Volume 3 Issue 10 - October 2007
Welcome to DestinationGreen!
So much has happened since last month’s issue of DestinationGreen. Since returning we have begun our participation as part of the implementation Task Force for the State of Illinois as they put together the implementation of their new Green Cleaning in Schools legislation. What makes this even more important is that we believe that other states will be following Illinois lead.
In addition, we recently attended ISSA’s Convention which they now conduct along with IEHA, ARCP and other organizations in Orlando. I gave an “advanced” presentation on what the future holds for Green Cleaning to a packed room (drop us an email if you want a copy of the presentation), introduced our newest book coauthored with David Holly titled Green Selling Tips and we began finalizing the next steps in helping to “green” the Mexican cleaning industry.
And if you walked the Convention Hall I’m sure you’d agree that “green” was everywhere. It was evident that more R&D dollars are being invested in “green” technologies as the innovations are becoming more significant. It is really amazing how far we’ve come in such a short period of time and I felt so proud to be part of the cleaning industry...
Please read more here
As always, we encourage you to share your personal and professional strategies for “Going Green” with us for future columns. Submit them to editor@destinationgreen.com.
Green Selling Tip: Conducting Green Cleaning Educational Seminars (Part 3 of 3)
This article is the final one in our 3 part series on marketing your company (and yourself) by conducting an educational seminar on Green Cleaning. If you haven’t already read the previous articles, I would highly encourage you to do so. In this article we’ll cover picking the location, greening the event, marketing the program and perhaps most important, planning the follow-up with your invitees. To read Part III, click here.
Expert Insight: Broward County (FL) Schools
Tom Lindner, Executive Director of Plant Operations
Rob Jindracek, Manager of Energy Management & Utilities
Rich Ellis, Supervisor of Custodial Staff
"Once you get that first success, it becomes infectious– people want to share in the recognition and the money and the savings. If you provide incentives to the people that save and give them access to some of that savings – that rolls into even more momentum and that results into a lot of synergy – which is, what I think we are experiencing." - Tom Lindner
Ashkin Group News:
Steve Ashkin has been named to the State of Illinois Technical Advisory Group for implementing green cleaning in schools.
Steve was also appointed to Better Homes & Gardens’ (BH&G) Editorial Board for their new “Living Green” section. BH&G is one of the most respected consumer publications in America with a circulation of over 3.7 million which will give us a chance to provide sound advice on Green Cleaning for millions of household consumers!
Also, we found it rather ironic that while Steve was in China, he received the annual Environmental Award from his local, Greater Bloomington (IN) Chamber of Commerce. This happened shortly after he was also appointed to Bloomington's Committee for Sustainability. A reminder to all of us to keep acting locally as well.
Green News Roundup: This Month's Top Headlines
Green Business News
US Retailers Push Packagers to Think 'Green'
Does your company sell packaging supplies? If so this is a good article for you as the growing demand from US retailers and manufacturers for smaller, eco-friendly packages is pushing box makers and chemical companies to create compact packaging that is bio-based and recyclable.
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The Green Marketplace 
How "Fresh" Is Air Freshener?
A group of heavyweight environmental organizations (not The Ashkin Group) is asking the federal government to crack down on air fresheners, products that scientific studies show can aggravate asthma and pose other health risks. What’s interesting is that the groups are NOT trying to ban air fresheners, but the manufacturers that have addressed the most hazardous compounds will do well, while those with the highest amounts of the hazardous materials will see their market share decline. The only question for you is --- where is your company on this? Are they addressing this and similar issue? Or will they be the ones embarrassed and have their products pulled from shelves?
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Green News Around the Globe
China takes aim at smoggy skies
Now, for the first time, the smog stretching from the city of Guangzhou south to Hong Kong threatens the vigor of China's fastest-growing economic region. And China is beginning to confront the problem while it still might be controlled.
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Climate Change Update
What's your carbon footprint?
At a time when human consumption of energy is raising fears of a planetary rise in temperatures, carbon counting is increasingly important and necessary. So the Mercury News came up with a formula to help you estimate your impact on climate change - and look for ways to reduce it.
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Corporate Green
Wal-Mart aims to enlist suppliers in green mission
Wal-Mart announced that it will begin asking its suppliers to measure their carbon footprint and find ways to reduce it, part of an effort by the world's largest retailer to transform itself into a more environmentally friendly company and certainly will drive changes among both its suppliers and competitors.
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Health and the Environment
SLU will track children from cradle to adulthood in large nationwide study
This article is of significant importance to children’s health advocates and something you should know. Recently the government approved a landmark study on the health of the nation's children will include thousands of area kids. Nationwide the project will follow 100,000 children from 105 communities across the country from conception to age 21.
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Green Group of the Month: APPA
For the month of October, we would like to salute APPA for adding a credit to LEED-EB based on APPA's “Custodial Staffing Guidelines” for conducting a custodial effectiveness audit. This is the council's first effort to identify “effective” cleaning; it recognizes that using green products is only the beginning of the journey, and only by combining green products with more effective cleaning can institutions create a high-performing building.
Read more in the article "Green Cleaning: Positive Support" in American School and University here, or visit the APPA website here.
The Ashkin Group Calendar of Events
Click below for The Ashkin Group's schedule of upcoming events and presentations.
