Executive Housekeeping Today - June 2008 - (Page 19)

the green scene Many of us now are aware of the tragic, yet inspiring story of the small Kansas town of Greensburg. A little more than a year ago, a massive category-five, 205-mileper-hour tornado—measuring close to two miles wide—met the town head-on, destroying almost everything in its path. In ten minutes time, schools, landmarks, businesses, century-old homes, family farms—places that once were the setting to priceless memories—were violently ripped from the landscape. At the onset of the rebuilding effort, the Greensburg City Council approved a resolution that all city building projects will be built to the US Green Building Council’s daunting LEED Platinum-level standards—the first city in the United States to do so. While the LEED standards do focus on the public buildings, community residents are buying up energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs, wind turbines, and solar panels as they rebuild their homes and businesses. It is exciting to see Greensburg doing their best to follow the LEED guidelines in the majority of their reconstruction effort, and looking through “Green Lenses” when making purchasing decisions on items that fall outside the minimum requirements. During March and April of this year, Greensburg’s vision and dedication toward creating this environmentally-sustainable community led to scores of articles and television reports. President Bush visited and delivered the high school graduation commencement speech to the 18 graduates, personally handing each of them their diplomas. The town became the media darling of the spring. Greensburg GreenTown is a m A Community Looks Bravely Forward through Green Lenses by Stephen Ashkin grassroots, community-owned organization launched by volunteers who are assisting the town population in implementing Green strategies into their homes, and their lifestyles. During their Grand Opening celebration on May 2, cloth shopping bags and watersaving shower heads were given away. Getting the word out on the new resources they are providing for the Green Building efforts was the first step in their vision to “provide technical assistance and support for individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and government offices seeking to build and operate programs guided by Green principles.” “The process for us was getting the community to understand what building ‘Green’ meant, and diffusing political issues of environmentalism,” says Greensburg GreenTown director Daniel Wallach. “We helped them see that they were environmentalists whether they knew it or not.” The federal government has given in excess of $62 million so far to help the cause. The U.S. Department of Energy is providing onsite technical support, with assistance related to the energy-efficient rebuilding; and helped bring the Building America’s Building Science Corporation (BSC) to present onsite workshops on constructing affordable, durable, and energy-efficient buildings. Donations are still coming in as the rebuilding continues. Caroma, a very generous Australian company, originally donated 200 water-saving toilets to Greensburg. But when representatives visited the site on Earth Day, they doubled the gift. This donation promises to save the community ten million “The human mind has first to construct forms, independently, before we can find them in things.” -Albert Einstein gallons of water annually. As the original population trickles back to town—reports of up to 900 of the original 1400 (11 perished in the tragedy)—they are learning this new “skill set” of using a “Green Lense” to approach their new life. I hope we all track their progress toward LEED Platinum certification, and witness this first endeavor toward communitywide Green Building standards. And, obviously, we should find a way that we can help. While I have read many articles about the rebuilding of Greensburg, I have yet to read any mention of, or resources relating to, Green cleaning. Donations have come in the form of many types of materials and equipment for the construction of buildings, but I have yet to see a mention of the cleaning of these homes, businesses, and schools, and how it will impact the health of the population. This is how I feel we, as executive housekeepers, can be actively involved. Green cleaning is not a part of their focus at the moment. “Well, we really aren’t there just yet,” says Wallach. “But we are going to need help. We will need everything, basically, that is involved in the process.” For those of you close to the area, Wallach also stressed they will need consultants and teachers of Green cleaning. Those of you who want to lend a hand with a donation of equipment, other products, or your time, please visit their Web site at www. greensburggreentown.org or call their offices at (620) 723-2790. W Stephen P. Ashkin is a tireless advocate for environmentally-preferable cleaning. Learn more at www.ashkingroup. com. June 2008/Executive Housekeeping Today 9 http://greensburggreentown.org http://greensburggreentown.org http://www.ashkingroup.com http://www.ashkingroup.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Executive Housekeeping Today - June 2008

Executive Housekeeping Today - June 2008 Contents Executive Corner The Fundamentals of Safety Man vs. Machine: Equipment Safety in Professional Cleaning Operations Frugal Housekeeper Planning for Disaster Eliminating Bed Bugs 2008 Candidate Information Executive Profile IHW Product Information The Green Scene Spring Board Briefing 2008 Call to Convention 2008 Convention Information USGBC Green Tip Product Highlights New Members Joint IEHA/ISSA Members CEH/REH Members Advertisers' Index Calendar of Events Inside I.E.H.A. What I.E.H.A. Has Done for Me

Executive Housekeeping Today - June 2008

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