ATLANTA –New research supported by ASHRAE indicates that non-chemical devices (NCD) marketed to control the growth of biological agents, such as Legionella in cooling towers, may not materially reduce biological growth. Research project No. 1361, Biological Control in Cooling Towers Using Non-Chemical Water Treatment Devices, a two-year project recently completed by Dr. Radisav Vidic at the University of Pittsburgh, evaluated five non-chemical devices using different technologies to control biological activity in a model cooling-tower system. The devices studied included a hydrodynamic cavitation device, pulsed and static electric field devices, an ultrasonic device and a magnetic device. In Dr. Vidic’s...

NATIONAL REPORT—Any discussion about green cleaning today should include the ways that water—plain old H2O—is being used to replace the toxic chemicals that cleaning and maintenance personnel have had to work with for decades. Cold water poured straight from the tap and used in that state is not going to clean much but if heated to a high temperature, ionized or infused with an extra oxygen atom, it can be just as effective or more effective at cleaning than the harshest chemicals. Many vendors now offer cleaning products that rely solely on water for cleaning. Some products are available...

NATIONAL REPORT—Whether for disposing of trash or for holding items purchased in a hotel or resort gift shop, bags—unless they are used over and over again—have historically been a detriment to the environment. There are not a lot of things that are created just to be thrown away but most bags fall into this category. Plastic bags account for 10,000 tons of landfill space in the United States. It takes a thousand years for a plastic bag to naturally degrade. Less than 1 percent of plastic bags are recycled each year. Plastic bags are blamed for the annual death...

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...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—As demand for natural products continues to rise, the Natural Products Association (NPA) is extending its natural seal and standard to include home care products, such as household cleaners, laundry detergents, and concentrated and ready-to-use hard surface cleaners. Until now, there was no standard definition of the term “natural” used by the home care industry. Now, an easily identifiable seal will help consumers discern which products are natural. Shoppers can expect the seal to begin appearing on certified home care products in the coming months. “A number of products that are mainly synthetic are being positioned as natural,” said Daniel...

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...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Love Rainbows and Butterflies as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Love Rainbows and Butterflies is the owner and operator of www.cedaroilcentral.com. The site is the place to purchase organic pest control products formulated from Texas Red Cedar Oil. Versatile, non-toxic Cedar Oil products can be used for indoor/outdoor eradication of non-beneficial insects, including, but not limited to: bedbugs, fleas, dust mites and lice. The products come in different size containers. Natures Defender Bed Bugs, for example, is available in quart and gallon size containers. For more...

DALTON, GA.—The Carpet and Rug Institute has expanded its Seal of Approval testing and certification program by adding two new testing categories and expanding the existing extractors and deep-cleaning systems testing programs. Introductions to the program include a new Pet Odor and Stain Category, a Platinum Level for Extractors and Systems, and an Energy Efficiency Rating Option for Vacuums. A new Pet Odor and Stain Category has been added to the Seal of Approval Solutions program, joining the existing spot remover, pre-spray and in-tank solutions testing categories. The new protocol will test products marketed specifically for pet stain and odor...

PHILADELPHIA—National Chemical Laboratories, Inc. (NCL) announced that its EARTH SENSE Industrial and Institutional Cleaning Products have achieved Recertification status under the Green Seal GS-37 (2009) Standard (5th Edition). According to Bill Smith, NCL vice president of marketing, “This recertification of our EARTH SENSE products to the GS-37 (2009) Standard underscores NCL’s commitment to promoting healthy, green cleaning at schools, office buildings and other facilities. NCL is proud of our past accomplishments in producing high performance, environmentally-conscious formulations, and is excited about our future involvement with Green Seal, Inc. and other organizations in creating new, sustainable product solutions with improved...

CINCINNATI—Procter & Gamble Professional, the away-from-home division of Procter & Gamble, released the findings of its “Cleaning in a Down Economy” survey, which revealed that 85 percent of surveyed cleaning professionals have adopted a “doing more with less” approach in response to current economic conditions. P&G Professional launched the survey to gauge how decision makers managing in-house or contract cleaning services in the health care, education, retail, commercial, foodservice and hospitality industries have reacted, and adapted, to recent business conditions. The findings point out that cleaning service managers have often had to tackle the same amount of labor with fewer...