As schools across the country increasingly switch to green cleaning programs to protect student and staff health, at least four more states have passed green clean schools legislation this year. “What we’re seeing is a real movement as more school leaders recognize green cleaning as a simple change that goes miles in protecting the health of everyone in the school building,” said Mark Bishop, deputy director of the Healthy Schools Campaign, an independent not-forprofit organization dedicated to healthy school environments. “It’s a common-sense, cost-effective switch for schools, and it’s simply the right thing to do.”

The states of Illinois, Maine, Missouri and New York have laws in place requiring or encouraging green cleaning in schools, and legislators in Connecticut, Maryland, Nevada and Hawaii have passed green clean schools legislation this year.

“This shift in cleaning practices is spreading through the school marketplace and among the industry that provides cleaning products to schools,” said Steve Ashkin of The Green Cleaning Network and The Ashkin Group, LLC. “Green cleaning in schools is a win-win situation, protecting our children’s health while helping our marketplace evolve toward safer and more sustainable practices.”

Green cleaning is most commonly defined as cleaning to protect health without harming the environment. And while there are variations in how states are defining environmentally preferred cleaning, most states are turning to the following three eco-label programs to aid their efforts in simplifying green purchasing decisions:

The U.S. Design for the Environment (DfE) Safer Product Recognition Program is a voluntary EPA program that partners with manufacturers to ensure use of the safest possible ingredients in chemical-based products.

The DfE Program applies a rigorous scientific methodology, based on ingredient component- class screens and whole product criteria, to ensure that products bearing the EPA logo contain best-in-class ingredients and are safer for families and the environment. The DfE Program has allowed use of its logo on more than 1,000 products, reducing the use of chemicals of concern by 270 million pounds.

EcoLogo (formerly Environmental Choice) is a multi-attribute environmental standard setting and third-party certification program. EcoLogo standards address resource use, chemicals used during production, waste and emission reduction, energy consumption and packaging. Originally started by the Canadian government, EcoLogo is now used throughout the world. EcoLogo certified products are widely available throughout North America. Find them at www.ecologo.org.

Green Seal is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to safeguarding the environment and transforming the marketplace by promoting the manufacture, purchase, and use of environmentally responsible products. To learn more about Green Seal standards, visit http://greenseal.org. States with new policies on green clean schools: Connecticut; Hawaii; Maryland; and Nevada. States that introduced green clean schools legislation in 2009: California; Massachusetts; Minnesota; Oregon; Rhode Island; and Vermont. The Healthy Schools Campaign, an independent not-for-profit organization, is a leading authority on healthy school environments and a voice for people who care about our environment, our children and education.

To learn more about HSC’s green cleaning work, go to www.greencleanschools.org.

Expo Focuses on Green Building in Southeast

International trends, techniques, technologies and materials in green building and sustainable development will be the subject of the 2009 Green Building Focus Conference & Expo to be held in Birmingham, Ala. July 27-29.

The three-day academic conference is designed to motivate and educate construction and facilities management professionals, as well as government officials on the latest international developments in managing more environmentally sensitive buildings and communities.

Speakers include the actor and environmentalist, Ed Begley Jr., star of the hit TV reality series “Living with Ed;” Professor Charles Kibert from The University of Florida, the original author of the book “Sustainable Development;” and Karan Grover the internationally acclaimed Indian architect, who in 2004 won the first USGBC “Platinum” Award for the greenest building on earth.

The comprehensive three-day agenda includes a full day seminar introduction to ICC-700: 2008 National Green Building Standard, presented by the International Code Council, and the full day “Learning to LEED” course presented by Professor Charles Kibert, Ph.D.

The Program Includes:
• 10 Internationally acclaimed keynote speakers in the general session;
• 18 CEU accredited breakout sessions on key practical elements of green construction and design;
• The largest regional exhibition of green building products and services;
• A focus on stimulus package opportunities for construction professionals;
• Information about the latest international trends, techniques, technologies and materials in the green building movement;
• Networking opportunities with regional industry and government leaders as well as products and services suppliers.

Case studies to be presented include:
• The Green Building, Louisville, KY; Retrofitting a 110 year-old building to obtain LEED Platinum – Presented by (fer) Studio, Los Angeles, CA.
• EcoManor, Atlanta, GA; The Design- Build Development of a model residential green building – Presented by Harrison Design Associates, Atlanta, GA.
• GSA – Social Security Administration Building, Birmingham, AL; The Design- Build Development of a 600,000 square foot commercial green building – Presented by Opus South Corporation, Atlanta, GA.

Workshops include the following:
• How Smart Companies Innovate in a Recession: Learn how you can benefit from the growing demand for green buildings and communities.
• The Stimulus Package: Learn about funding opportunities and expected growth sectors stimulated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

For more information about the 2009 Green Building Focus Conference & EXPO visit www.greenbuildingfocus.com /register or call (205) 326-2380.