Hobart and William Smith Colleges
OP-4: Building Operations and Maintenance

HWS has a well-developed green cleaning program established to minimize negative environmental, building system, and health impacts, and to reduce the exposure of building occupants to hazardous contaminants. The housekeeping manager, as guided by Sodexo Campus Services, holds responsibility for developing and managing the green cleaning policies and programs, which apply comprehensively to all building space. In addition to ongoing progress in green cleaning over the past decade, attention to green cleaning operations in the recently constructed LEED BD+C Gold certified Gearan Center for the Performing Arts has advanced and solidified the campus-wide green cleaning program. The best practices established address, at a minimum, product purchasing, entryway systems, cleaning equipment, operating procedures, and training. Green cleaning policy and program components at HWS include, but are not limited to:

• Utilization of Green Seal certified products (more than 90% of all cleaning products at HWS) that meet the standards and sustainability criteria for the appropriate categories (e.g. GS-37 for general purpose cleaners, GS-40 for floor-care products, and GS-41 for hand soaps)
• Utilization of unbleached/recycled paper products
• Low water cleaning with microfiber cloths and specialized mop equipment
• Cold water cleaning techniques
• Floor and carpet maintenance is designed to use few, or no, harmful chemicals, remove contaminants, and protect floors
• Rider sweepers are used for high productivity cleaning of large areas with fume-free batteries that eliminate engine exhaust and include a 3-stage dust control and air flow filtration system
• Backpack vacuums meet industry standards for indoor air quality and comfortable carrying
• Utilization of equipment (vacuums, etc.) that minimize dust and contaminants
• Ionization cleaning (using Ionator EXP devices), which uses only tap water, are used for general cleaning
• Walk-off mats and/or grates of a minimum 10 feet long are used in primary entrances wherever possible, with routine vacuuming and surface cleaning occurring daily
• Safe storage and handling procedures have been established that include locked closets, authorized only access, and health and safety training

HWS utilizes a suite of tools and systems to ensure effective energy management across the entire campus. Large and/or complex buildings are connected to a central Building Automation System (BAS). The campus runs two BAS, the first being Andover Controls, and the Second is Automated Logic. These systems measure temperatures within the spaces, factor in outside air temperatures, and then command the boilers, air handlers, and other heating and cooling devices. The systems are designed to maximize energy efficiency while balancing comfort and performance in the buildings. Additionally, the BAS are able to trend and report on system and component performance, as well as generate alarms when a component or a building falls outside of specification. Smaller buildings are monitored by the NEST thermostat system which are configured to a dashboard page for monitoring. Boilers that are not tied to the BAS systems have been outfitted with stand-alone controls to maximize their individual efficiency.