion and reconfigured cleaning regimens that decrease the use of energy. Green Is Spreading To illustrate the growing awareness of the bene-fits inherent in the adoption of green cleaning practices, ISSA has created a report titled, Green Cleaning Product Procurement Policies, Initiatives and Requirements in the U.S., which currently lists a total of 16 states that have adopt-ed green cleaning policies of one kind or another. Falling in the sweet spot of this increased emphasis on green cleaning are the nationʼs schools and hospitals. In fact, according to ISSAʼs report, a number of states and other entities have introduced legisla-tion or guidelines that recommend green cleaning regimens and the types of chemicals and products that should be used in educational environments. Three states have mandated green cleaning legislation (at the time this article was written): In August 2005, Governor George Pataki signed into law S.5435 that requires the use of environmentally friendly cleaning prod-ucts in all schools in New York State. The law lists green cleaning guidelines, address-es the best cleaning management practices and specifies criteria for selecting green cleaning products In August 2007, then Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich signed the Green Cleaning Schools Act, which requires all public and non-public elementary and secondary schools with 50 or more students to “… establish a green cleaning policy and exclu-sively purchase and use environmentally sensitive cleaning products” Missouri recently passed legislation that required the stateʼs Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop guidelines and specifications for green cleaning in the stateʼs schools. Three others have developed guidelines, without mandating their implementation (at the time this article was written): In 2007, Maineʼs legislature passed a bill for more info Visit www.cmmonline.com and type in search keyword: Touchless . For more information on related products, visit www.cmmonline.com , select SUPPLIER SEARCH from the main navigation bar, and enter keyword: Equipment . Are you in a location that requires the use of green clean-ing? If not, you soon may be. 28 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • June 2009
CMM – Archives Jun 2009: 28
