Healthy Cleaning 6/25/2012. Course Description. UL Environment True Green Clean: Systematically Healthy Cleaning ULEGC. Speaker Name/s Date

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1 Course Description UL Environment True Green Clean: Systematically Healthy Cleaning ULEGC Speaker Name/s Date An overview of successful implementation of green cleaning programs in nonresidential spaces. Participants will explore both the standard and green common practices of maintenance in buildings, methods of implementation, and the extent that green cleaning has addressed issues of indoor air quality and building health. Ultimately, the presentation has been developed to reach out not only to facility maintenance professionals, but design and construction professionals as well. In the end, green cleaning is not simply a switch to greener products, but a change in design, construction, and maintenance cultures. Learning Objectives At the end of the this course, participants will be able to: 1. Explore the basics of the cleaning industry regarding costs, health and numbers 2. Understand what chemicals are used, why and what effects they may have on human health 3. Explore the intricacies that define the approaches to certain industry cleaning practices 4. Learn what it means to adopt green cleaning that is effective, efficient, healthy and sustainable True Green Clean: Systematically Healthy Cleaning 1

2 Credit(s) earned on completion of this course will be reported to AIA CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-aia members are available upon request. This course is registered with AIA CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation. Cleaning Instructions Cleaning Statistics 1 Chemical Breakdown 2 Industry Breakdown 3 Why and How to Clean Green 4 2

3 80,000 different chemicals are used in conventional cleaning products American School & Hospital Facility 35% of conventional cleaning products can cause blindness, severe skin damage, or damage to organs through the skin. Hospitals for a Healthy Environment Average cleaning worker uses 23 gallons of chemicals/year American School & Hospital Facility 12% of work-related asthma is from cleaning products Work-related asthma has been observed as much as 2x higher amongst janitorial staff Delclos & Colleagues % loss in productivity due to IAQ problems related to chemical cleaners BOMA U.S. EPA study shows $60B loss in productivity due to chemical cleaners Outside: 6B pounds of cleaning chemicals are used in 3.7M U.S. buildings per year. Most are made from petroleum. Inside: Cleaners chemical compounds can interact with ambient levels or other cleaning ingredients to create additional VOCs like aldehydes and ultrafine particles University of California, Berkeley 3

4 Common Culprit Emitters VOC Common Use Health Effect Ethylene glycol Spot Remover Hormone Disruptor Acetaldehyde Fragrance/disinfectant Carcinogen Acetone Surface cleaners Neurotoxin Butoxyethanol Surface cleaners Carcinogen Isopropanol Disinfectant Neurotoxin Isobutene Aerosol cleaners Dizziness, Drowsiness, Nausea, Unconsciousness, Vomiting Greener School Cleaning Supplies = Fresh Air + Healthier Kids Findings: When used as directed 6 known asthmagens 11 probable cancer-causing carcinogens Limonene Orange fragrance Skin and Respiratory Irritants Methyl methacrylate Hard surface cleaner Asthmagen Phenol Disinfectant Neurotoxin Certified green cleaners aren t necessarily low-emitting? Findings: Chamber testing revealed 457 chemicals emitting Nope. from these products, 283 of them have no scientific data on health effects whatsoever 4

5 When combined, do 2 objects always create Not two necessarily. products? Emissions and Inhalation In fact, some chemical interactions can lead to dangerous chemical byproducts in the air! 5

6 M Hospital Acquired Infections were reported across the U.S. 99,000 were directly linked to patient death 2005 MRSA outbreaks cost healthcare an extra $830M-$9.7B 2008 CDC adopts The Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities Critical 10% Semi-critical 25 45% Non-critical infection risk 45 65% Excess product use increases occupational and environmental risks without improving infection prevention and control effectiveness. Healthcare Research Collaborative 6

7 clean for health first and appearance second Lehman & INFORM Systematic Approach to Green Cleaning Human health Environmental protection Infection control and prevention Non-chemical alternatives? 7

8 When using tile, spec larger dimension tiles for fewer grout lines Ashkin Green cleaning starts at the drawing the board! Implementation inventory and assessment pilot implementation buying guide and installation plan installation and training FOLLOW UP 8

9 Success Happens commitment health benefits maintain program choices The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District Move to Systematic Greener Cleaning We ve never used this before; it probably doesn t work well; it doesn t smell clean. How can we find the products that are really green and healthy? 9

10 How can we teach everyone about product effectiveness and proper use all 108 custodians? We re not having the chemical accidents we used to have, or damage to our carpets from bleaches. Injuries mostly evaporated that first year [of implementation]. Systematic Green Cleaning Design Team Design and product selection Educate & Communicate! Create a Green Cleaning Program, Guide & RFP Building Admin & Maintenance Staff Staff education Human Health LOGO LABEL PARTY CERTIFICATION Design for the Environment (DfE) (EPA) EcoLogo label in Canada UL environment in USA Green Seal GS-37 2 nd party Harmful content minimization 3 rd party Harmful content minimization 3 rd party Harmful content minimization; GG certification for emissions option Continue to update and educate!! GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certified 3 rd party Emissions-based criteria and testing 10

11 Contact manufacturers for MSDS on the cleaners you are currently using Look for labels that divulge ALL of the cleaners chemicals Stay away from cleaners that carry danger or warning statements Be wary of sales people who tell you that their product is safe when used as directed This concludes the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems Course. We will now discuss UL Environment s GREENGUARD Certifications and provide resources for your use. UL Environment offers environmental claim validations, multi-attribute product certifications, environmental product declarations, indoor air quality certification, product emissions testing, organizational sustainability certification, and consulting SAFETY IS EVOLVING SO IS UL With the definition of safety constantly advancing, UL has expanded our focus to include an unparalleled breadth of offerings. Our goal is to better help your business meet the shifting needs of a changing world. Who is UL Environment? Knowledge Services 11

12 UL Environment s GREENGUARD Certification GREENGUARD Certification Voluntary Certification Process: Manufacturer contacts UL Environment Product Profiling and Testing Improving public health and quality of life through healthy indoor air. Full Chamber testing Quarterly Monitoring Annual Retesting of Product Why else is UL Environment valuable to you? We are an environmental resource. For the world s largest online, low-emitting product guide 12

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14 Thank you Resources for Indoor Air Quality Pop Quiz 1. With regards to health, cleaning is the process of locating, identifying, containing and removing and properly disposing of unwanted substances from a surface or environment. When cleaning occurs exposure to unwanted substances is reduced. True or False? 2. % of work-related asthma is caused by chemical cleaning inhalation. 3. How much of a buildings cleaning budget is used to clean the bathrooms? 4. All green cleaners are low-emitting and safer for human environments. True or False? 5. What is the health effect of Acetone? 6. Why is chemical emissions testing more important than content testing if indoor air quality is the concern? 7. What are 3 ways to find safer and greener cleaners? 8. What are some tactics that can be implemented in the design stage for ease of cleaning and maintenance in a building? 9. The GREENGUARD certification and EcoLogo certifications are not focused on human health. True or False? 10. What are some ways to get a green cleaning program started at your workplace? 14