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5/15/2013
SAN DIEGO—Nonsmoking rooms in hotels operating a partial smoking ban don’t protect their occupants from tobacco smoke, reveals research published online in Tobacco Control. Non-smokers should give hotels that allow smoking in certain rooms a wide berth, say the authors, and instead choose completely smoke free hotels. The researchers analyzed the surfaces and air quality of rooms for evidence of tobacco smoke pollution (nicotine and 3EP), known as third hand smoke, in a random sample of budget to mid-range hotels in San Diego. Ten hotels in the sample operated complete bans and 30 operated partial smoking bans, providing designated nonsmoking rooms. Non-smokers who spent the night at any of the hotels provided urine and finger wipe samples to assess their exposure to nicotine and a cancer causing agent found specifically in tobacco smoke—known as NNK—as measured by their metabolites cotinine and NNAL. The findings showed that smoking in hotels left a legacy of tobacco pollution in both smoking and nonsmoking rooms.
5/12/2013
When it comes to green cleaning, an often underemphasized area is the need for matting at all hotel entries. Stopping dust, soils, and contaminants before they ever enter a facility helps reduce the need for cleaning and enhances indoor environmental quality. This is why it makes sense to place effective matting systems at the heart of any green cleaning program. The most effective type of mats are referred to as high-performance mats, which are higher-quality mats that have a performance life of several years. These mats are often part of what is called a soil “source control” strategy. It is common to overlook the impact that sidewalks, parking lots, entries, and other areas can have on the health of the indoor environment. But, as much as 90 percent of the dust and dirt that enters a facility “walks in” through building entries.
4/18/2013
LANCASTER, PA.—Foodservice operations must fend off a continuous onslaught of potentially harmful germs and bacteria. Restaurants and other foodservice operations must be ever diligent to keep food preparation and serving areas thoroughly sanitized and disinfected to prevent potentially deadly outbreaks from such bacteria as salmonella and E-coli. Even a minor outbreak can mean closure, lawsuits, and/or irreparable damage to a restaurant’s reputation.
4/15/2013
NATIONAL REPORT—Air curtains, also known as air doors, can play an important role in a hotel’s energy conservation strategy—especially hotels with foodservice operations. In use for almost a century now, air curtains have become more sophisticated and effective in recent years and the number of applications for them has grown. Air curtains can now be used in entryways—both in the front and back of the house—with walk-in coolers, warewashers, and even in laundry areas. Air curtains help to contain heated or air conditioned air, and are essential in stopping the infiltration of flying insects, dust and dirt. Air curtains employ a controlled stream of air aimed across an opening to create an air seal. This seal separates different environments, while allowing a smooth, unhindered flow of traffic and unobstructed vision through the opening. “Air curtains blow an air stream in an engineered pattern to the floor,” says Stephen J. Benes, sales manager with Berner International, which has been making air curtains in the United States since 1956.
4/8/2013
AKRON, OHIO—GOJO Industries has expanded its global portfolio of green-certified products with certification in Brazil for PURELL Advanced Green Certified Hand Sanitizer. The new green certified products acknowledgement is ABNT (Brazilian Association of Technical Standards).
3/18/2013
WASHINGTON, D.C.—In January 2013, Green Seal announced the publication of GS-51, a new standard designed to address the lifecycle impacts of laundry care products used in institutional and industrial settings.
3/13/2013
FREMONT, OHIO—It is expected that version 4 of LEED-EBOM (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, will be adopted later this year. This new version will be broader, addressing a wider range of facilities and put more emphasis on environmental issues, such as climate change, and encourage more careful and efficient use of energy and water. However, what some cleaning professionals have noticed is several traditional cleaning-related credits, such as for the installation of effective entry matting systems, are no longer included in version 4.
3/12/2013
PACOIMA, CALIF.—Eco-Me introduces its Green Cleaning Program. Since 2006 Eco-Me has been a leader in the eco-friendly cleaning market as a manufacturer and distributor of premium eco-friendly natural cleaning products. Operating out of California, Eco-Me distributes natural cleaning products nationally supporting residential and commercial cleaning outlets.
2/27/2013
ATLANTA—AloStar Bank of Commerce has awarded Forest, Va.-based NanoTouch Materials with its Rising Star Award. NanoTouch will receive a one-time $5,000 micro loan to address its business goals and needs. Recipients of the Rising Star Award are referred by their current banker and carefully selected by AloStar representatives.
2/27/2013
MIAMI—On Contact Solutions, a supplier of scientifically-based green products to the hotel industry, announced that it is now offering Cimi-Shield, a soybean extract spray that is non-toxic and that prevents bed bug infestations for one year. Cimi-Shield ensures against infestations by leaving a residual that kills the bugs that hatch after treatment, eliminating the need for retreatment for 12 months.
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