FAIRFIELD, CONN.—ASHRAE announced the approval for publication for the first-ever pathogen mitigation standard. It was developed at the request of the White House, prior to the expiration of Title 42 COVID public health emergency. An AtmosAir representative was on a committee that completed the standard. ASHRAE’s 241-P: Control of Infectious Aerosols, outlines requirements for buildings to reduce the risk of disease transmission in indoor spaces. One highlight of the standard is the use of equivalent clean air, as opposed to just outside air. This means buildings using advanced air cleaning technologies will be able to bring in less outside air and...

Bradley Corp. just released the results of its annual Healthy Handwashing Survey. What is really no surprise—thanks to the years of Covid—Bradley found most Americans are so averse to encountering germs in public restrooms that they go out of their way to avoid surfaces and touchpoints in these shared spaces. According to the survey, 62 percent of Americans use a paper towel as a barrier to avoid touching flushers, faucets, and doors. Women are even more likely to use the “paper towel as a glove” approach, with 67 percent taking this evasive measure. Others employ sheer physicality to steer clear...

ODESSA, FLA.—Green Lodging News has added Force of Nature to its Green Product & Service Directory in the Cleaning Products/Disinfectants/Laundry category. Force of Nature is a toxic-free multi-purpose cleaning and disinfecting brand that is safe for guests and staff and saves up to 80 percent of cost versus traditional toxic cleaning products. The company’s portable appliances use electricity to convert tap water, salt and vinegar into an all-in-one cleaner, deodorizer, sanitizer, and EPA registered hospital-grade disinfectant as effective as bleach. Force of Nature uses a 60-year-old industrial technology called electrolyzed water, to create two new ingredients: Hypochlorous Acid (the disinfectant)...

MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS.—Businesses that fail to keep their restrooms clean and maintained are unwittingly flushing away customers’ repeat business and sales. According to the Healthy Handwashing Survey from Bradley Corp., almost 60 percent of Americans make it a point to stop at a business and will spend more money at the establishment if they know it has clean and maintained restrooms. In fact, those age 25-44 are even more likely to shell out more cash based on the condition of a business’ restroom. Conversely, there are negative business repercussions for experiencing a restroom in poor condition. More than half of Americans say an unclean...

VISTA, CALIF.—During the pandemic, we learned several good restroom habits that kept us healthy. However, public health officials are concerned that many of these protective measures are now being tossed out the window. “Even when restroom surfaces look clean, they may be little more than a Petri dish,” says Klaus Reichardt, CEO and Founder of Waterless Co., Inc. marketers of no-water urinals. “With so many surfaces, counters, knobs, and handles in public restrooms, it’s hard not to come in contact with surface contaminants.” Making matters worse, toilet and urinal plume—the releasing of germs and bacteria into the air when toilets or urinals are flushed—continually...

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA—CodeSteri, a leading provider of disinfection solutions, announced the launch of PlaClin-M, a device designed to help ensure a clean and safe environment in offices, commercial establishments, and public spaces. CodeSteri started from the Korean government project to combat new infectious diseases by the incumbent professor and MD of Hanyang University Emergency Medicine, Seoul. PlaClin-M uses advanced plasma technology to quickly and effectively disinfect any surface and space in a matter of minutes. CodeSteri, with a $4.2M grant from the Korean government, developed PlaClin after five years of R&D efforts with top experts in related fields commencing from 2015 when Mers hit Korea...

CHANNEL ISLANDS, CALIF.—As we enter a post-COVID era in commercial cleaning, it is important to note that some schools and commercial facilities are beginning to forget all they learned about effective and thorough cleaning. This includes realizing the value and health benefits of green cleaning, according to Steve Ashkin, long known as the “Father of Green Cleaning.” “Every day, I hear about organizations cutting back on their cleaning staff or asking their workers to clean more square feet in the same amount of time,” says Ashkin. “Asking fewer workers to do more in a shorter amount of time is a setup...

SOLNA, SWEDEN—The use of air cleaners has become more frequent during the pandemic, but how effective are they at fighting viruses? A joint study by the Virus Research Centre at Sendai Medical Center and QleanAir Japan center has succeeded in measuring this. The result shows that the QleanAir FS 30 air cleaner can remove over 95 percent of airborne virus particles in only 10 minutes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the question of whether airborne viruses can be eliminated from indoor air was raised. A joint study conducted by Sendai Medical Center and QleanAir Japan has succeeded in measuring the impact...

The idea for the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system was hatched almost 30 years ago in 1993. Today, there are more than 100,000 buildings participating in the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) certification program. Approximately 1,000 of those buildings are lodgings located around the world. According to USGBC, “LEED certified buildings are proven to save money, improve efficiency, lower carbon emissions, and create healthier places for people. They are a critical part of addressing the climate crisis, meeting ESG goals, enhancing resilience, and supporting more equitable communities.” The most recent version of LEED is LEED...

CYPRESS, CALIF.—As we continue to see relaxed COVID-19 restrictions—leaving the onus of safety in the hands of business operators, owners and facilities managers—global visual technologies company Christie has introduced its newest CE- and UL- certified commercial UVC-LED disinfection light fixture for occupied, indoor spaces. Christie CounterAct UR10 with UVC-LED and patented Care222 far-UVC - plus visible light, in a single unit, is recommended for commercial offices, government facilities, schools, transit hubs, retail shops, and medical buildings—for enhanced and safe airborne and surface disinfection wherever people gather indoors, in public places. CounterAct UR10 builds on the release of the CA20, Christie’s...