COLUMBIA, SC — Two-day preparation courses for individuals preparing for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED-AP) exam are now being offered through the Office of Academic Enrichment and Conferences at the University of South Carolina, according to the Charleston Regional Business Journal.
The preparation courses include a complete review of LEED credits, worksheets, a practice exam and strategies for passing the exam, the story stated.
According to the story, classes will take place April 20-21; June 9-10; Sept. 1-2; Oct. 13-14; and Nov. 23-24.
The courses are administered by LEED Accredited Professionals from Everblue Energy Inc., an official education provider for the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the story noted.
Preparation course participants will receive continuing education credit (CEC), the story added.
For fee and registration information, contact the university’s Academic Enrichment and Conferences office at (803) 777-9444.
Friday, April 10, 2009
MRSA infection prompts parental notification
RICHMOND, KY — The confirmation that a seventh-grader contracted Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) prompted Model Laboratory School to send a letter home to the parents of all 685 students to warn them of the infection, according to the Richmond Register.
After learning of the incident, the school immediately followed its MRSA incident protocol by notifying the Madison County Health Department and sanitizing common areas of the school, the story stated.
Christie Green of the Madison County Health Department said: "MRSA is not a readily transmittable disease. It requires skin-to-skin contact with an open wound or skin-to-surface contact with surfaces contaminated by an open wound. If a staph-infected wound is kept properly covered with clean, dry bandages, there is very minimal risk to the people around them in schools or workplaces."
Under state and federal laws, it is not mandatory for schools or other institutions to report cases of MRSA, the story noted.
The Model Parents Organization has scheduled a meeting for April 20 to discuss the incident and to ease the worries of some, the story added.
After learning of the incident, the school immediately followed its MRSA incident protocol by notifying the Madison County Health Department and sanitizing common areas of the school, the story stated.
Christie Green of the Madison County Health Department said: "MRSA is not a readily transmittable disease. It requires skin-to-skin contact with an open wound or skin-to-surface contact with surfaces contaminated by an open wound. If a staph-infected wound is kept properly covered with clean, dry bandages, there is very minimal risk to the people around them in schools or workplaces."
Under state and federal laws, it is not mandatory for schools or other institutions to report cases of MRSA, the story noted.
The Model Parents Organization has scheduled a meeting for April 20 to discuss the incident and to ease the worries of some, the story added.
Kimberly-Clark hosts cruise to benefit the United Way
IRVING, TX — Kimberly-Clark will host the first “Kimberly-Clark United Cruise” May 30 to benefit the United Way, according to The Dispatch.
All cars, trucks and motorcycles are invited to participate in the event that will begin at Kimberly-Clark's plant on Clyde Fitzgerald Road in Linwood at 11 a.m. and travel 35 miles to the Richard Childress Racing Museum, the story stated.
According to the story, the cost to participate is $20 and includes a T-shirt, live entertainment and a hot dog lunch.
Donna Lane, United Way campaign director, said: "Kimberly-Clark is no doubt our top producer in not only what they give but the number of events they do. United Way is blessed to have management support and help from so many employees that care about this community."
Advanced registration is available by calling Dennis at (972) 248-7303; registrations will also be taken the day of the event beginning at 10 a.m., the story noted.
Last year, Kimberly-Clark raised $132,006 for the United Way, the story added.
All cars, trucks and motorcycles are invited to participate in the event that will begin at Kimberly-Clark's plant on Clyde Fitzgerald Road in Linwood at 11 a.m. and travel 35 miles to the Richard Childress Racing Museum, the story stated.
According to the story, the cost to participate is $20 and includes a T-shirt, live entertainment and a hot dog lunch.
Donna Lane, United Way campaign director, said: "Kimberly-Clark is no doubt our top producer in not only what they give but the number of events they do. United Way is blessed to have management support and help from so many employees that care about this community."
Advanced registration is available by calling Dennis at (972) 248-7303; registrations will also be taken the day of the event beginning at 10 a.m., the story noted.
Last year, Kimberly-Clark raised $132,006 for the United Way, the story added.
Clorox has first EPA-registered bleach to kill C. diff
OAKLAND, CA — Clorox Commercial Solutions® Ultra Clorox® Germicidal Bleach is the first and only product to obtain U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration for killing Clostridium difficle (C. diff) spores on hard, non-porous surfaces, according to a press release.
A study by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control (APIC) found that C. diff infection rates are 6.5 to 20 times higher than previous estimates and costs health care institutions $17.6 to $51.5 million each day, the release stated.
C. diff spores can persist in the environment for many months and are highly resistant to many disinfecting formulations, until now, the release noted.
Ultra Clorox Germicidal Bleach is registered for use in all 50 states to effectively kill C. diff spores, the release added.
For more information on Ultra Clorox Germicidal Bleach, visit www.cloroxprofessional.com/cdiff.
A study by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control (APIC) found that C. diff infection rates are 6.5 to 20 times higher than previous estimates and costs health care institutions $17.6 to $51.5 million each day, the release stated.
C. diff spores can persist in the environment for many months and are highly resistant to many disinfecting formulations, until now, the release noted.
Ultra Clorox Germicidal Bleach is registered for use in all 50 states to effectively kill C. diff spores, the release added.
For more information on Ultra Clorox Germicidal Bleach, visit www.cloroxprofessional.com/cdiff.
Many outraged over janitors' overtime
WATERBURY, CT — Many members of the Waterbury Board of Education are outraged and curious about how some Waterbury Public Schools' custodians more than doubled their salaries by putting in upwards of 2,000 hours of overtime last year, according to the Republican-American.
Thirty-two custodial and maintenance staff put in for more than 500 hours of overtime in the past year, the story stated.
According to records released by the school, John Laforme, a custodial supervisor at Rotella Interdistrict Magnet School, made $82,161.04 last year, of which $51,296.48 was paid for 2,138 hours of overtime.
Board member Paul D'Angelo said: "We have serious management shortcomings within the department and people seem to be willing to turn a blind eye to it."
Board members responded to the "outrageous and disgraceful" clocking of overtime by asking for details of any overtime requests of more than 400 hours per year, the story noted.
Some see the high number of overtime hours as normal and necessary because many of the schools are open more than 12 hours a day and the district was short 15 custodians last year, the story added.
Thirty-two custodial and maintenance staff put in for more than 500 hours of overtime in the past year, the story stated.
According to records released by the school, John Laforme, a custodial supervisor at Rotella Interdistrict Magnet School, made $82,161.04 last year, of which $51,296.48 was paid for 2,138 hours of overtime.
Board member Paul D'Angelo said: "We have serious management shortcomings within the department and people seem to be willing to turn a blind eye to it."
Board members responded to the "outrageous and disgraceful" clocking of overtime by asking for details of any overtime requests of more than 400 hours per year, the story noted.
Some see the high number of overtime hours as normal and necessary because many of the schools are open more than 12 hours a day and the district was short 15 custodians last year, the story added.
Green claims for disinfectants and sanitizers
WASHINGTON — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials voiced interest in recommending the adoption of a policy that allows suppliers to make valid green claims for disinfectants and sanitizers, according to a press release.
It is also possible that a policy will be established that would allow the use of ecolabels in conjunction with the marketing of hard surface antimicrobial products in cooperation with the EPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) program, the release stated.
According to the release, this represents a significant departure from the EPA's policy that prohibits green claims to be made in conjunction with the promotion of any antimicrobial pesticides.
Stephen Ashkin, president of The Ashkin Group, said: "I am very pleased to see this development from EPA that will make it easier for green consumers and manufacturers to clearly identify ‘greener’ disinfectants which in turn will help eliminate confusion in the marketplace and accelerate green cleaning in critical segments such as health care, schools and others with vulnerable populations."
The EPA will make the recommendations on green claims at the April 22-23 meeting of EPA’s Pesticide Policy Dialogue Committee, the release noted.
In the meantime, the EPA and DfE will continue to conduct the internal pilot, which is designed to identify the parameters under which the DfE ecolabel could be bestowed upon certain disinfectants and sanitizers, the release added.
It is also possible that a policy will be established that would allow the use of ecolabels in conjunction with the marketing of hard surface antimicrobial products in cooperation with the EPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) program, the release stated.
According to the release, this represents a significant departure from the EPA's policy that prohibits green claims to be made in conjunction with the promotion of any antimicrobial pesticides.
Stephen Ashkin, president of The Ashkin Group, said: "I am very pleased to see this development from EPA that will make it easier for green consumers and manufacturers to clearly identify ‘greener’ disinfectants which in turn will help eliminate confusion in the marketplace and accelerate green cleaning in critical segments such as health care, schools and others with vulnerable populations."
The EPA will make the recommendations on green claims at the April 22-23 meeting of EPA’s Pesticide Policy Dialogue Committee, the release noted.
In the meantime, the EPA and DfE will continue to conduct the internal pilot, which is designed to identify the parameters under which the DfE ecolabel could be bestowed upon certain disinfectants and sanitizers, the release added.
Boise's green library is nearly complete
BOISE, ID — Though it is still under construction, the green elements in the new Boise West Library are noticeable, according to KIVI-TV.
The City of Boise mandated the new library meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold standards set forth by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the story stated.
The project, slated to be completed this summer by contractor PETRA Inc., hopes to pave the way for more green building projects in and around the Boise area, the story noted.
PETRA Marketing Director Mark VanGulik said: "Implementing it, has been a little difficult. They're not used to it. It's something new."
Sustainable elements in the new library include a rainwater collection system, polished concrete, temperature-regulating glass, recycled materials and aspects to accommodate a green lifestyle for workers, such as showers for those who bike to work, the story added.
The City of Boise mandated the new library meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold standards set forth by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the story stated.
The project, slated to be completed this summer by contractor PETRA Inc., hopes to pave the way for more green building projects in and around the Boise area, the story noted.
PETRA Marketing Director Mark VanGulik said: "Implementing it, has been a little difficult. They're not used to it. It's something new."
Sustainable elements in the new library include a rainwater collection system, polished concrete, temperature-regulating glass, recycled materials and aspects to accommodate a green lifestyle for workers, such as showers for those who bike to work, the story added.
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