Executive Housekeeping Today - December 2008 - (Page 27)

GrEEn ScEnE (continued from page 21) Remove Pests with Common Sense by Lauren Riggs Whether your building is located in an urban area or a rural area, you will have to deal with pests. Pests are characterized by fungi and animals alike, often sneaking into buildings and comfortably multiplying. Unwanted fungi and animals are often greeted with chemical sprays, pellets, and traps, which can be tracked into and throughout the facility. These chemicals, meant to simply rid us of pests, will also affect human health (i.e. negative reactions and prolonged illness). Prevention of unnecessary harm to humans, and desired flora and fauna, is benefited by implementing an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan. IPM uses less-toxic or no pesticides to treat and prevent pest problems; the use of traps and chemical alternatives is highly encouraged, and chemical treatments are a last resort. Besides traps, chemical alternatives include essential oil mixtures (e.g. peppermint) and mating disruption. However, IPM is not all about reducing the toxic substances used to remove pests; it also includes the monitoring and identification of pests with control measures. Groundskeepers and facility managers should be sure to use preventative measures in order to reduce the need of using any removal methods. Implementing IPM is considerably important for healthcare and child care facilities. The elderly, young, and ill are all more susceptible to harmful chemicals and disease spread by pests and traditional pest management. Avoid exacerbating occupant allergies and illness by using environmentally-friendly pest control methods. Some situations may demand traditional treatments; however, always try to keep chemical applications away from children’s play areas and healthcare units. In the end, IPM can be applied to any site; the combination of common sense and a strong plan will make for an effective program. Staff Contacts IEHA’s Association Office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST, Mon-Fri. Call toll free: (800) 200-6342 or (614) 895-7166, or fax: (614) 895-1248. Or, write: IEHA, 1001 Eastwind Drive, Suite 301, Westerville, Ohio 43081-3361; or e-mail: excel@ieha.org. Visit us on the Web at www.ieha.org. We have changed to an automatic voice mail system. Dial the appropriate extension listed below for the department you wish to reach. If you are unable to reach the appropriate person, please leave a detailed message; we will return your call as soon as possible. ACCOUNTING: Tax and group exemption information • ask for Beth Risinger, ext. 104. Accounts payable and receivable • ask for Jody Thomas, ext. 105, or e-mail her at jthomas@ieha.org. CONVENTIONS: Seminars, exhibit and registration information • ask for Beth Risinger, ext. 104, or e-mail her at brisinger@ieha.org. EDUCATION: General education information, exam results, self-study courses and information, status of CEH/REH applications, evaluation of transcripts, scholarships • ask for Sarah Larsen, ext. 103, or e-mail her at slarsen@ieha.org. CHAPTER/DISTRICT INFO AND ACTIVITY, REBATES AND MINUTES • ask for Beth Risinger, ext. 104, or e-mail her at brisinger@ ieha.org. EHT MAGAZINE: PUBLISHER • ask for Beth Risinger, ext. 104, or e-mail her at brisinger@ieha.org. EDITORIAL • ask for Laura DiGiulio, ext. 102, or e-mail her at ldigiulio@ieha.org. ADVERTISING • contact Barb Burgie at (614) 273-0783, or e-mail her at barb@burgiemediafusion.com SUBSCRIPTIONS • ask for Sarah Larsen, ext. 103, or e-mail her at slarsen@ieha.org MEMBERSHIP: New membership, member benefits, renewals, applications, prospect packets, dues received • ask for Sarah Larsen, ext. 103, or e-mail her at slarsen@ ieha.org. POLICY: Administration, By-Laws, P&P questions • ask for Beth Risinger, CEO/Executive Director, ext. 104, or e-mail her at brisinger@ieha.org. PUBLICATIONS/RESOURCES: PLACE ORDERS • ask for Jody Thomas, ext. 105, or e-mail her at jthomas@ieha.org. CHECK ORDERS • ask for Jody Thomas, ext. 105, or e-mail her at jthomas@ieha.org. INTERNATIONAL HOUSEKEEPERS WEEK information, specialty items • ask for Jody Thomas, ext. 105, or e-mail her at jthomas@ ieha.org. TECHNICAL QUESTIONS: Ask for Laura DiGiulio, ext. 102 or for Beth Risinger, ext. 104. and similar Green programs can position themselves very favorably in receiving an award. Other “matching” federal grants may also soon be available for states with public benefit funds that support energy efficiency retrofits for existing buildings. In regards to managing efficient buildings, the administration plans to expand Federal Efficiency Grants for public buildings that “adopt aggressive Green building provisions,” such as the United States Green Building Council’s LEED requirements. During this time of a lame-duck policies, it is indeed a great time for all executive housekeepers to get their own “ducks” in a row! What have you all been doing to make your building more Green? Make sure you document all of your efforts—past, present, and planned—with as much detail as possible. The details will be necessary and may help in the decision in whether your grant proposal is accepted, rejected, or sent back for more information. For those of you in the planning stage, lay them out in detail, yet prepare concise documentation of your plans, goals, and logistical hurdles. I am sure, as in all things political, these programs will take time to come into play. But as we all know, time passes quickly. Before we know it, a number of us will be enjoying the benefits of this aggressive fight against climate change and the negative impacts our building have on our planet. As much as I enjoy witnessing you all doing so much to do what you can to make the world a better place, I’m also very pleased to know that some help promises to be on the way. W W Stephen P. Ashkin is a tireless advocate for environmentally-preferable cleaning. For more information, visit www.ashkingroup.com. Lauren Riggs is Coordinator for LEED Technical Development for the U.S. Green Building Council. She may be reached at lriggs@usgbc.org. December 2008/Executive Housekeeping Today 27 http://www.ieha.org http://www.ashkingroup.com

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

Executive Housekeeping Today - December 2008 Contents Executive Corner Microfiber May Impede an Infectious Disease Outbreak Controlling MRSA Outbreaks in Educational Facilities Frugal Housekeeper Restroom Hygiene IEHA Hosts Progressive Integrated Cleaning and Measurement (ICM)™ Symposium Feature Article The Green Scene 2006-2008 EHT Article Index USGBC Tip Product Highlights New Members Joint IEHA/ISSA Members REH/CEH Members Advertisers' Index Calendar of Events Inside IEHA What IEHA Has Done For Me

Executive Housekeeping Today - December 2008

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