Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 56.90
Liaison Paul Mathisen
Submission Date April 16, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Worcester Polytechnic Institute
OP-13: Cleaning Products Purchasing

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.40 / 1.00 Liz Tomaszewski
Facilities Systems Manager/Sustainability Coordinator
Facilities Department
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have an institution-wide stated preference to purchase third party certified cleaning and janitorial products?:
Yes

A copy of the green cleaning product purchasing policy, directive, or guidelines:
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The green cleaning product purchasing policy, directive, or guidelines:

The goal of Custodial Services is to provide the highest level of cleanliness by insisting on a safe and healthy environment for the WPI community. The success of this goal requires the continual re-assessing of buildings, products, techniques, and staffing. There are several ways in which this goal is being achieved.
We use environmentally friendly equipment of the newest technology, such as vacuums that have filtration systems which will filter down to 0.5 microns. This equipment helps reduce all allergy discomfort and helps to provide improved air quality throughout WPI's facilities. We use only environmentally friendly cleaning products in East Hall, our LEED Gold Certified resident hall, and we recommend environmentally friendly cleaning products elsewhere on campus. We also educate our staff on the proper use of disinfectants and other chemicals, which helps to reduce lost time due to common seasonal illnesses.
Education, equipment, and enthusiasm are the foundation in providing a healthy environment to the WPI community.


A brief description of steps the institution has taken to ensure that the purchasing policy, directives, or guidelines are followed:

All purchases of cleaning products are handled through the Director of Facilities who ensures that all products ordered have been approved for the institution's use. Currently, WPI uses the Genesan line of products campus wide.


Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 of this credit (expenditures on cleaning and janitorial products)?:
Yes

Expenditures on Green Seal and/or UL Environment (EcoLogo) certified cleaning and janitorial products:
60,000 US/Canadian $

Total expenditures on cleaning and janitorial products:
300,000 US/Canadian $

Has the institution's main cleaning or housekeeping department(s) and/or contractor(s) adopted a Green Seal or ISSA certified low-impact, ecological (“green”) cleaning program?:
No

A brief description of the institution’s low-impact, ecological cleaning program:

We use the latest environmentally friendly equipment, such as vacuums that have filtration systems which will filter down to 0.5 microns. This equipment helps reduce allergy discomfort and provides improved air quality throughout WPI's facilities. We also educate our staff on the proper use of disinfectant and other chemicals, which helps to reduce lost time due to common seasonal illnesses. The primary daily cleaning products are dispensed from dilution control systems found in all campus buildings. This form of dispensing assures a safe dilution of all the major chemicals used on campus. The dilution control system is manufactured by Genesan. The Genesan products are bio-based and biologically-engineered cleaning products developed with sustainability in mind at all phases of the product's life-cycle. Chemicals have no higher than a health rating of "1" in use. WPI has also implemented safer, more sustainable cleaning tools, such as microfiber clothes and trained all personnel on the benefits of sustainable cleaning programs and cleaning products.


A copy of the sections of the cleaning contract(s) that reference certified green products:
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The sections of the cleaning contract(s) that reference certified green products:
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The website URL where information about the institution’s green cleaning initiatives is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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