Are you interested in creating healthier work environments? Using your garment or textile care budget to support truly environmentally friendly services and technology? What about adding an additional item to your checklist for becoming a green hotel? Able to dissolve most organic materials, perchloroethylene (commonly known as perc or PCE) is the most widely used dry cleaning solvent nationally. It has been estimated by the Environmental Protection Agency that approximately 85 percent of cleaners use PCE as their primary solvent. However, some studies suggest that long-term frequent over-exposure to organic solvents such as PCE may cause lasting and possibly permanent central nervous system effects. Fatigue, lack of muscle coordination, loss of concentration as well as short term memory loss, and personality changes exhibited as nervousness, anxiety or irritability are some of the potential permanent long-term effects of chronic and frequent exposure.

NATIONAL REPORT—In the last several years, the number of green lodging certification programs available to U.S. hotels has exploded with programs emerging at the national, state and city level. For the most part, these programs address indoor air quality by encouraging lodging establishments to avoid the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are often found in paints, glues, cleaning chemicals, furniture and other items. Some even ask if a property has been tested for radon gas. Ironically, most certification programs avoid addressing the most obvious action that can impact guestroom air quality: smoking. Many studies have proven the ill, often fatal effects of second- and third-hand smoke—hazards encountered in smoking rooms by guests and especially housekeepers. Green Lodging News recently conducted a phone and e-mail survey of those organizations that run green certification programs.

NATIONAL REPORT—In 2002, when San Francisco’s famed Fairmont Hotel reopened after more than a year of extensive remodeling, one of the first things visitors noted was that acres of carpeting had been replaced with acres of hard surface floors. This is an example of a trend that has been occurring in all types of commercial and residential settings. Where wall-to-wall carpeting was common, hard surface floor coverings, such as stone and wood, are now taking its place. For hotel housekeepers this can mean a major change in cleaning operations. Instead of vacuuming these acres of carpeted floors, they now need to be cleaned by both dust and damp mopping, which presents a challenge for hotel properties seeking to green their cleaning operations. When dry mopping hard surface floors, dust is generated and it can impact indoor air quality (IAQ) negatively. Furthermore, if harmful contaminants are on the floors, there is a possibility that these can become airborne.

CHICAGO—Coalesse, a new premium live/work furnishings brand, has received the prestigious Designs for Dignity 2010 Sustainability Award. Coalesse is committed to environmentally-responsible design practices and materials and has several products that have earned SCS (Scientific Certification Systems) certification for indoor air quality protection.

ATLANTA—Ensuring good indoor air quality (IAQ) means everyone breathes a little easier: occupants who experience improved health, comfort and productivity, and owners who see increased building value and reduced risk. New guidance for achieving enhanced IAQ is available from five leading building industry associations and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

NORFOLK, NEB.—MP Global Products, a leader in the manufacture of underlayment for the flooring industry, announced that FiberBacker, by MP Global Products L.L.C, has earned Indoor Advantage Gold certification from Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), the organization’s highest level of indoor environmental quality certification and the most stringent indoor air quality certification in the country. It is the first underlayment for ceramic and porcelain floors to do so.

BOISE, IDAHO—ProTeam has earned the gold Seal of Approval/Green Label from the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) for seven of its leading vacuums, signifying that they meet the highest standards for carpet cleaning effectiveness and indoor air quality. Vacuums awarded gold pass a stringent testing process at an independent laboratory and meet three key performance criteria: amount of soil removed, containment of dust and dirt within the machine, and carpet fiber protection.

WINCHESTER, VA.—Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP), a leader in innovative facility maintenance solutions, announces a new concept in cleaning. The DVAC 1 Pass Cleaning Solution combines multiple cleaning tasks into one to reduce non-productive labor time. The award-winning DVAC 1 Pass Cleaning Solution is a dolly-integrated vacuum.

ATLANTA—Kimberly-Clark, a leader in non-woven technologies, announces the availability of its newest line of high-efficiency filtration media for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system air filters. Based on the company’s patented, bi-component, nonwoven technology, the new media is ideal for a range of HVAC filter styles delivering MERV 11-15 performance.

PULASKI, N.Y.—A family-owned and operated business for over 30 years, HealthWay has launched a new line of green cleaning products designed to improve indoor air quality. The line is called terafore. A number of studies have drawn a link between traditional cleaning products and the substantial increase in the number of people—especially children—afflicted with asthma and allergies.