School System Complying with Legislation to Go Green

The State of Connecticut has joined the “green” trend with legislation it passed in June of 2009 that now requires schools to have a green cleaning plan in place as well as use green cleaning products only.

Former Gov. M Jodi Rell signed the legislation at Vernon Center Middle School on June 11, 2009, according to a news release on the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Web site.  Rell approved the legislation because she felt it would be a benefit to schools and the environment.

"Schools are places of great promise for our children, where dedicated teachers and staff help shape and guide their futures. We can now color that future green, as well," Rell said during a bill signing at Vernon Center Middle School. "This law will help ensure a healthy environment for everyone who walks through the doors of public schools in Connecticut."

The new legislation requires school districts to have a green cleaning program in place by July 1, 2011. Vernon sent home a letter in September explaining to parents what products schools can use and what products are no longer allowed in school. The green cleaning products now have to meet nationally certified guidelines and approved by the state Department of Administrative Services.

Products include: general purpose cleaning, bathroom, glass and carpet cleaners; hand cleaners and soaps; floor finishers and strippers.

That means no hand sanitizer, no baby wipes, no Clorox wipes, no bleach can be brought to school or used to clean the schools.

Vernon uses products from manufacturer of green products, Brulin. Custodians use filling stations that help them measure how much product should be in each spray bottle. Each product is color and number coded to assist those who may be color blind according to Joseph Ganges, the assistant director of plant Operations. Spray bottles are coded similarly.

Ganges made a presentation to the board of education on Feb. 13 about the new cleaning program. He explained that it is a change for the custodians as well as staff members. Custodians specifically received individualized training when the manufacturer installed the product stations.

"Our green cleaning program has been going well throughout the district," Ganges said. "Staff and custodians have been directed to use ‘green’ products and have been trained on how to use these products."

Ganges explained to the board that the start-up cost for the cleaning program was costly because product stations needed to be installed as well as specific spray bottles. There is also added cost to the district because the product similar to hand sanitizer is provided by the district. In the past schools would solicit donations from families for hand sanitizer and baby wipes for student use. Because the program is in its first year, the actual cost of the program is still being figured.

But Ganges reported that the green products between $31.05 per gallon to $35.84 per gallon break down to between 12 cents and 66 cents per diluted gallon. Previously some of the products used cost between $11.80 and $13.87 per gallon which breaks down to 18 cents to 21 cents per diluted gallon.

The Brulin site explains its investment in green cleaning for school maintenance. "Increasing Federal, State and local mandates are requiring schools and government buildings to use environmentally-friendly cleaning products. Brulin wants to help eliminate the green tape."

Healthier for Students - studies find that the use of green cleaning procedures along with other green building operations improve school attendance as well as performance in the classroom.

Safer for Janitorial Workers - reduces health effects to staff from spills and splashes. Increases safety by reducing the likelihood of fires and explosions. Increases worker satisfaction.

Better for the Environment - conserves energy and resources. Protects the land, air, water and atmosphere.

The district uses five Brulin products. Doug Williams, a formula chemist with Brulin, explained what the green products are similar to other products.

• Brulin Maxima 256 Disinfectant – hospital grade disinfectant.

• Brulin Terragreen Neutral cleaner –similar to Spic n’ Span.

• Brulin Terragreen Degreaser –similar to Formula 409.

• Brulin Glass Cleaner – similar to Windex.

• Brulin Terragreen Hypermax - contains hydrogen peroxide.

Brulin further explained that there is no one standard regarding green cleaning products. The Environmental Protection Agency has a program that looks at the chemistry of a product, according to Williams. Green Seal, an independent agency also gives industry ratings regarding green products that looks at what damage can occur to the environment like damage to aquatic life, does the product break down quickly, are the pollutants harmful, and the packaging.

“There is not one fine standard in the industry. It means what manufactures want it to mean,” Williams said. “Green products are toxicology safe meaning they would not cause problems for the landfills.

"The Green movement is a very nice thing because it brings environmental awareness,” Williams said. “But what they haven’t done is really settled on what is green. It is being used as a metric. It can mean what you want it to be. Going Green is reasonable. It is definitely a trend."

There are concerns amongst parents and some staff of the effectiveness of the green products. Some find it difficult to get the "grime" off desks while others worry about the lack of disinfects in the green products.

Williams explained sometimes surfaces do not seem clean after using green products because the wrong cleaner was used. Microfiber clothes can also assist with using green cleaners.

"Sometimes it can be the cleaner is not matching what is trying to be removed," Williams said. "Microfiber cloths have more bristles and points of contact than a paper towel."

Vernon does provide each classroom with a cloth, not microfiber, according to Ganges, but a cloth that is more durable than a paper towel to assist with cleaning computers and keyboards.

Data from attendance records and the district nurses’ offices do not show any unusual patterns of sickness or absences since the start of the green cleaning program.

District Health Data

Streptococcus

Conjunctivitis

Mono

5ths

MERSA

Confirmed Flu

Pneumonia

Viral Meningitis

2008-9

111

79

10

3

1

0

5

0

2009-10

148

81

8

0

0

164

17

1

2010-11

115

48

11

3

0

2

12

0

2011-12

147

52

11

2

3

0

18

1

Ganges said that it can take time to adapt to new products and processes. He would like to add microfiber mops in the future.

"It’s change. It’s a new thing," Ganges said. "Each year will get better and better as we adapt to this new expectation."