Welcome to DestinationGreen!

I can’t believe that it’s almost October and the ISSA Convention is next week. While it has been a challenging year, the economy is finally showing signs of recovery and we are preparing to launch our newest company - Sustainability Dashboard Tools LLC. This company has developed a web-based software application that will help companies measure, track and report on their sustainability efforts. And if you’re attending the Show I hope you’ll stop by Booth 1949 so we can show you what we’ve done. I think you’ll be impressed. And for a little more info read Cynthia Schultz’s article.

And while attending ISSA, in addition to all of the “green” educational events which you can read more about at ( http://www.issa.com/?id=educationconference ), I highly recommend that you stop by the press conference on Wednesday, October 7th at 3:30PM at Booth 3046 where ISSA will be announcing a new “information based” environmental label. This is really a “big deal” and whether you work for a manufacturer, distributor, service provider or building owner - you won’t want to miss it. And for a brief story about it see (Renae this is referring to the ISSA article about the Healthy Schools event).

Also in this month’s issue of DestinationGreen check out Jeff Pease's Green Selling Tip titled “Expanding Your Account List in Tough Times” and David Holly’s article on overcoming the misconceptions about green products. There are also a number of excellent articles in our Green News Round-Up covering a wide range of important issues from H1N1 to greening schools and health care to reports on LEED and more. Interesting “stuff” and information that will demonstrate your knowledge and leadership.

Again, thank you for your contributions to the Green Cleaning Movement. And don't forget to join us on Twitter to get frequent updates and suggested readings from us, and to stay in touch throughout the month. http://twitter.com/steveashkin

Steve

P.S. We encourage you to stay in touch and share your personal and professional strategies for “Going Green” with us for future columns. Submit them to editor@destinationgreen.com

Ashkin Introduces New Company For Tracking Sustainability Efforts

Bloomington, IN . September 15, 2009 - Steve Ashkin, the cleaning industry.s leading advocate for Green Cleaning and sustainable practices, is introducing a new Internet-based .Dashboard. technology designed specifically for small to medium-sized companies in the professional cleaning industry.

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Green Selling Tip: Expanding Your Account List in Tough Times

As the economy continues to consume much of our attention, it’s easy to lose focus on our job at hand - selling.  Yes, there are a lot of concerns out there (and rightfully so); however, don’t lose sight of the opportunities to gain greater market share by providing a superior value proposition.  Your knowledge of Green is part of that value proposition and one thing is for sure, even in this economy – Green continues to open doors.    

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Sustainability Dashboard Tool Makes Its Debut by Cynthia Schultz

Unlike Steve (Ashkin) who has been working in the cleaning industry for almost 30 years and specifically on the issue of Green Cleaning for almost 20 years, I am a relative newcomer having worked with Steve for just the past 18 months. While Steve has told me about the amazing progress the industry has made on Green Cleaning, I have to confess that I was not prepared for what I saw at last year’s at the ISSA Convention.

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ISSA Conference and Expo – Greening your Stay

How to Easily GREEN Your Stay

Green Cleaning Products – David Holly

Greenbuild is Coming to the American Southwest: Phoenix, Arizona

The Phoenix Convention Center
November 11-13, 2009

Greenbuild 2009 will be hosted in Phoenix, Arizona, the fifth largest city in the country, and a thriving capital in the heart of the American Southwest. Phoenix’s unique environmental and social characteristics speak to the diversity of the United States and the imperative of Greenbuild 2009: Green building can and must come home to all people, boosting the quality of life across the country and around the world.

Join us at Greenbuild 2009 in Phoenix and connect to the conversation!

For more information visit www.greenbuildexpo.org

Healthcare Environmental Services - Breaking News: HCA Joins Practice Greenhealth

Arlington, VA, Nashville, TN - September 1, 2009: Hospital Corporation of America, (HCA), which is composed of locally managed healthcare facilities that include 163 hospitals and 112 outpatient centers in 20 states and England, has joined Practice Greenhealth, the nation's leading group for organizations in the healthcare community that have made a commitment to sustainable, eco-friendly practices. 

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Washington Green Schools Launches August 17

Starting August 17, both public and private schools across Washington State can sign up at www.wagreenschools.org to participate in the new Washington Green Schools Program.

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Steve is now on Twitter

Follow Steve Ashkin on Twitter

http://twitter.com/steveashkin

Green News Roundup: This Month's Top Headlines

Chemical found in baby shampoos not toxic Health Canada on Friday concluded that a chemical (1, 4 Dioxane) considered a possible carcinogen and commonly found in trace amounts from the detergent ingredients found in baby shampoo, bubble bath and liquid soap should not be listed as toxic to human health. While still listed as a known carcinogen in California, this may reassure some Green Cleaning product manufacturers and purchasers. http://www.canada.com/health/Chemical found baby shampoos toxic Health Canada/1963940/story.html

With modernization, China has economic power, but also pollution and other challenges. Much has been written in recent years about China’s rapid transformation into an economic behemoth. With that growth, however, come challenges, like an unslakable thirst for energy and the most polluted cities on Earth.http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1426759.html

H1N1 has killed 2,837, but not more serious: WHO. The pandemic H1N1 flu virus continues to cause widespread infection in many parts of the world but is not becoming more serious, the World Health Organization said on Friday. http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE5831VJ20090904

Some buildings not living up to green label Builders covet the green LEED certification as a way to gain tax credits, attract tenants, charge premium rents and project an image of environmental responsibility. But many LEED-certified buildings do not perform as their designs predict. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/31/science/earth/31leed.html?_r=2

Heading Every building in the U.S. should have a label as to its environmental impact, said the U.S. Green Building Council’s president at the Healthy Buildings meeting. At the same event, IBM told how it is taking green buildings one step further with bright-green buildings, which converges green buildings with intelligence, said an IBM executive, reports. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/09/15/usgbc-wants-an-environmental-label-for-every-building/

From the White House to the Green House President Obama plans to upgrade the White House, with the goal of obtaining LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/09/15/from-the-white-house-to-the-green-house/

Can Steven Chu win the fight over global warming? With Obama publicly committed to an economic transformation designed to slash U.S. carbon emissions 80% by 2050, Steven Chu will be America's first Clean-Energy Secretary — a job that's part green evangelism, part venture capitalism and part politics. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1916078,00.html

Why Should YOU Attend ISSA/INTERCLEAN® North America 2009? Bright Ideas Await You!

Attend ISSA/INTERCLEAN® North America 2009 and get ready to grab your next bright idea! Whether your're looking to find suppliers, expand your company's global presence, solidify customer relationships, stay ahead of industry trends, or network with your peers, the ISSA/INTERCLEAN tradeshow provides these opportunities and much more! For more informationhttp://www.issa.com/?id=north_america_2009

Announcing ISSA Green Cleaning University

Just in case you missed the announcement last week, we want to draw your attention to the release of ISSA Green Cleaning University.

ISSA GCU is specifically designed for sales people interested in developing their knowledge of the issues, skills and techniques involved in creating and maintaining Healthy, High Performance facilities. The University also offers the only industry title/designation that recognizes sales and training professionals for their green expertise: ISSA Green Cleaning Professional

ISSA Green Cleaning University's 10 comprehensive courses cover a wide variety of issues including:

* How to Prospect for Green Accounts
* The Green Selling Process
* Conducting a Building Audit and Writing the Report
* Overcoming Common Objection
* An Introduction the the USGBC and LEED and many other valuable classes.

ISSA GCU is applicable to all interested persons including: manufacturers, distributors, service providers, building managers & owners, advocates, government officials and others. But with having said this, it again is of special value to sales reps as you are uniquely positioned to be a resource to many others.

We hope you'll take a look at this outstanding program which can help you become an even more valuable resource for your customers and prospects, especially as Green Cleaning continues to accelerate even in challenging economic conditions.

Read More Here

Updates on a New Information Based Environmental Label (IBEL) System:

Steve Ashkin, President, The Ashkin Group, provided attendees at the Green Schools Summit an update on trends in ecolabeling including a discussion of a new information based environmental label (IBEL) system.
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ISSA Participates in Show of Support for U.S. EPA Design for the Environment by Bill Balek

ISSA and an informal coalition of industry, environmental and public health groups met in a strong show of support for the U.S. EPA Design for the Environment (DfE) on Sept. 16 in the Nation’s Capitol. The coalition met with Steve Owens, the recently appointed Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and other Agency officials for the purpose of urging EPA to continue its support of and otherwise increase the resources dedicated to the operation of DfE.
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The Ashkin Group Calendar of Events

Click below for The Ashkin Group's schedule of upcoming events and presentations.

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