Tips for Going Green

A report from the U.S. Green Building Council showed that green schools cost $3 more per square foot, but generated $74 per square foot in benefits from energy savings, increased attendance, and teacher retention.

The Green Schools Initiative, www.greenschools.net, uses a "Four Pillars" framework that "integrates efforts to reduce schools' ecological footprints, make school environments healthier, and get the whole community thinking about solutions to the problems we face."

The Four Pillars are:

* Strive for a toxics free environment
* Use resources sustainably
* Create a green and healthy space
* Teach, learn, engage!

We asked three leading companies to provide their thoughts on some effective ways that schools can "go green" within their facilities.

1. Conserving Water
"We often hear how facilities are working harder than ever to "green" their operations. Indeed, new and renovated schools built all over the country now incorporate a number of building components, designs, and materials that help reduce energy use, minimize the facility's impact on the environment, and provide an overall healthier atmosphere in which to work.

However, there's one area of sustainability not discussed as frequently that many scientists and astute business leaders believe is growing in concern—water use, and more specifically, water efficiency. Changes in population, climates, water management, and pollution are affecting water availability, access, affordability, and quality. Still, many governments and businesses around the world are either unaware of this growing problem or, worse, trying to ignore it.

Fortunately, because so much water is used to supply restroom fixtures such as toilets, sinks, and urinals, the manufacturers of these products are taking a leadership role and developing new ways to reduce water use, and even eliminate it, such as waterless urinals. With ever-rising water, sewer and service fee costs, reducing the amount of flushing on a daily basis is an immediate and long-term winner."

Klaus Reichardt
Chief Executive Officer
Waterless Co. Inc.
www.waterless.com

2. Disinfecting to Keep Students Healthy
"The challenge faced by most green cleaning programs is that while properly used disinfectants kill undesirable microbes, these products are pesticides (per the U.S. EPA), require precise dilution and application, and may have unhealthy environmental effects.

With the rise of communicable diseases and the media attention on flu season, Bird Flu, and other illnesses, the search has been on for alternative methods of surface sanitizing or disinfection more compatible with the goals of green facility care.

Non-chemical interventions are the clear green trend in schools. Some facility managers find that methodologies such as using microfiber cloths or pads can reduce bacterial counts significantly using only water. Hand-held Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light wands produce microbial reductions without toxic chemicals, though effectiveness depends on microbial exposure to the light, and shadowing and porous surfaces present challenges. Activated water in hand-held sprayers, can clean and sanitize, but not disinfect, with just tap water. Steam vapor cleaning using temperatures of 220 to 230 degrees F. applied with safe insulated tools offers broad-spectrum effectiveness since the devices apply controlled low-pressure, low-moisture steam to deep clean even porous substrates and, with newer technologies, disinfect using only water. Regardless of the approach, proper training is key to a successful green cleaning program in schools."

Allen P. Rathey
President
InstructionLink/JanTrain
www.jantrain.com

3. Throwing in the Towel
"As school districts around the country face sharp budget cuts, administrators and facility managers continue looking for new ways to reduce costs in areas that aren't detrimental to the learning process. Often, a school's restrooms are a good place to start, considering a school likely spends thousands of dollars per year on paper towels and associated maintenance. 

In addition to spending over $35,000 a year paper towels, one Illinois school district was facing an extra $16,500 per year in restroom maintenance cost to deal with vandalism, blocked toilets, and overflowing trash receptacles. After retrofitting bathrooms with high-speed, energy-efficient hand dryers, the school saw a payback period in just less than one year. High-speed, energy-efficient hand dryers represent a 95 percent cost savings when compared to paper towels, reduces the need for maintenance, and improves restroom hygiene.

And, because high-speed, energy-efficient hand dryers use 80 percent less energy than conventional hand dryers, it may help schools qualify for Federal Stimulus money to convert to high-performance, green buildings. Tax Credit Bonds for Energy Conservation are also on the table for schools looking to go green and save green."

William Gagnon
Director of Marketing
Excel Dryer
www.exceldryer.com