| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 77.55 |
| Liaison | Jack Byrne |
| Submission Date | June 9, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Middlebury College
OP-13: Cleaning Products Purchasing
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.67 / 1.00 |
Sylvia
Manning Asst. Director, Custodial Svcs Facilities Services |
Does the institution have an institution-wide stated preference to purchase third party certified cleaning and janitorial products?:
A copy of the green cleaning product purchasing policy, directive, or guidelines:
The green cleaning product purchasing policy, directive, or guidelines:
Middlebury's Custodial Services staff use numerous green alternatives to the standard cleaning chemicals, and use other technologies such as microfiber cloths, central vacuum systems, and ozone machines. They also continusly to look for new ways to reduce the reliance on harmful chemicals and replace them with high performing health, green alternatives.
Middlebury uses the Betco Green Earth products line for much of its cleaning needs. This includes a peroxide cleaner for daily bathroom cleaning, window cleaner for glass, and an all purpose cleaner for nearly everything else. For touch points (door hardware, faucet handles, dispenser handles, light switches), they still use a disinfectant to curb the spread of germs. For an abrasive cleaner they use A-Ben-A Qui, a non-toxic paste cleaner that works wonders! The use of bleach and comet has been greatly reduced, but it is still kept on hand for blood spills.
Microfiber cloths capture dirt and bacteria at a higher rate and require fewer cleaning chemicals compared to regular cleaning cloths. Microfiber mops deposit less water on the floor which means floors dry faster, creating a safer walking surface.
Middlebury also using central vacuum systems whch are much healthier for users and building occupants because they vent the dust and dirt away from the living/working areas, central vacs also use cleanable filters and collect the dirt in drums, so no disposable vacuum bags are needed. Canister vacs are used in some areas, but central vacs have been installed in most of the large buildings and some of the mid-sized buildings on campus.
Custodial Services also use an environmentally friendly carpet cleaner (Carpet Complete by Envirox) and are currently researching greener floor strippers and finishes but have yet to find an acceptable system. They also do not use shampoo with each extraction on our carpets, instead, they spot treat stains and use a water rinse between chemical extractions.
For odor elimination, Middlebury uses ozone machines to remove odors from painting, cigarette smoke, and carpet installations, avoiding the need for chemical odor removers.
A brief description of steps the institution has taken to ensure that the purchasing policy, directives, or guidelines are followed:
The custodial department has replaced many of their conventional cleaning products with Green Seal (tm) products. Middlebury now uses the Betco Green Earth product line for much of its cleaning needs. This includes a peroxide cleaner for daily bathroom cleaning, window cleaner for glass, and an all purpose cleaner nearly everything else.
Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (expenditures on cleaning and janitorial products)?:
Expenditures on Green Seal and/or UL Environment (EcoLogo) certified cleaning and janitorial products:
Total expenditures on cleaning and janitorial products:
Has the institution's main cleaning or housekeeping department(s) and/or contractor(s) adopted a Green Seal or ISSA certified low-impact, ecological (“green”) cleaning program?:
A brief description of the institution’s low-impact, ecological cleaning program:
We also use Aqueous Ozone Machines & cartridges. This green cleaner has reduced our costs as well. Other ways we have reduced cleaning chemicals impacts are use of microfiber cloths and mop heads to clean glass and floors which can often do the job with only water as a cleaning solution.
A copy of the sections of the cleaning contract(s) that reference certified green products:
The sections of the cleaning contract(s) that reference certified green products:
in-house policy and practice.
The website URL where information about the institution’s green cleaning initiatives is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.