Schools Going Green

State legislators continue to pass Green Clean Schools Acts that emphasize the importance and the health benefits for children and teachers of green-cleaning programs in schools.

Green Clean Schools Act have already been enacted in New York and Illinois and other states close to following suit are Connecticut, Massachusetts, California and Washington. These acts require state-wide green cleaning programs for schools to use only environmentally safe cleaning products. The list of products includes: bathroom cleaners, general purpose cleaners, hard floor cleaners, carpet cleaners, window, glass and mirror cleaners, hand soaps and paper products.

In charge of setting the standard for cleaning services and defining what constitutes "green" cleaning products is Green Seal Inc. Green Seal is a non-profit organization based in Washington and has been sited in current Green School legislation. Their Environmental Standard for Cleaning Services has been revised to specifically protect children who are especially vulnerable to exposure of the harsh chemicals in many cleaning products. Green Seal aims to help schools better protect children so that they may have a safer and healthier environment to learn in.