First EPA-registered product to kill C. diff spores

WASHINGTON — TECcare Ultra from Talley Environmental Care Ltd. has become the first and only product to pass the new and more stringent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved testing protocol for killing Clostridium Difficile (C. diff) spores, according to a press release.

The EPA has posted guidelines for efficacy testing to obtain the C. diff sporicidal claim for hard, non-porous surfaces on their website: Http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/cdif-guidance.html, the release stated.

According to a survey conducted by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), 13 out of every 1,000 inpatients were either infected or colonized with C. diff, costing an estimated $17.6 to $51.5 million a year, the release noted.

Kevin Mearns, director of business development for Talley Environmental Care, said: "Passing these latest approved tests once again highlights the excellent efficacy of TECcare Ultra, and combined with its exceptional safety credentials, the product has been proven to kill this potentially life threatening pathogen. TECcare Ultra offers a true sporicidal product, one that does not contain damaging chemicals and skin irritants such as bleach, alcohols, phenols, chlorine and aldehydes and is well suited for repeated use on surfaces. It is safe and effective as well as fully biodegradable and environmentally friendly."

TECcare Ultra can be used in a variety of facilities, including: Health care; pharmaceuticals; foodservice; hospitality; schools and nurseries; and general hygiene applications, the release added.

Click here to read the complete release.

First LEED-certified hotel in Illinois

NAPERVILLE, IL — The Hotel Arista has received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), making it the first hotel in Illinois to achieve such a designation, according to the magazine Hotels.

The 144-room Hotel Arista opened in the fall of 2008 and uses 30 percent less water and 21 percent less energy than hotels of comparable size, the story stated.

All of the cleaning products used at the hotel are chemical-free and do not contribute volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the indoor environment, the story noted.

CEO and President of the USGBC Rick Fedrizzi said: "Hotel Arista’s LEED certification not only marks a first for the State of Illinois, but is a leading example for how the retail and hospitality industries can and should be invested in environmental well-being and social responsibility. Furthermore, consuming less energy and fewer resources will equate to great fiscal savings throughout the lifecycle of the property."

Materials for the construction of the Hotel Arista were locally sourced and up to 70 percent of post-construction materials were recycled, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

New law requires green cleaning in CT schools

HARTFORD, CT — Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell yesterday signed Bill 6496 into law, requiring local and regional public school districts to use green cleaning products, according to a press release.

The new law requires school districts to have a green cleaning program in place by July 1, 2011, to help ensure a healthier environment for students, faculty and staff, the release stated.

Governor Rell said: "Schools are places of great promise for our children, where dedicated teachers and staff help shape and guide their futures. We can now color that future green, as well. This law will help ensure a healthy environment for everyone who walks through the doors of public schools in Connecticut."

According to the release, during the legislative process, proponents testified that nearly one-quarter of cleaning chemicals used in schools are toxic and significantly affect indoor air quality (IAQ).

The environmentally preferable products, which must meet nationally certified guidelines and be approved by the State Department of Administrative Services, include: General-purpose cleaners; restroom, glass and carpet cleaners; hand cleaners and soaps; floor finishes; and floor strippers, the release noted.

The law also requires the types of cleaners used and the methods employed be made public, the release added.

Click here to read the complete release.

Study: One in four carry MRSA in nursing homes

BELFAST, Ireland — A recent study by Queen’s University Belfast and Antrim Area Hospital has found that one in four residents in nursing homes carry methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria, according to Infection Control Today.

The findings, which have been published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, highlight the need to increase infection control strategies in nursing homes and other health care facilities, the story stated.

For the study, swabs from 1,111 residents and 553 staff in 45 nursing homes in the United Kingdom were taken and studied, the story noted.

According to the study, 24 percent of residents and 7 percent of staff were found to be colonized with MRSA, meaning they were carrying the bacteria but not showing signs of infection or illness.

Dr. Paddy Kearney, a consultant medical microbiologist with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, said: "We decided to carry out the study after noticing an apparent increase in recent years in the number of patients who had MRSA when they were admitted to hospital from nursing homes. In hospitals, routine checks are carried out to identify those most at risk of MRSA colonization (carrying it on their skin and/or nose) and infection control policies are put in place but this is not always feasible in private nursing homes."

To combat this potential problem, educating both patients and staff about MRSA and increasing cleaning frequency and efficiency is crucial, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Watt Plaza earns LEED-EB Gold certification

LOS ANGELES — Watt Plaza, a 900,000-square-foot, twin 23-story office tower complex was recently awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) Gold certification, according to KABC-TV.

This certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) makes Watt Plaza the first office building in Los Angeles to achieve such a distinction and one of only five in California, the story stated.

LEED certification considers the following criteria into account: Water conversation; waste recovery; alternative transportation; energy efficiency measures; and indoor air quality (IAQ), the story noted.

Sustainable aspects of the building include: Low-flow toilets and fixtures, 88 water-free urinals and an indoor air quality management program, the story added.

Self-cleaning toilet doubles as urinal

MILAN, Italy — There is a revolutionary new urinal on the market from Italy-based designer Young Sang Eun that doubles as a toilet with the push of a button, according to Dvice.com.

The Ultimate Clean Toilet is self-cleaning thanks to a built-in ultraviolet (UV) light system and steam that sterilizes the unit after each use, the story stated.

Designed with limited-space urban environments in mind, the Ultimate Clean Toilet spins around, flipping down a seat that transforms it from a chic urinal into a streamlined toilet, the story noted.

The multipurpose loo uses less water than traditional urinals and toilets and can save facilities money on top of increasing restroom aesthetics, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

IEHA offers exclusive Master's Program

WESTERVILLE, OH — The International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA) is offering the exclusive opportunity to their Registered Executive Housekeepers (REH) to participate in a Master's Program, according to a press release.

According to the release, the program includes coursework to assist in updating IEHA's 330-hour Self Study Program and a thesis or dissertation that will become part of IEHA's permanent educational curriculum.

Education has been the top priority for IEHA to increase professionalism in the industry ever since it was established in the 1930s and the 330-hour program has been revised every two years as needed since its inception in 1985, the release stated.

During the 2009 Masters Program coursework process, the following modules of the Self Study Program will be enhanced: Management Philosophy & Style; Communication; Planning & Organizing; Staffing & Staff Development; Continuous Improvement; Housekeeping Techniques; Work Controls; Pest Control; Chemical Controls; Waste Management; Purchasing; Accounting & Budgets; Safety & Security; Interiors; and Laundry & Linen, the release noted.

Green concepts and sustainability will be incorporated throughout all of the modules and all materials for the 330-Hour Self Study Program will be available online by the end of 2009, the release added.