NASA's JPL Goes Gold Certified

Last week issuewire.com posted an article announcing that NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (or JPL) has attained LEED Gold certification for its new Flight Projects Center, located near Pasadena, CA. The building’s design, created by a team of sustainable architects at LPA Inc., is being celebrated for achieving LEED Gold status on a “Silver” budget.  Dr. Charles Elachi, the JPL’s director, said in a video attached to the issuewire.com article, “[The building] is highly functional for our purpose, and at the same time reduces our carbon footprint.” Elachi sees LEED certification not as a barrier to JPL’s business, nor a trophy to hang on its wall—for JPL, employing green standards will allow them to do their jobs more effectively.

Before we go on, let’s review what LEED certification is. According to an earlier post [Seven World Trade Center LEED Certified] on this blog,

In early 2000, a coalition of construction-industry leaders established the LEED system (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), which grades structures in areas like energy and water consumption, indoor-air quality and constructive use of renewable materials. Ratings for LEED certification range from certified (26 to 32 points) to platinum (52 to 69 points); 39 gets you the gold certification.

LEED, a nonprofit organization, was created with hopes to develop a set of unified building standards that would make it easier for designers and builders to create sustainable structures. In addition, the government offers certain incentives to LEED certified projects, including grants and tax breaks.

So what are some of the Flight Projects Center’s greenest features? They include:

• Low-flow faucets and toilets will reduce water use by more than 44 percent compared with typical fixtures.
• A vegetative roof will keep the building cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The green roof will also help minimize storm water runoff into the Arroyo Seco, a dry riverbed near JPL.
• Drought tolerant, native plants and landscapes use 72 percent less water.
• Improved wall insulation, efficient chillers and boilers, window shading devices and the green roof will greatly reduce energy needs.
• Smart heating and cooling systems know whether people are in a room or not, and adjust temperatures and ventilation accordingly.

For more information:

Check out this article on the building’s ribbon cutting, released today.

For more information on LEED Certification and what it means, visit the wikipedia page or the USGBC site.

Chemistry For Cleaning

Last week we posted an article on steam cleaning that also made mention of new electrolyzed water treatment technology. That technology is better known as “active ion” cleaning, and as mentioned last week, it turns water into a cleaning solution.

The creators of the first handheld active ion cleaner can be found at www.activeion.com. They’re calling their product the “ActiveIon Pro”, and so far it’s very popular. It hasn’t hurt that ActiveIon has spent a lot of time in the spotlight this past year, with press coverage ranging from Forbes.com to an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. In a recent interview with Jean Hanson of TheJanitorialStore.com, ActiveIon CEO Jim Wiese spoke candidly about what his product can and can’t do. He answered questions about durability, replacement parts, quality of water required, and where the product should be applied.

It’s this last category, application, that interests many in the cleaning industry. It turns out that the current product has domestic origins: in the interview with Jean Hanson, CEO Jim Wiese says that ActiveIon came about as the result of a dog owner who wanted to safely clean his pet’s living quarters. Apparently, the dog was extremely sensitive to chemicals, and its owner needed a safe but reliable method. ActiveIon does not claim to have invented the technology—in fact, it’s existed for years in the food industry—but merely to have made it accessible to the rest of the cleaning industry.

Of course, one has to wonder how well ActiveIon will be able to make the transition from a more domestic marketplace to the cleaning industry at large. The two products currently available from ActiveIon, the ActiveIon Pro and the Ionator (a sanitizer/disinfectant), are available for 300$ and 329$, respectively.  ActiveIon claims that cost savings on chemicals pay for their products within months, but even so it’s likely that many BSCs will find it a difficult choice to make.

For more information check out this video series for the ActiveIon technology:

http://www.activeion.com/see/see2.aspx

Water Can Be a Powerful Cleaning Agent

Steam cleaning as a concept has been around for years, but only recently with the arrival of new technology has its popularity seen such rapid growth. This is due in large part to the Green cleaning movement, and the widespread demand for processes that will replace traditional methods with cleaner, safer technology.

In case you’re unfamiliar, the basic functions of steam cleaning are as follows: water is heated to above boiling, usually around 300 degrees fareinheit, then blasted into surfaces, bringing dirt and grime to the top where it can easily be removed. Steam cleaning can be used on a variety of surfaces, and has been found to be especially effective on porous or textured surfaces. Steam is able to penetrate deeply into these surfaces, expelling dirt that chemical treatments may not be able to reach.

The benefits are manifold: reduced chemical exposure makes it safer for cleaners and building occupants, and may help qualify a building for LEED certification; it can be used on a wide variety of surfaces and often removes stains in high-traffic zones such as those found in restaurants or schools; it can be a labor-saving device by reducing the amount of trips cleaners make to refill their chemical solutions. The list goes of accomplishments goes on. But perhaps most impressive is that everything on this list requires but one resource: tap water.

Of course, skepticism over the effectiveness of steam cleaning abounds, and that’s understandable. Consider, for example, how a cousin of steam cleaning—electrolyzed water treatment—is said to work. In his article on water-based cleaning systems, Nick Bragg of CleanLink writes,

The way it works is the tap water first passes through an electrified screen in the machine’s oxygenation chamber, creating highly oxygenated microbubbles. Next, the oxygenated water is sent through a water cell where an electric current is applied, creating a stream of blended, highly charged acidic and alkaline water that has the same attributes of a general purpose cleaner. In this activated state, the electrically charged water then breaks down dirt into small particles, removes it from the floor surface, and about 45 seconds later, the water returns to its original state and can be handled and disposed of safely.

So you can see why facility managers might think all this sounds too good to be true. Proponents of steam and water-based technology, however, are eager to bring their products in for demonstration. Confidence is certainly not lacking. But assuming the product is as effective as advertised, is it worth the higher price tag? This might be an easier question to answer. Nick Bragg cites Mike Gosson (President of Parish Maintenance Supply) who says yes, over the course of approximately two years a steam cleaning or electrolyzed water system pays back its investment in reduced chemical and water usage alone.

It’s likely that the cleaning industry will continue to have its reservations, but it steam and other water-based cleaning methods will continue to grow in popularity if for no other reason than their “green” appeal. A cleaning method that cleans as well as, if not arguably better than, traditional methods, without the related hazards to human and environmental health—this surely is one piece of technology that plans to stick around.

Additional Resources:

An article with information on disinfecting with steam cleaners.

For information on why steam cleaners are preferred for the removal of allergens look here.

Defining a Disinfectant

There’s a lot of confusion about the role that disinfectants play in the cleaning industry. On the internet right now are a slew of articles addressing the differences between cleaning and disinfecting. This is as good a place as any to start defining what disinfectants are and how they’re being used (and mis-used). Kelly Patterson wrote an excellent piece for Housekeeping Solutions magazine that tackles the “pluses and minuses” directly. In it, she concludes that disinfectants and cleaning should be two arms of a unified attack. As most experts are quick to point out, cleaning means removing soil or contaminants, while disinfecting means killing germs and microbes. Disinfecting should not replace cleaning, and in fact in many instances it cannot replace cleaning because often the germs’ source of nourishment is in the soil or contaminants left on the “disinfected” surface. Similarly, what most of us know is still true—a surface that appears clean may in fact be teeming with bacteria.

Some solutions do combine cleaning with disinfecting, but the labels on these products should be read carefully. In general, it’s wise to familiarize yourself with disinfectant-related terms in order to understand what the product is capable of doing. This is especially important with disinfectants because they work at the microbial level. Disinfectants are required to list on their labels which pathogens they kill. One should never assume a disinfectant will kill pathogens not listed on the label. In addition, a variety of other factors such as contact time required, concentration, cleaning efficacy, and cost in use should be considered. A good article on these terms was posted recently at Cleaning & Maintenance Management’s website.

Finally, what about green disinfectants? There’s been a lot of buzz over the EPA’s resistance to Green labeling for disinfectants. Some in the industry believe there is sufficient evidence that “green” disinfectants perform as well as traditional disinfectants but with fewer hazards to human and environmental health. An article in favor of green disinfectants can be found here. For the most part, the debate continues to center on the problem of making an intrinsically “un-green” product, a disinfectant, into something relatively harmless to humans and the environment. Most chemical distributors are working along these lines, trying to find the right balance between effectively killing bacteria and leaving as little a footprint behind as possible.

Preparing for the Second Round of Swine Flu

As mentioned in an earlier post, the second wave of Swine Flu is on its way. In fact, in many places throughout the U.S. it has already arrived. The government has been keeping the newest information available at www.flu.gov, but the simple fact of the matter is that much is still unknown. In an interview today, Dr. Julie Gerberding, the former director of the CDC, pointed out how mixed and complicated messages about swine flu make planning difficult. According to an article posted today on the website for the Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy (www.cidrap.umn.edu), Gerberding said: “When I oversaw the nation’s strategic national stockpile, one of the most needed items that we didn’t stock was a crystal ball.”

Now more than ever the emphasis is on preparation. Without knowing the specifics of the upcoming disease, much can still be accomplished by way of preparation. In the past few weeks the CDC has released a great deal of information to help businesses prepare for flu season. Much of this information addresses how to deal with absenteeism and workplace etiquette during a flu pandemic.  The more that the cleaning industry can team with employers to help prevent the spread of inspection, the better for everyone. Continue to review strategies for flu season.  A few good sources of information:

A good article for specific cleaning tips that might be useful to distribute.

Recent article addressing preparedness in the workplace

The most recent press release from the CDC; includes statistics of those infected as well as up-to-date information on forthcoming vaccinations

Wherever you stand in relation to green chemicals, it’s now no longer possible to deny their impact on the industry. For months now a proposal has been under consideration by the EPA to allow “green labeling” of certain qualified disinfectant chemicals. On September 3rd, that proposal was passed by the EPA during a meeting of the Workgroup on Comparative Safety Statements for Pesticide Product Labeling. The program will consist of two tracks: (1) The EPA’s Design for the Environment (DfE) product recognition and (2) limited statements of environmental preferability. The program is currently a “pilot” program that will control what kinds of claims can be made about qualified products.

Again, regardless of your position on green chemicals, awareness of the greater public and governmental stance on the position is imperative. A quick look at the EPA’s webpage for “Greening Your Purchase of Cleaning Chemicals” reveals important information, particularly in the note it gives at the top of the document:

NOTE: The following discussion primarily addresses hazards associated with cleaning product ingredients. The actual risks from these chemicals at typical exposure levels are often uncertain, and in many cases are probably low. Regardless of the expected risk levels, however, reducing the intrinsic hazard of a product is a desirable pollution prevention objective as part of decisions that also take into account other important product attributes.

As you can see, the discussion has begun to move away from “Green vs. Traditional chemicals” to “What’s the best way to incorporate green chemicals into the workplace.” It’s too soon to decide who’s won the day, but important to note the shift. Later in the document, the EPA gives a list called “Benefits of Buying Green” that’s interesting to consider:

• Choosing less hazardous products that have positive environmental attributes (e.g., biodegradability, low toxicity, low volatile organic compound (VOC) content, reduced packaging, low life cycle energy use) and taking steps to reduce exposure can minimize harmful impacts to custodial workers and building occupants, improve indoor air quality, and reduce water and ambient air pollution while also ensuring the effectiveness of cleaning in removing biological and other contaminants from the building’s interior.

• Buying cleaners in concentrates with appropriate handling safeguards, and reusable, reduced, or recyclable packaging, reduces packaging waste and transportation energy.

• Buying less hazardous cleaners may reduce costs when it comes time to properly dispose of any leftover cleaners.

Outsourced Cleaner

In current news is the recent survey conducted by AlturaSolutions Communications for Tornado Industries, a manufacturer of cleaning equipment based in Chicago, IL. The stated purpose of the survey, which used social media web sites designed to target cleaning industry contractors, was to determine trends impacting the industry. Tornado wanted to know if more building-service-contractors (BSCs) are considering outsourcing cleaning work to independent/sub contractors.  Of particular interest is whether or not the current state of the economy has impacted BSC’s consideration of this option.

The results from the nearly 100 respondents:

Compared to five years ago, 55 percent say they are not outsourcing more janitorial work today; thirty-six percent say they are; and the remainder indicates their use of outside contractors is “about the same.”

Asked the key benefits of outsourcing janitorial work, nearly 67 percent indicate it was “cost savings.”  Seventeen percent say they prefer it because it’s “easier to fire” workers.  The rest indicate contractors were more dependable and required little or no training.

The main problem with outsourcing janitorial work is “too little control over the work performed,” say 42 percent.  A third found the work of outsourced workers to be “less-than-satisfactory” and 25 percent say contract workers are harder to supervise.

Nearly 42 percent say they would not recommend outsourcing janitorial work to other BSCs—33 percent say they would.

Jolyn Kennedy, marketing manager for Tornado, said of the results: “Interestingly, even though there are mixed feelings about outsourcing, nearly 60 percent say they believe [outsourcing] will play a greater role in the industry five years from now. This may be a reflection of the tight economy and hopes that [BSCs] can cut costs by outsourcing instead of hiring employees directly.”

The issue of outsourcing stays in the minds of many building-service-contractors.  What are the benefits? What are the dangers? A little internet research quickly reveals a wealth of opinions, some useful and others not, that can be difficult to navigate. A few articles that we found to be most helpful:

Outsourcing Cleaning Operations, Outsourcing Causes, Marketing Considerations

–Concise but comprehensive. A good article to start with.

Outsourcing information technology

–Expands the definition of what services can be outsourced.

Transitioning from In-House Cleaning to Outsourcing Cleaning Services

–Helpful article for making the transition.

Swine Flu

As we know, the occurrence of Swine Flu has drastically decreased through the warmer months of summer. However, most reports indicate that there is still a moderate risk of a return outbreak. Andrew Pekosz, professor of immunology and microbiology at John Hopkins, pointed out in May of 2009 that H1N1 is a new virus, meaning no one has immunity. Also worrisome to public health officials is that many flu pandemics of the past have followed this pattern: an initial, mild wave of cases, followed by a lull, and then by more severe waves of infection months later.

All of the above is pertinent, of course, because the public’s attention is still very much on this issue. On August 10th, the CDC issued a report called “General Business and Workplace Guidance for the Prevention of Novel  Influenza A (H1N1) Flu in Workers.” The report serves a preparatory purpose, outlining symptoms of the disease and encouraging employers to take cautionary measures (http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/workplace.htm). Almost all of these measures implicate the cleaning industry indirectly, and some, such as the following taken from the report, directly:

* Provide sufficient facilities for hand washing and alcohol-based (at least 60%) hand sanitizers* (or wipes) in common workplace areas such as lobbies, corridors, and restrooms.

* Provide tissues, disinfectants, and disposable towels for employees to clean their work surfaces, as well as appropriate disposal receptacles for use by employees.

* One study showed that influenza virus can survive on environmental surfaces and can infect a person for up to 2-8 hours after being deposited on the surface. To reduce the chance of spread of the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus, disinfect commonly-touched hard surfaces in the workplace, such as work stations, counter tops, door knobs, and bathroom surfaces by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label.

What this means: as usual, cleaning services involved in high-risk buildings like schools will continue with their annual conversation concerning flu prevention and containment. However, additional industries may find it necessary to begin developing measures for the early combat of the disease. Most officials are looking to the fall and the Southern Hemisphere, where flu season begins earlier. An organized approach by cleaning services could form the backbone for flu-season preparation. Please take a few minutes to look through the following resources for information on cleaning services and flu preparation:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/general_info.htm

http://www.cleanlink.com/sm/article/Swine-Flu-Outbreak-Spotlights-Importance-Of-Cleaning–10896

Leed Certified

Seven World Trade Center, a 52-story, $7 million replacement for the building that fell at that address on 9/11, has been certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.   This marks the first building in New York City to be achieve the highly regarded LEED rating.

Certification was no easy task. In  early 2000, a coalition of construction-industry leaders established the LEED system (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), which grades structures in areas like energy and water consumption, indoor-air quality and constructive use of renewable materials. Ratings for LEED certification range from certified (26 to 32 points) to platinum (52 to 69 points); 39 gets you the gold certification. Seven World Trade Center received 35 points, which qualified it for a gold rating in the council’s pilot program for the category “core and shell” buildings, with no tenants.

Individuals recognized for their knowledge of the LEED rating system are permitted to use the LEED Accredited Professional (AP) acronym after their name, indicating they have passed the accreditation exam given by the Green Building Certification Institute (a third-party organization that handles accreditation for the USGBC).

SmartInspect is proud to announce their industry leading software allows for 1 LEED Point accreditation towards LEED Certification for conducting an audit in accordance with USGBC requirements to determine the appearance level of the facility.