ATLANTA—NSF International and the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) announced the joint development of a health-based standard that addresses chemical emissions from products. This comprehensive standard will streamline the myriad methods currently used for measuring and limiting chemical emissions from products, and will incorporate the most recent science on human health and toxicology to provide acute and chronic chemical exposure limits. The final GEI-NSF standard will serve as a valuable tool for sustainability programs; federal, state, and local governments; code officials; architects and designers; health professionals; specifying professionals; and consumers by helping them choose products that minimize air pollutants in indoor...

BURBANK, CALIF.—Steril-Aire, Inc. announces that it has signed an agreement with SANYO North America Corporation to distribute the new SANYO professional Air Washer Plus, an air purification system that uses electrolyzed water technology to suppress airborne bacteria, allergens, particulates, odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Steril-Aire, a leader in providing green, sustainable solutions for indoor air quality and energy efficiency, will initially distribute the product through its extensive network of trained representatives and distributors in the United States and Canada, with plans to roll out the program to Latin America. The professional Air Washer Plus is the first system of its...

MOONACHIE, N.J.—Introducing energy efficient styles to its complete line of high-quality, high-performance compact fluorescents, BULBRITE introduces the PurifyO2 family of Coil and T5 Quad CFLs which break down odors. They are ideal for damp smelling applications. Ideal for restrooms, closets, gyms, and other damp-smelling rooms in the home, hospital, hotel, daycare center, kennel, pet store and other residential and commercial spaces, the PurifyO2 line safely breaks down odors while providing energy efficient light. It is a healthy alternative to traditional chemical-based air fresheners. PurifyO2 CFLs are designed with a TiO2 coating that helps purify the air and eliminate...

Are you interested in creating healthier work environments? Using your garment or textile care budget to support truly environmentally friendly services and technology? What about adding an additional item to your checklist for becoming a green hotel? The Problems with Traditional Dry Cleaning Able to dissolve most organic materials, perchloroethylene (commonly known as perc or PCE) is the most widely used dry cleaning solvent nationally. It has been estimated by the Environmental Protection Agency that approximately 85 percent of cleaners use PCE as their primary solvent. However, some studies suggest that long-term frequent over-exposure to organic solvents such as PCE may...

NATIONAL REPORT—In the last several years, the number of green lodging certification programs available to U.S. hotels has exploded with programs emerging at the national, state and city level. For the most part, these programs address indoor air quality by encouraging lodging establishments to avoid the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are often found in paints, glues, cleaning chemicals, furniture and other items. Some even ask if a property has been tested for radon gas. Ironically, most certification programs avoid addressing the most obvious action that can impact guestroom air quality: smoking. Many studies have proven the ill, often...

NATIONAL REPORT—In 2002, when San Francisco’s famed Fairmont Hotel reopened after more than a year of extensive remodeling, one of the first things visitors noted was that acres of carpeting had been replaced with acres of hard surface floors. This is an example of a trend that has been occurring in all types of commercial and residential settings. Where wall-to-wall carpeting was common, hard surface floor coverings, such as stone and wood, are now taking its place. For hotel housekeepers this can mean a major change in cleaning operations. Instead of vacuuming these acres of carpeted floors, they now need...

CHICAGO—Coalesse, a new premium live/work furnishings brand, has received the prestigious Designs for Dignity 2010 Sustainability Award. Coalesse is committed to environmentally-responsible design practices and materials and has several products that have earned SCS (Scientific Certification Systems) certification for indoor air quality protection. Coalesse requires all wood veneers sourced from outside of North America and approved European partners to be FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified to ensure fair, safe and responsible methods are used to harvest and process the wood. Coalesse has eight accredited LEED professionals on its team as part of its ongoing effort to remain a leader in...

ATLANTA—Ensuring good indoor air quality (IAQ) means everyone breathes a little easier: occupants who experience improved health, comfort and productivity, and owners who see increased building value and reduced risk. New guidance for achieving enhanced IAQ is available from five leading building industry associations and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The book and CD provide strategies needed to achieve good IAQ using proven technologies and without significantly increasing costs. “The health and comfort of building occupants is too important to leave IAQ as an after-thought in design, construction and operation,” said Andrew Persily, Ph.D., chair of the committee that wrote...

NORFOLK, NEB.—MP Global Products, a leader in the manufacture of underlayment for the flooring industry, announced that FiberBacker, by MP Global Products L.L.C, has earned Indoor Advantage Gold certification from Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), the organization’s highest level of indoor environmental quality certification and the most stringent indoor air quality certification in the country. It is the first underlayment for ceramic and porcelain floors to do so. The seal from SCS requires conformance with limits for 80 different volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) and is intended to insure that individual occupants’ overall exposure to any one of these chemicals does...

BOISE, IDAHO—ProTeam has earned the gold Seal of Approval/Green Label from the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) for seven of its leading vacuums, signifying that they meet the highest standards for carpet cleaning effectiveness and indoor air quality. Vacuums awarded gold pass a stringent testing process at an independent laboratory and meet three key performance criteria: amount of soil removed, containment of dust and dirt within the machine, and carpet fiber protection. ProTeam vacuums rated gold include: Super CoachVac, Super CoachVac HEPA, Super QuarterVac, Super QuarterVac HEPA, MegaVac, RunningVac and ProVac CN. The Super CoachVac and Super CoachVac HEPA are...