BLOOMINGTON, IND.—Green Cleaning University (GCU), a professional development tool and resource of information pertaining to green cleaning and healthy building maintenance, was unveiled by The Ashkin Group, LLC at www.greencleaninguniversity.org. GCU is modeled after a traditional Ivy League campus, but with online programming designed for today’s busy cleaning industry professionals. The faculty includes some of the nation’s leading experts in green buildings, green cleaning and healthy building maintenance. Students have access to a wide variety of data and learning tools. These are accessible via interactive classes, online discussion groups, special conferences, an extensive library and bookstore. ...

QUEBEC, CANADA—Earth Alive Resources introduces RapidAll, an all-in-one janitorial and sanitation cleaner that does not harm humans, animals or the environment. The product’s ingredients include a natural nutrient substrate which acts as a microbial carrier and contains a strong natural surfactant. The unique characteristics of the substrate is that it allows it to effectively clean almost any surface, while providing for a remediation of organic materials trapped in surface cracks such as grout or tiles. Through repetitive applications, an increasing number of microbes are released into the surface cracks, allowing for constant digestion of organic materials that cause...

BENICIA, CALIF.—Pacific Ozone Technology, a supplier of OEM ozone equipment, has launched Element Ozone, a subsidiary company supplying ozone technology for light commercial applications. Element Ozone’s countertop ozone generator is designed for kitchens in hotel restaurants and can be used to sanitize and disinfect hands, foods and food prep surfaces. “Because of the increased liability food service companies have, the industry is ready to embrace ozone as an antimicrobial agent, says Jeremy Ke, operations manager for Element Ozone. Ozone provides organizations with an effective barrier against contamination. In addition, it is natural, eco-friendly and produces a natural by-product:...

MINNEAPOLIS—Advance introduces the Advolution 2710, a battery-powered rider burnisher that provides a superior gloss and maximum productivity without the emissions or noise associated with propane burnishers. The machine increases productivity with its ride-on capability and extended run time. The Advolution 2710 rider also utilizes a front steering system, allowing the operator to easily maneuver in congested areas and around obstacles. “We designed the new Advolution 2710 burnisher with the operator in mind,” says Sara Thurston, brand manager for Advance. “The machine automatically controls the pad pressure and velocity for consistent, superior gloss results every time.” The One-Touch...

DUNEDIN, FLA.—Mintek Mobile Data Solutions, a leading provider of automated solutions for preventive maintenance (PM) and asset management, has finalized an agreement with Loews Hotels that will result in its WinTrack PM system being implemented in 18 of the New York-based company’s properties in the United States and Canada. The agreement with Loews comes on the heels of the hotel company’s announcement that it intends to expand its brand in major cities throughout North America. “We are honored that WinTrack PM has been selected by a company so respected in the lodging industry,” says Lind Hutton, executive vice...

PETERBOROUGH, ONT.—Enviro-Solutions introduces an all new multipurpose cleaner—71C—combining the cleaning power of hydrogen peroxide with citrus oil. Depending on dilution, 71C can be used to safely clean glass, mirrors, floors, tile and grout, walls, and virtually all surfaces. It also can be used as a carpet extraction cleaner and spotter. The hydrogen peroxide helps dissolve soils, stains and eliminates odors. Moreover, because it is Green Seal and Carpet Rug Institute certified, it is safe, effective, and cost competitive as well. For more information, visit Enviro-Solutions.

NATIONAL REPORT—The road has not been an easy one for green cleaning product entrepreneurs trying to break into the hospitality industry. One company has dominated the lodging sector for years and there has been the perception that green cleaning products are more expensive and less effective than market competitors. While those perceptions may have been true 10 years ago, it is no longer the case. In fact, with the price of petroleum—a primary ingredient in many cleaning fluids—skyrocketing, green cleaning options can be just as affordable. Also, in many cases, they can be more effective than more toxic...

NATIONAL REPORT—Why be concerned about indoor air quality (IAQ)? It has been well documented that indoor air contaminants can cause physiological and physical changes in humans including nose, throat and skin irritation, allergic reactions, respiratory problems such as asthma, and even infections. Poor IAQ also has been shown to damage building materials, furnishings and equipment. For example, walls, furnishings and paintings can become coated with residue fumes from cars and trucks, tobacco smoke, fireplaces, cooking fumes and odors, and even candles over time. Some contaminants can even change the electrical nature of components in electronic equipment. ...

NATIONAL REPORT—Patty Griffin, a nonsmoker, recently found herself staying in a smoking room in a hotel in Texas. It wasn’t her first choice, but it was what was available. The smoking odor didn’t hit her hard, however, until she got home and unpacked. “I took out a cotton nightgown, and I couldn’t believe how much it smelled like smoke,” says Griffin, president and founder of the 300-member Green Hotels Assn., Houston, Texas. Certainly, hotels and motels are becoming more accommodating to nonsmokers such as Griffin who don’t want to smell stale smoke or be exposed to its health risks. In...

As building and facility managers, you are probably aware of the availability of green cleaning products, at least on the periphery. But there’s much more to green cleaning than just environmentally preferable cleaning products. Green cleaning is not about simply replacing your current product with a milder cleaner. By definition, green cleaning can simply be defined as “cleaning to protect health without harming the environment.” Green cleaning is about understanding the unique requirements of your building and your occupants, examining your entire process of cleaning, identifying the areas that can be improved, developing a plan and the procedures to implement...