Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Contact Information and Custodial Support
  3. Purchasing Requirements for The Kendeda Building
  4. Geneon Water Based Cleaning System
  5. Green Cleaning Procedures

 

I. Introduction

The Georgia Institute of Technology has a robust green cleaning program managed by Building Services for the entire campus. In the early 2000s when few institutions were considering the harmful impacts of traditional cleaning products, Georgia Tech was systematically removing toxic chemical cleaners and replacing them with healthier and more environmentally-friendly products. Our first-state green cleaning implementation occurred in 2003 with the replacement of toxic chemical cleaners with more environmentally friendly products.

Since then, Georgia Tech Building Services has dramatically expanded our green cleaning program. For example, our campus-wide green cleaning approach includes Geneon Water Based Cleaning System’s ionized water, which is also known as engineered water. Visit Georgia Tech’s Green Cleaning website for additional details: https://facilities.gatech.edu/green-cleaning.

Requirements for green cleaning are found in the Health + Happiness Petal of the Living Building Challenge under the Heathy Interior Environment Imperative. The Imperative states that to promote good indoor air quality, a project must “outline a cleaning protocol that uses cleaning products that comply with the EPA Safer Choice label.”

In an effort to help Georgia Tech evaluate and update campus programs to align with the intent and requirements of the Living Building Challenge (LBC), the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) worked with Georgia Tech on several research and analysis projects. These projects looked at how innovations and new procedures can carry over beneficially into whole campus activities related to LBC. One of the results of this effort was a Cleaning Products Procedure and Analysis Report, available here, prepared by ILFI for Georgia Tech. This report focuses on green cleaning and evaluated the campus cleaning protocol and inventoried chemicals used for housekeeping activities.

The majority of The Kendeda Building’s green cleaning operations and procedures can be found in the campus-wide Green Cleaning Manual. Please refer to the campus-wide Green Cleaning Manual for specifics regarding green cleaning policy, green cleaning produces, safe handling procedures, staff and training, and quality assurance. This work plan details policies for The Kendeda Building that are above-and-beyond of what is listed in the campus-wide Green Cleaning Manual. This work plan is informed by Georgia Tech’s years of green cleaning experience as well as ILFI’s Cleaning Products Procedure and Analysis Report.

 

II. Contact Information and Custodial Support

If a building occupant notices an issue that needs resolution, then please contact Brooke Vacovsky, Kendeda Building Senior Facilities Manager:

The Kendeda Building is supported by two members of the Georgia Tech Building Services Custodial Staff. One individual supports the building from 7am to 3pm. The other individual supports the building from 2:30pm to 10:30pm.

 

III. Purchasing Requirements for The Kendeda Building

A minimum of 100% of all annual purchases of cleaning products must meet 1 or more of the following standards for the appropriate category:

  • EPA Safer Choice label: General purpose, bathroom, glass and carpet cleaners used for industrial and institutional purposes
  • EPA Safer Choice label: Cleaning and Degreasing compounds
  • EPA Safer Choice label: Hard Surface Cleaners
  • EPA Safer Choice label: Carpet and Upholstery Care

Disinfectants, metal polish, floor finishes, strippers or other products not addressed by the above standards must meet 1 or more of the following standards for the appropriate category:

  • EPA Safer Choice label: Industrial and Institutional Floor Care Products
  • EPA Safer Choice label: digestion additives for cleaning and odor control
  • EPA Safer Choice label: Drain or grease trap additives
  • EPA Safer Choice label: Odor control additives
  • EPA Safer Choice label -1: Hard Floor Care

To identify products that meet these requirements, refer to the following website: www.epa.gov/saferchoice. Furthermore, refer to the ILFI Cleaning Products Procedure and Analysis Report for a list of alternate cleaning product options, which ILFI has confirmed as compliant with the Safer Choice program and Living Building Challenge.

NOTE: For disinfecting currently we are using Covid-19 EPA disinfectant that is the hypochlorous solution not ionized. See website: https://www.annihilare.com.

 

IV. Geneon Water Based Cleaning System

The Geneon Water Based Cleaning System creates ionized water, which is also known as engineered water. The process utilizes a device that emits an electrical charge to energize a mixture of tap water and natural minerals to create a powerful cleaner, degreaser, and sanitizer. It is an on demand, on-the-go way to clean that does not require a chemical-related health warning label. The technology was tested for sanitizing effectiveness by the EPA and found to kill more than 99.9999999% of most harmful germs and has an EPA Hospital grade registration number. Certified by the Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) for its cleaning effectiveness, engineered water has replaced disinfectant, sanitizer, general purpose cleaner, glass, chrome and mirror cleaner, and stainless steel cleaner on campus.

In its Cleaning Products Procedure and Analysis Report, ILFI states that the Geneon Water Based Cleaning System is not within the scope of the Living Building Challenge and therefore may be used in The Kendeda Building.

 

V. Green Cleaning Procedures

Unlike other buildings on campus, The Kendeda Building has a greywater cleaning system that uses an onsite constructed wetland. The Kendeda Building’s greywater is collected from shower drains, sink drains, and water fountains to a primary tank. The greywater is pumped up to a constructed wetland at the main entrance, gravity fed to other filtration and disinfection tanks, and ultimately allowed to infiltrate back into the soil via leach fields at the north end of the site for groundwater recharge.

To protect the vegetation in the constructed wetland, no cleaning products will be dumped down the drain of The Kendeda Building. Any unused cleaning supplies will be carried to another building for disposal.