What is a "Green" building?
In the strictest sense, a "Green" building must be initiated during the site selection and design phase. All potential environmental impacts for the life of the building are considered before construction is begun and every effort is made to insure that the building will contribute as little as possible to environmental degradation. This includes:

• construction materials and building finishes (e.g.. interior wall construction, coatings and furnishings)
• energy efficiency issues
• disposal of construction debris
• impacts of future renovation projects
• eventual decommissioning, destruction and disposal of building components

Another primary consideration when designing a "Green" building is creating and maintaining an indoor environment which is healthy for people to occupy.

Can I do anything to "Green" my present building?
Absolutely, Most existing buildings can benefit from enhancements to the HVAC system such as improved filtration, increased ventilation rates and duct cleaning. You can also identify and remediate sources of VOC emissions and other things that are adding pollutants to the environment inside your building. One very common source of pollutants is the housekeeping and maintenance operation. Check the Material Safety Data Sheets and Label information for the chemicals being used by these departments. Alternative products, such as the Enviro Care line by Rochester Midland, can significantly reduce the risks that are introduced to your building. Many other aspects of building operation and maintenance also contribute to the environmental quality inside your building. Search out a knowledgeable representative from one of your suppliers who can help you put together all the pieces of the "Green Building" puzzle.

What does the term "Environmentally Preferable" mean?
Environmentally Preferable products are defined as those which pose reduced risks to human health and the environment when compared to competitive products which are designed for the same purpose.

When I try to compare the MSDS's for competitive products, I really don't understand the differences by looking at the ingredients listed in Section 1. Besides, I don't have the time to pour over several of these documents each for the multiple products I need to purchase. Is there a better way for the average person to choose the most environmentally preferable chemical products?
One way to make a quick initial evaluation is to compare the NFPA Hazard Level ratings which you can obtain from the suppliers of the products in question. This rating system assigns a numerical value to the level of hazard the product represents in four areas: Health, Flammability, Reactivity, and Special. The system uses a range of values from 0-4, where 0=Minimal and 4=Extreme. For example, if you are comparing a group of cleaners designed for the same purpose and one of these has NFPA ratings consisting of all 0's and 1's while the others are showing values of 2's and 3's, the former product poses less risks. You also need to develop a purchasing strategy which reflects the environmental and S&H goals of your organization. You can use the following general considerations to begin with:

• reduce the quantity and toxicity of materials and packaging
• purchase products which are durable, repairable, reusable or returnable
• purchase for real recyclability (it must meet the requirements of your organizations recycling program)
• when such alternatives exist, choose products which are not based upon nonrenewable resources such as petroleum and coal

If you are not trained to make a professional evaluation of chemical hazards, but would like to be more thorough than the above methods allow, some computer software exists which can be of great help. One such item is the Environmentally Preferable Comparison System offered by Rochester Midland. This software runs under Windows, does not require you to be trained in chemistry and is very user friendly. For more information, phone Rochester Midland at 585-336-2238.

If I purchase and use only environmentally preferable chemical cleaners, does this mean that I can simply put my custodial people to work with them and need not worry about the usual training and safety precautions that I use now?
While it is true that environmentally preferable cleaners provide less impacts on human health and the environment, anything can pose some hazards if mishandled. For example, if you were asked to compile a list of substances that you consider hazardous, you probably would not include water on that list. But a number of people drown in water every year.... get the idea?
Training is always important to insure that people understand the risks that can be associated with their activities and to protect their employer against claims of negligence. Besides, if your goal is to improve the environmental quality inside your building, training is needed to help the front line people understand how to do their jobs more effectively and how important their activities are to creating a healthier building. Once again, a knowledgeable supplier can give you a lot of help in this area.

All the chemical cleaners that I use now are biodegradable and phosphate free, doesn't that mean that they are environmentally preferable?
Please read the definition of "environmentally preferable" in a FAQ above. Technological advances have resulted in many cleaning chemicals going well past the point of merely being biodegradable. Look for documentation that the products you purchase are nontoxic, non-corrosive, non-reactive, contain no hazardous ingredients, contain no known or suspected carcinogens, contain no heavy metals, contain no glycol ethers or petroleum distillates, and are formulated with a preference towards using rapidly renewable natural resources. Some or all of these criteria can be met by products which are available in today's market. Your supplier should be able to help you locate products which meet your requirements.

What are the overall goals of a Green Housekeeping Program?
The master plan is to create a cleaner, healthier, safer and more productive indoor environment for the occupants of the building and your custodial workers. The housekeeping activity can contribute greatly to this goal by using products which minimize the introduction of pollutants to this environment and by embracing procedures which tend to extract the greatest quantity of existing pollutants.
Obviously, you can gain some other benefits from the process. Benefits such as increased tenant satisfaction, reduced exposure levels to potentially harmful substances, enhanced appearance levels, less risk of damage to surfaces in the building, and perhaps reduced absenteeism rates and higher productivity levels.

What are the major components of a good Green Building Housekeeping Program?
Products - select your chemicals to minimize exposure of cleaning workers and building occupants to hazardous substances
Procedures - to insure that housekeeping activities are really geared towards "Cleaning for Health" and are extracting the maximum amount of pollutants from the environment
Engineering Controls - to insure consistent product quality, minimize waste and serve as a source reduction tool
Training - to make sure that your cleaning workers understand how their activities impact the environmental quality inside the building. Provide training to promote effective, efficient cleaning methods and make sure they know how to use all products safely. Help them understand the benefits that the new housekeeping program offers to them and the building's occupants.
Communications - in order for your efforts to have the highest level of success, all impacted parties need to understand that maintaining a healthy indoor environment is a matter of shared responsibility. For example, if the occupants continue to leave food and drink residue scattered about, then more pest control chemicals may be introduced into their environment and harsher cleaning chemicals may be needed. Likewise, if the ventilation system does not have efficient filtration, more dust and mold spores will continue to be spread throughout the building.
Continuous Improvement - your housekeeping program needs to be viewed as a significant part of the total building maintenance plan, not as a separate activity. While you cannot make the indoor environment perfect, you can make it better. Continue to search for ways to improve, including soliciting feedback and suggestions from the building's occupants and housekeeping professionals.
Your housekeeping products supplier should also be a source of information and new ideas.

Where can I learn more about Green Housekeeping Programs and the impacts of indoor environmental quality on human health and the environment?
Several excellent educational publications exist which cover this subject thoroughly:

• Guidelines for Green Building Housekeeping and Maintenance - available free from Rochester Midland Corporation by phoning 585-336-2238.
• Protecting the Built Environment: Cleaning for Health - Michael A. Berry, Ph. D. - available for a fee from the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA). Phone 800-225-4772.
• Is This Your Child's world? -- Doris J. Rapp, M.D. - published by Bantam Books and available through most book retailers.

Besides the above, many of today's trade associations relevant to building management, maintenance and housekeeping have written materials available and sponsor seminars and training sessions which address Green Building Technology issues. Check with your local chapters for details.
Also, don't forget the supplier of your cleaning chemicals and tools, they should be able to help you with a wealth of information about Green Housekeeping.