HOUSTON — The Hilton Americas-Houston hotel has earned Green Seal certification, making it the first and only hotel in the state to bear such a distinction, according to the Houston Business Journal.
In order to comply with the Green Seal Environmental Standard for Lodging Properties, the hotel implemented an extensive recycling program, initiated food waste composting, installed compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs and began using nontoxic and biodegradable cleaning products, the story stated.
To qualify for certification, a hotel must demonstrate sustainable practices in waste minimization; energy efficiency, conservation and management; management of fresh water resources; wastewater management; hazardous substances management; and environmentally sensitive purchasing, the story noted.
According to the story, the 1,203-room, 91,500-square-foot Hilton Americas-Houston hotel exceeded basic requirements and achieved certification at the silver level.
Certification requires an evaluation by Green Seal, including an on-site audit of the property and annual monitoring to ensure ongoing compliance, the story added.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Mold and roaches found throughout school
WILMINGTON, NC — A recent health inspection score of 70.5 at E. A. Laney High School revealed a serious problem — roaches in classrooms, mold in the gym bathroom, fieldhouse and on floors, baseboards and walls throughout the school, according to the Wilmington Star-News.
The heavy scrubbing and deep cleaning operation needed to clean and remediate the dirt and mold festering throughout the school will continue through next week while the students are on spring break, the story stated.
Susan Wright, environmental health program specialist with the New Hanover County Health Department, said: "The previous school building inspection, conducted on June 4, 2008, had a final score of 71. Considering that every item marked on the current inspection was a repeat violation and the score remained consistent clearly indicates that some improvements have been made but obviously more are needed."
According to the story, a health inspection score below 70 would warrant the immediate closure of an establishment.
The 30-year-old, 2,000 plus student school is operating with a custodial staff of nine, and the New Hanover County School District plans to drastically cut that number in the next year, the story noted.
A "clean team" consisting of custodians from other schools within the district was brought in to assist in cleaning the school; according to school officials, the operation was planned before the health inspection report came out, the story added.
The heavy scrubbing and deep cleaning operation needed to clean and remediate the dirt and mold festering throughout the school will continue through next week while the students are on spring break, the story stated.
Susan Wright, environmental health program specialist with the New Hanover County Health Department, said: "The previous school building inspection, conducted on June 4, 2008, had a final score of 71. Considering that every item marked on the current inspection was a repeat violation and the score remained consistent clearly indicates that some improvements have been made but obviously more are needed."
According to the story, a health inspection score below 70 would warrant the immediate closure of an establishment.
The 30-year-old, 2,000 plus student school is operating with a custodial staff of nine, and the New Hanover County School District plans to drastically cut that number in the next year, the story noted.
A "clean team" consisting of custodians from other schools within the district was brought in to assist in cleaning the school; according to school officials, the operation was planned before the health inspection report came out, the story added.
Citigroup to lay off 107 custodians
NEW YORK — Just weeks after the anti-union position taken by Citigroup in their opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act, the company announced plans to lay off over one-third of their custodial workforce responsible for maintaining six properties, according to the Huffington Post.
In response to the 107 proposed layoffs, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 32BJ, the representative body for the custodians, proposed that Citigroup decrease the number of positions cut and provide severance packages and Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) health insurance to those impacted by the decision, the story stated.
According to Cushman & Wakefield, the property management company contracted by Citigroup, "We are engaged in good faith negotiations with SEIU Local 32BJ and are working on a solution that will be responsive to market conditions and the issues raised by the union. We have and continue to comply with both the spirit and letter of the current bargaining agreement and hope to resolve the matter to everyone's satisfaction."
Citigroup hopes to save an estimated $6.5 million by laying off the custodians, the story noted.
Many are wondering why the layoffs are necessary, as Citigroup was the recipient of a recent $50 billion taxpayer bailout that was intended to save jobs, the story added.
In response to the 107 proposed layoffs, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 32BJ, the representative body for the custodians, proposed that Citigroup decrease the number of positions cut and provide severance packages and Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) health insurance to those impacted by the decision, the story stated.
According to Cushman & Wakefield, the property management company contracted by Citigroup, "We are engaged in good faith negotiations with SEIU Local 32BJ and are working on a solution that will be responsive to market conditions and the issues raised by the union. We have and continue to comply with both the spirit and letter of the current bargaining agreement and hope to resolve the matter to everyone's satisfaction."
Citigroup hopes to save an estimated $6.5 million by laying off the custodians, the story noted.
Many are wondering why the layoffs are necessary, as Citigroup was the recipient of a recent $50 billion taxpayer bailout that was intended to save jobs, the story added.
Oreck's Clean for the Cure campaign
NASHVILLE, TN — Oreck is currently promoting their Clean for the Cure campaign by selling the specially-created Pink Oreck XL Ultra Hypo-Allergenic Plus Vacuum Cleaner, according to a press release.
With each purchase of the Pink Oreck XL, Oreck will make a $50 donation to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation to help the fight against breast cancer, the release stated.
President and CEO Tom Oreck said: "The response to the Pink Oreck XL vacuum was so strong, we vow to continue and raise more money to help find a cure for breast cancer. Susan G. Komen for the Cure is clearly a cause that touches our consumers and we want to give back to the people who buy our products."
In time for spring cleaning and Mother's Day gifts, the Pink Oreck XL Ultra Vacuum Cleaner makes home cleaning more effective and easier, especially for allergen control, the release noted.
Oreck pledges a minimum donation of $500,000, with no limit to the amount it will donate, the release added.
According to the release, Oreck raised over $740,000 during its inaugural campaign last year.
With each purchase of the Pink Oreck XL, Oreck will make a $50 donation to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation to help the fight against breast cancer, the release stated.
President and CEO Tom Oreck said: "The response to the Pink Oreck XL vacuum was so strong, we vow to continue and raise more money to help find a cure for breast cancer. Susan G. Komen for the Cure is clearly a cause that touches our consumers and we want to give back to the people who buy our products."
In time for spring cleaning and Mother's Day gifts, the Pink Oreck XL Ultra Vacuum Cleaner makes home cleaning more effective and easier, especially for allergen control, the release noted.
Oreck pledges a minimum donation of $500,000, with no limit to the amount it will donate, the release added.
According to the release, Oreck raised over $740,000 during its inaugural campaign last year.
Mandatory LEED standards for City of Bloomington
BLOOMINGTON, IN — The Bloomington City Council passed the city’s first green building ordinance last week that requires 15 government buildings to meet stringent energy efficiency standards, according to the Indiana Daily Student.
The ordinance requires that all 15 buildings, including City Hall, Department of Public Works buildings, Parks and Recreation buildings and the Utility Service, meet the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED-EB) Silver standard for existing buildings, the story stated.
Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan said: "We continue to strive to be better environmental stewards, and identifying energy efficiencies is critical since, in the long run, they reduce our operating costs and decrease our carbon footprint."
The cost of the energy-efficient upgrades will be offset within a 10-year period, the story noted.
The city's efforts will save taxpayers money in the long run and will reduce the city's carbon footprint, the story added.
The ordinance requires that all 15 buildings, including City Hall, Department of Public Works buildings, Parks and Recreation buildings and the Utility Service, meet the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED-EB) Silver standard for existing buildings, the story stated.
Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan said: "We continue to strive to be better environmental stewards, and identifying energy efficiencies is critical since, in the long run, they reduce our operating costs and decrease our carbon footprint."
The cost of the energy-efficient upgrades will be offset within a 10-year period, the story noted.
The city's efforts will save taxpayers money in the long run and will reduce the city's carbon footprint, the story added.
Custodian throws wrench at principal
WEST VALLEY CITY, UT — A custodian at Robert Frost Elementary School has been charged with felony assault for throwing a wrench at a principal, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.
After being confronted about his work, the custodian became irate and threw a 14- or 16-inch crescent wrench at the principal; the wrench did not hit her, the story stated.
The custodian said that he "could have hit her with the wrench" if he wanted, and that the only way to get her attention is to "blow up," the story noted.
The custodian faces up to five years in prison if convicted, the story added.
After being confronted about his work, the custodian became irate and threw a 14- or 16-inch crescent wrench at the principal; the wrench did not hit her, the story stated.
The custodian said that he "could have hit her with the wrench" if he wanted, and that the only way to get her attention is to "blow up," the story noted.
The custodian faces up to five years in prison if convicted, the story added.
Staph infection initiates jail lockdown
BLACKFOOT, ID — After seven inmates became infected with a staph infection, the Bingham County Jail was put on lockdown and visitation has been suspended, according to KIDK-TV.
The lockdown is a precautionary measure to curb the infection's spread while staff and medical personnel clean and disinfect everything in the jail, the story stated.
Sheriff Dave Johnson said: "These things happen in jail. They happen in hospitals. They happen in schools, and you just get on it as quick as you can and get it taken care of."
The jail claims the infection is not Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and that nobody is in imminent danger, the story noted.
According to the story, the inmates have been so cooperative during this matter that the sheriff plans to buy everyone pizza.
The jail plans to end the lockdown and visitation suspension on Monday, the story added.
The lockdown is a precautionary measure to curb the infection's spread while staff and medical personnel clean and disinfect everything in the jail, the story stated.
Sheriff Dave Johnson said: "These things happen in jail. They happen in hospitals. They happen in schools, and you just get on it as quick as you can and get it taken care of."
The jail claims the infection is not Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and that nobody is in imminent danger, the story noted.
According to the story, the inmates have been so cooperative during this matter that the sheriff plans to buy everyone pizza.
The jail plans to end the lockdown and visitation suspension on Monday, the story added.
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