LEED-Gold certified Papago Gateway Center

TEMPE, AZ — The Papago Gateway Center, a mixed-use office and laboratory facility built by Okland Construction Company Inc. in 2008, has achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification, according to East Valley Living.

A unique aspect of the building is the automated, operable, sun-tracking louvers that wrap the southern side and portions of the east and west facades to provide shade and reduce cooling costs, the story stated.

Lee Chesnut, chief executive officer (CEO) of Chesnut Properties LLC, said: "We are proud to be able to say Papago Gateway Center is LEED-Gold certified. But, we are more proud of how this amazing, green, building actually operates in the real world. It’s not the certificate we wanted, it was the most efficient and cutting-edge building that we wanted — a new type of building that would break through the barrier of ordinary building operation and management into a new, healthier, less costly and demanding building in our living environment."

Depending on the time of day and the amount of sunlight striking the building, the structure appears different due to the sun-tracking and shade-providing louvers, the story noted.

Chesnut Properties LLC has committed to purchasing 100 percent green power for the life of the facility in addition to implementing a green cleaning program with tenant incentives honoring elevated levels of commitment to eco-building during tenant improvements, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

District greens its act to improve student performance

PHOENIX — For the Murphy School District, going green is about more than simply saving money, it is about protecting the health of faculty, students and staff, according to The Arizona Republic.

The district's new Education and Health Center, built with the help of a $300,000 grant from Rotary International, recently received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the story stated.

Superintendent Paul Mohr, Jr. said: "My district is in one of the toughest and grittiest neighborhoods in Phoenix. We have a documented rising incidence of asthma and pulmonary problems. When I became superintendent five years ago, I saw a need to offer basic health care to our families. I envisioned a new stand-alone facility for wellness and education."

Sustainable aspects of the building include: Photovoltaic solar panels that generate electricity; low-flow fixtures that reduce water consumption by 30 percent; low volatile organic compound (VOC) paints, carpet and other building materials; and a diverse landscape incorporating 30 species of indigenous plants, the story noted.

By promoting cleaner, healthier and more environmentally friendly indoor spaces, the Murphy School District hopes to see a student performance increase on math and reading tests, something that LEED-certified buildings have been shown to do, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Pocono resorts go green to attract business

POCONO, PA — Three resorts located in the Pocono Mountains — Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort, The Settlers Inn Bed and Breakfast Lodge and Camelback Mountain Resort — have increased their greening efforts in hopes of attracting more business, notably environmentally conscious customers, according to the Pocono Record.

Jeanne Genzlinger, owner of The Settlers Inn Bed and Breakfast Lodge, which was one of the Pocono Business Journal's Top Ten Green Businesses in 2008, grows many of the vegetables consumed at the resort onsite and composts waste that would normally end up in landfills, the story stated.

Genzlinger said: "Room 204 is our organic room — from the cork floors to the bamboo furniture to the low volatile organic compound (VOC) paint and other organic materials. The Settlers Inn is devoted to purchasing from regional and local sources."

Camelback Mountain Resort reduced its fossil fuel usage by 50,000 gallons in the past year by upgrading its snow-making machine to operate on compressed air, the story noted.

Ricky Durst, public relations manager for Camelback Mountain Resort, said: "We hauled away more than 150 bags of trash off of the resort for Earth Day. We made it fun and did a scavenger hunt, and found some crazy things. One person found an eight-track tape. It was a great team-building experience for the staff."

The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort recently enlisted a "green team" to monitor accomplishments and assist in implementing environmentally friendly procedures, the story added.

Rob Howell, general manager for Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort, said: "We encourage our staff and guests to recycle, and we are trying to diminish the use of plastic water bottles in meeting areas and other areas of the resort. We are trying to make the commitment and hoping that others do, too."

According to the story, these three area resorts are trying to become a model for other resorts and businesses in the Poconos.

Click here to read the complete article.

District can save $650,000 a year by outsourcing custodians

PORTAGE, MI — Portage Public Schools are poised to save $650,000 in the 2009-10 school year by privatizing its second- and third-shift custodians, according to the Kalamazoo Gazette.

Many people present at Monday's school board meeting were skeptical until the figures were broken down so they could be easily understood, the story stated.

For $1.49 million a year, Grand Rapids Cleaning Services will provide services comparable to what the district is paying custodians $2.024 a year for, the story noted.

According to the story, Grand Rapids Cleaning Services will also purchase the district's cleaning equipment for $300,000.

Contractors can perform work much cheaper than in-house custodians can because their wages and benefits are so much lower than what school districts pay, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

600 voluntarily retire from Kimberly-Clark

APPLETON, WI — Roughly 600 Kimberly-Clark Corporation employees have taken the company up on its offer of voluntary severance to ease cost burdens facing the company in these trying economic times, according to the Appleton Post-Crescent.

The offer was initially made to about 7,000 salaried employees throughout the United States in April; the company expects to eliminate about 1,000 of those positions, the story stated.

Employees had until May 22 to decide whether to accept the offer which is tailored to each worker and based on position and seniority, the story noted.

Kimberly-Clark spokesman David Dickson said: "We expect to reduce the number of positions in the United States by up to 1,000, and those employees who elected voluntary severance will lessen the impact overall. Now that we know the number of individuals who elected to take advantage of the voluntary severance program, our business and functional teams are in [the] process of developing detailed organizational plans."

Each worker will receive an extension of health insurance benefits, outplacement assistance and consulting, the story added.

Hand sanitizer recalled for bacterial contamination

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to all consumers to stop using products from Roy, Utah-based Clarcon Biological Chemistry Laboratory Inc., citing the risk of bacterial infection, according to WebMD Health News.

Clarcon has voluntarily recalled some skin sanitizers and various other products because high levels of disease-causing bacteria were found in them during a recent inspection, the story stated.

Several samples of over-the-counter topical antimicrobial skin sanitizer and skin protectant products revealed high levels of various bacteria, some of which could cause infections requiring surgery and may result in permanent damage, the story noted.

According to Bill Markham, co-owner of Clarcon, the company has "never had a side effect or health issue from their products and this may be a small, isolated issue."

The FDA's warning covers all Clarcon products, including: Citrushield Lotion; Dermasentials DermaBarrier; Dermasentials by Clarcon Antimicrobial Hand Sanitizer; and Iron Fist Barrier Hand Treatment, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The greenest building in America

CHESTERFIELD, MO — Washington University recently opened the doors to one of the greenest buildings in the world and aims to meet one of the toughest green building standards: The Living Building Challenge, according to a Matter Network story hosted by Reuters.

The Living Learning Center, a 2,900-square-foot building at the university's Tyson Research Center that not only provides its own water and power, but is also built from reclaimed wood, captures and stores all of the water it needs and harness energy from wind turbines and solar panels, the story stated.

According to the story, the Living Learning Center has a green roof that catches rainwater, which is filtered and stored in a 3,000-gallon tank underground, eliminating its municipal water consumption.

Eden Brukman, research director at the Cascadia Region Green Building Council, said: "In order to be certified as a Living Building, it must be fully operational for at least 12 consecutive months; this program demands proof that the occupants engage the project as anticipated. After all, an empty building serves no purpose."

According to the article, the Cascadia Region Green Building Council launched the Living Building Challenge three years ago, and since then, over 60 proposed structures have been registered.

The Learning Center monitors all building processes and displays avoided emissions to show how efficiently the building is operating, the story noted.

Living buildings are a step beyond current green building requirements such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification and are expected to be the high performance buildings of tomorrow, the story added.

First LEED-EB certified hotel in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO — The Hotel Carlton recently earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Building (LEED-EB) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), according to a press release.

The certification makes the 161-room Hotel Carlton, a Joie de Vivre boutique property, the first lodging property in San Francisco to earn LEED-EB certification, the release stated.

Pamela Flank, the Hotel Carlton's general manager, said: "We are thrilled and proud that we can now say Hotel Carlton is LEED-EB Gold certified, making it the highest rated hotel by LEED standards in San Francisco. Sustainability makes good business sense because it conserves resources. Every operations decision we make at the hotel is filtered through our mission to reduce our impact on the environment."

According to the release, the Hotel Carlton was also recently awarded a top score of 100 from Energy Star, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Sustainable aspects of the hotel include: Compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs; proportioned dispensers for toiletries in guest rooms; low volatile organic compound (VOC) paints; and the use of environmentally friendly cleaning chemicals, the release noted.

In achieving LEED-EB Gold certification, the Hotel Carlton was able to: Reduce CO₂ emissions by 176 tons; divert 80 percent of waste from landfills; reduce water consumption by 27 percent; produce 9 percent of its energy on-site through solar panels; and get rid of 40 percent of traditional cleaning chemicals, the release added.

Click here to read the complete release.

School executive director allegedly embezzles $1.38 million

June 3, 2009
MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The former executive director of the now closed Heart of the Earth Charter School is charged with eight counts of felony theft by swindle for his role in the disappearance of $1.38 million, according to the Pioneer Press.

Joel Pourier, who falsely claimed he had earned a master's degree in business administration from Chadron State College, made it appear that he was being paid for performing cleaning work for the school, the story stated.

According to the complaint filed by the Hennepin County attorney's office, Pourier explained the money by saying he and his wife were receiving gaming proceeds as members of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, which was not true.

In all, the complaint lists 124 canceled checks or fund transfers from the school's account to Pourier's accounts from August 2003 through July 2008, the story noted.

According to the story, Pourier, who often forged the signatures of board members and school administrators, was living lavishly and running up thousands of dollars in charges at local nightclubs while the school lacked money for field trips, supplies, computers and textbooks, eventually forcing its closure last summer.

Pourier is being held in jail on $25,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court July 30, the story added.

New machine turns office paper into toilet paper

TOKYO, Japan — Nakabayashi Company Ltd., a 2,000-person company which manufactures items such as car seats and various office supplies, has upped the ante with their newest invention: The toilet paper machine, according to Crunch Gear.

By using standard A4-sized paper like that used in printers and copy machines in offices and other facilities around the world, the machine is able to produce usable toilet paper and keep materials out of landfills, the story stated.

Approximately 900 sheets of paper can produce a roll of toilet paper, and the machine can pump out two rolls an hour, the story noted.

No estimates have been released as to how much the machine costs to operate, but it comes with a price tag of $95,000, the story added.

According to the story, the company will begin distributing the machines in August and hopes to sell 60 units in the first year of production.

Click here to read the complete article.

Proposed law for green cleaning in Nevada schools

CARSON CITY, NV — The State of Nevada has taken a decidedly different approach towards green cleaning in schools by proposing legislation that would require all public K-12 schools to use environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance products in the cleaning of all floor surfaces only, according to a press release.

As passed by both the Nevada Senate and Assembly, and awaiting the signature of Governor Jim Gibbons, SB 185 was amended to mandate green cleaning for floor surfaces only in order to gain enough support to pass, the release stated.

According to the release, SB 185 does allow the board of trustees of a school district to use environmentally sensitive cleaning products on surfaces other than just flooring.

Under SB 185, the Nevada Department of Education would be required to provide each school district with a list of products that meet "…standards for environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance products for use in the cleaning of all floor surfaces in the public schools," the release noted.

The bill allows schools to opt-out of implementing a green cleaning program for floor surfaces if it would place an undue economic burden on the school, the release added.

First LEED-EB certified building in Southwest Michigan

KALAMAZOO, MI — The College of Health and Human Services at Western Michigan University is the first building in Southwest Michigan to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) certification, according to Building Design and Construction.

Being certified at the Gold level makes the Health and Human Services building the first LEED-EB certified higher education building in the country to achieve a rating higher than Silver, the story stated.

Western Michigan University President John Dunn said: "We are delighted to have this national recognition for a facility we regard as a special building in its own right and a symbol of the commitment this campus has to sustainability. Our facilities management area is on the cutting edge when it comes to wise energy use and sound environmental management. This is a well-deserved recognition for those who planned and built this amazing facility, for those who manage its daily use and for those who guided it through the certification process."

The certification involved documenting sustainable practices with storm water management, pollution control, water usage efficiency, ozone-free cooling systems, recycling and waste management storage and collection and sustainable cleaning products and policies, the story noted.

The high-tech, 200,000-square-foot building was completed in the summer of 2005 and was designed by the architectural firm SmithGroup of Detroit, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

College custodians fall victim to outsourcing

BATTLE CREEK, MI — Remaining Kellogg Community College custodial positions will be outsourced to Omni Facility Services as outsourcing efforts will be complete July1, according to the Battle Creek Enquirer.

It was agreed between custodians and the college that if the number of college-based custodians fell below six, the college would privatize the balance of the custodial positions through an outsourcing contract, the story stated.

Kevin Moody, chairman of Kellogg Community College's Local 331.06 maintenance union, said: "As a union we're not in favor of this decision, but we've worked together with the college to make it the least damaging as possible."

According to the story, since 2005, custodians have been working under a collective bargaining agreement that calls for contracting out positions piecemeal to Omni Facility Services when custodians leave or retire.

Kellogg Community College hopes to save $200,000 in the next year by outsourcing out the remaining positions, the story noted.

The college has offered severance packages to the remaining four custodians, and one of them has accepted an administrative-level position with the college, the story added.

Law: Green roofs on all new buildings

TORONTO, ON, Canada — The City of Toronto recently passed a bill into law that requires mandatory green roof construction on new buildings of all classes, according to a press release.

According to the release, the law requires up to 50 percent green roof coverage on schools, non-profit housing, commercial and industrial buildings and multi-unit residential dwellings over six stories, and requires larger residential projects to have green roof coverage ranging anywhere from 20 to 50 percent of the roof area.

Toronto already requires green roofs on city-owned properties, has established an Eco-roof Incentive Program of up to $5 per square foot for existing buildings and is currently building a publicly accessible green roof on its city hall.

The new law is expected to produce upwards of 75 new green roof projects each year, the release stated.

Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone said: "The City of Toronto’s leadership on all things green took another major step by making it obligatory to have green roofs for all types of new buildings. This law is a major part of the solution to climate change, the creation of green jobs and it represents a whole new mindset on how our cities approach the 20 percent or so of surface area that are roofs."

According to the Annual Green Roof Industry Survey by Green Roofs For Healthy Cities (GRHC), the City of Chicago remains North America's highest concentration of green roofs, the release noted.

Toronto city officials hope the move to make green roofs mandatory will serve as a guide for other cities striving to become more sustainable, the release added.

Click here to read the complete release.

First LEED-Platinum office building in D.C.

BETHESDA, MD — Lafayette Tower recently became the first commercial office building in the District of Columbia to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), according to Building Construction and Design.

The $48 million, 327,500-square-foot building was completed by Clark Construction Group LLC earlier this year and is cleaned and maintained in an environmentally friendly manner through its green housekeeping program, the story stated.

Sustainable elements of the building include: Use of recycled construction materials; low volatile organic compound (VOC) paints; a green roof; maximization of natural light; and public transportation access, the story noted.

Lafayette Tower is the first project certified under the LEED for Core & Shell rating system, which works to set up a synergistic relationship that allows future tenants to capitalize on green strategies implemented by the developer, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Green cleaning in Hawaii schools bill

HONOLULU — Hawaii House Bill HB 1538, which passed both the State House of Representatives and the State Senate in early May, would require all public school facilities to "…give first preference, where feasible, to the purchase and use of environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance products that have been approved by the Green Seal program," according to a press release.

Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle has until July 15 to sign, veto or allow the measure to become law, the release stated.

If the bill becomes law, the Hawaii Department of Health would be required to "…review and evaluate existing research regarding environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance products, including any research and guidance issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)," the release noted.

The Governor’s office is reviewing the proposed legislation and is accepting comments on the bill before acting one way or another, the release added.

According to the release, HB 1538 would require the Hawaii Department of Health to maintain an up-to-date list of products that have been approved by Green Seal.

First LEED-Silver certified building in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The Ameriprise Financial Center has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), making it the first building in the City of Minneapolis to receive the honor, according to the Midwest Real Estate News.

The Ameriprise Financial Center previously received the Energy Star award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2007 and 2008, the story stated.

Kathy Stalwick, vice president of enterprise real estate at Ameriprise Financial, said: "Ensuring that our buildings operate at maximum efficiency is the right thing to do for our business and for the environment. Pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) certification underscores our dedication to implementing continuous sustainability measures and achieving minimal environmental impact from both of our Minneapolis buildings."

Ameriprise Financial worked in conjunction with CB Richard Ellis facility managers to perform a comprehensive review of all building operations, the story noted

The review focused on energy reducing functions, environmental sustainability and green cleaning practices, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Workers protest over non-union janitorial services

KANSAS CITY, MO — A demonstration was organized last week by Kansas City Jobs With Justice to protest plans to hire a non-union janitorial company to maintain the upscale Briarcliff Village shopping center, according to the Kansas City Star.

ISS Facilities Services Inc., whose workers are represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1, was previously contracted to perform janitorial duties, the story stated.

The picket at Briarcliff lasted about 90 minutes and protesters distributed flyers touting the benefits of union labor, the story noted.

Aaron Jones, representative for SEIU Local 1, said: "There are 11 very reputable janitorial contractors that give their employees a voice in the workplace through union representation. These are not high-paying jobs, but in this economy, these people are entitled to a living wage and access to health care benefits."

Protesters were not demanding that Briarcliff renew its contract with ISS Facilities Services; however, they were urging the Briarcliff property manager to stay with a union cleaning firm, the story added.

Horror story printed on toilet paper

TOKYO, Japan — Koji Suzuki, author of the horror story made into a movie, "Ring," has taken his most recent tale of horror from the big screen to the big roll, according to the Associated Press.

"Drop," a story set in a public restroom, takes up about three feet of a roll of toilet paper and can be read in just a few minutes, the story stated.

The company manufacturing the toilet paper, Hayashi Paper, is advertising the venture as "a horror experience in the toilet," the story noted.

According to the story, toilets in Japan were traditionally tucked away in a dark corner of the house due to religious beliefs and parents would tease children that a hairy hand might pull them down into the dark pool below.

The nine-chapter story is printed several times on each roll and will sell for 210 yen or $2.20 a roll, the story added.

Doctor's offices are germ havens

OKLAHOMA CITY — The very place you go to seek refuge from and treatment for germs, viruses and bacteria — the doctor's office — may the easiest place to get sick, according to KOCO-TV.

Infectious disease specialist Dr. Doug Hardy said: "Definitely, you can. A health care environment is a place where there's lot of germs and infections and there's sick people. Many of those viruses that people have, particularly the flu, are easily transmittable."

Swab tests show that high-traffic areas in the office, including magazines, restrooms, door handles and elevators are havens for germs, the story stated.

Tests show that the most commonly contaminated areas in a doctor's office are the buttons on elevators and the check-in desk; armchairs in waiting rooms are the least contaminated, the story noted.

While proper hand-washing is crucial in the fight against spreading germs, proper cleaning of high-touch surfaces is also a necessary precaution, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

IEHA conducts pilot for CRI Seal of Approval program

WESTERVILLE, OH — The International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA) will conduct a pilot with a cross-section of its in-house and outsource cleaning operations members who support the current Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Seal of Approval (SOA) program and wish to evaluate carpet-cleaning instruction and knowledge assessment as an enhancement to the current criteria, according to a press release.

IEHA will select members from various facility segments, including health care, hospitality, educational institutions and unique venues such as casinos to become educated in CRI-recommended carpet cleaning methods, the release stated.

Shaw Industries Group Inc. will provide IEHA access to its online maintenance and cleaning (MAC) learning management system (LMS) for information on the following carpet cleaning topics: Why clean and maintain; preventive maintenance; reactive maintenance; daily maintenance; interim maintenance; and extraction/deep cleaning, the release noted.

IEHA has initially selected 12 IEHA-related facilities to participate in the SOA training program and will be sharing updates on the pilot program once launched in June 2009, the release added.

$13 million PCB cleanup effort funded by Georgia-Pacific

KALAMAZOO, MI — In a settlement filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court and announced by the Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Georgia-Pacific Corporation has agreed to a new $13 million cleanup for the Kalamazoo River Superfund site in Allegan and Kalamazoo counties, according to the Associated Press.

Georgia-Pacific is to consolidate polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) contaminated material, install a permanent landfill cap across 32 acres, install a groundwater-monitoring system, implement erosion-control measures and restore wetland and shoreline habitats, the story stated.

Sediments in and around the river from Portage Creek to Lake Michigan are loaded with PCBs, a chemical substance once used in the paper industry that can cause health problems for animals and people exposed to high concentrations of them, the story noted.

According to the story, a federal bankruptcy filing by LyondellBasell Industries, which owns Millennium Holdings LLC, left Georgia-Pacific as the lone financier of future cleanups on the river.

A similar $25 million cleanup of a 1.5-mile stretch of the river near Plainwell was completed in December, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

School custodian arrested for extortion

MILLBROOK, AL — A Stanhope Elmore High School custodian was arrested for alleged­ly extorting money from a student in exchange for re­turning a confiscated cell phone instead of reporting the incident to school administrators, according to the Prattville Progress.

Gloria Reeves, who was charged with one felony count of second-degree extortion, was re­leased from the Elmore County Jail after posting $15,000 bond, the story stated.

In­terim principal Ginger Wright said that this sort of thing has never happened in the school before and there was no plan in place to prevent such activities, the story noted.

According to the story, Wright is working hard to help the students and staff recover while keeping the image of the school intact.

Gloria Reeves, Millbrook Po­lice Chief P.K. Johnson and the Elmore County School Sys­tem all declined to comment on the matter, the story added.

Wright said: "We teach them to trust their teachers. If there's a problem, tell your par­ents. To put it in perspective, thank goodness those kids spoke up."

Florida's first LEED-certified hotel

CLEARWATER, FL — The Sandpearl Resort has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), making it the first hotel in Florida to achieve such an honor, according to Jamble magazine.

The 253-room resort, which opened in 2007, boasts several sustainable aspects, including a state-of-the-art chilled water air conditioning system that cools the hotel with water rather than Freon, the story stated.

On top of preferred parking for hybrid vehicles, the hotel also encourages a green lifestyle by outfitting rooms with water-saving fixtures and intelligent room monitoring systems that automatically shut off lights and air conditioning when rooms are unoccupied, the story noted.

The restaurants in the hotel use biodegradable packaging and make use of seasonal, organic and Fair-Trade food, the story added

According to the story, even the staff uniforms in the resort spa are made from readily renewable and biodegradable hemp.

Click here to read the complete article.

Janitor allegedly threatens entire school

CALIFORNIA, PA — A California Area High School janitor was suspended and is facing criminal charges after allegedly threatening to physically harm teachers, students and administrators, according to the Herald-Standard.

Michael Tiernan, a janitor at the high school for over a decade with no prior criminal record, was charged with terroristic threats and harassment after he began heckling fellow employees in February, the story stated.

The harassment allegedly continued until Tiernan was suspended by the California Area School District in April, the story noted.

According to the story, Tiernan allegedly told coworkers that if he loses his job, "nobody is coming out of this building alive."

Tiernan was released on $2,500 unsecured bond following his arraignment and is to have no contact with school employees and no access to the high school for the time being, the story added.

Mandated green cleaning in Connecticut schools

HARTFORD, CT — A law that passed the state Senate yesterday will require schools across the State of Connecticut to develop green cleaning programs by 2011, according to the News-Times.

Bill 6496, which is awaiting the signature of Governor M. Jodi Rell, requires cleaning products, including general-purpose cleaners, glass cleaners, floor finishes, floor strippers, hand cleansers and soaps, be certified by Green Seal or EcoLogo, the story stated.

The law does not apply to disinfectants, disinfecting cleaners or other products regulated by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the story noted.

According to the story, the law takes effect July 1, 2011, and gives districts time to use the products already on hand rather than throwing them away.

Representative Chris Lyddy said: "Kids can't learn and teachers can't teach when they are in an environment that negatively impacts their health. We owe it to our children to provide the best learning environment that we possibly can. This legislation is a bold step in the direction of protecting our children. I believe prevention is the best intervention to any issue."

Connecticut laws now regulate environmental issues affecting schools that range from monitoring indoor air quality, requiring environmentally green construction and renovations and restricting pesticides in school buildings and on school grounds, the story added.

FEMA awards Munters with $5 million contract

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA — The moisture control specialists Munters Corporation has been awarded a $5 million contract to provide temperature and climate control services to six flood-damaged buildings in the City of Cedar Rapids, according to The Gazette.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded Munters the contract from June 1 through November 30, which includes $1.43 million in equipment and staff and $3.58 million in fuel costs, the story stated.

The six unoccupied buildings are: The Veterans Memorial Building; the library; Paramount Theatre; the first floor of the Public Works Building; the Ground Transportation Center bus depot; and the GTC's Montessori School, the story noted.

Ontario urged to step up hospital cleaning standards

HAMILTON, ON, Canada — Cleaning staff must be made an integral part of care teams if Ontario hospitals are to reduce infections like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin resistant enterococcus (VRE) and Clostridium difficile (C. diff), according to the Hamilton Spectator.

After going on a national tour organized by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) against hospital-acquired infections (HAI), Steve Davies, a social sciences researcher at Cardiff University in Wales, urged the Ontario government to implement cleaning standards and not to undervalue cleaning and downsize or contract services out, the story stated.

Michael Hurley, president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, said: "The sad reality is people innocently go into these institutions not knowing about the infections there and may not ever come out again. The scale of the tragedy is enormous. The loss is large, but totally preventable."

Some hospitals have increased cleaning frequencies and stepped up patient and visitor awareness by reminding everyone to wash their hands both verbally and through signage, the story noted.

The problem facing many hospitals with budget constraints is that outsourcing is geared toward saving money, while infection control is geared toward saving lives, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

GOJO releases Green Hygiene Solutions Guide

AKRON, OH — GOJO Industries recently unveiled a new, downloadable tool to help building managers implement an environmentally responsible, comprehensive strategy for hand hygiene, according to a press release.

The GOJO Green Hygiene Solutions Implementation Guide helps companies put an effective hand hygiene program into practice while supporting the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings Operations & Maintenance (LEED-EBOM) requirements, the release stated.

GOJO’s Green Hygiene Solutions Guide includes an extensive communications tool kit that allows companies to implement, promote and improve hand hygiene strategies in green buildings, the release noted.

Included in the Green Hygiene Solutions Implementation Guide are templates for a green cleaning policy, letters and e-mails to employees and building occupants, a press release and posters, the release added.

Procter & Gamble asks 300 to retire early

ALBANY, GA — Industry giant Procter & Gamble is asking 300 individuals at its Southwest Georgia paper plant to retire early, according to Georgia Public Broadcasting News.

Severance packages will be offered on a case-by-case basis to employees who decide to follow through with the company's request, the story stated.

Vince Falcione of Procter & Gamble said of the early retirement package: "It will include severance pay. It will include an extension of employee benefits. It will also include career counseling and assistance."

Albany's largest employer, Procter & Gamble, is branding the move "voluntary separations," which has different connotations than calling the proposal "layoffs," the story noted.

The Georgia Department of Labor stresses that voluntary separations are different from layoffs because unemployment benefits are determined differently and not guaranteed with voluntary separations, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Health care facilities get new LEED-HC rating

WASHINGTON — There will soon be a fair way to evaluate hospitals and other health care facilities that want to go green; it is called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Healthcare (LEED-HC), according to the Michigan Business Review.

LEED-HC, which is focused on design issues and conditions specific to the health care industry and incorporates elements of the Green Guide for Healthcare, is expect to roll out in mid-2009, the story stated.

According to the story, one of the biggest concerns with LEED-HC is mercury elimination and the reduction of other persistent bioaccumulative toxins.

Dan Haas, development manager for Skanska USA Building, said: "Does that mean LEED-HC is easier? No. What it means is that LEED-HC is specific to the health care industry. It looks at energy differently, it looks at water differently, it looks at staff use and indoor environmental quality-type issues differently — things that typically give health care facilities trying to be certified in the LEED for new construction system hurdles."

One of the additions in the current draft of LEED-HC is a credit for equipment efficiency, which encourages facilities to use equipment that is EnergyStar rated in the top 25 percent of performance, the story noted.

Daylight and views credits, which refers to providing a connection between general indoor spaces and the outdoors and had been particularly tough for the health care industry under the old version of LEED, will be broken down into three different areas in LEED-HC: Diagnostic and treatment areas; inpatient units; and daylight quality, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Illegal immigrant custodian arrested - BERKELEY

BERKELEY, CA — Over 100 students and employees from the University of California at Berkeley rallied earlier this week in protest to the arrest of an undocumented immigrant worker last month, according to the Berkeley Daily Planet.

According to the story, the crowd urged the university administration to turn Berkeley into a sanctuary campus.

Jesus Gutierrez, a custodian at the university was arrested on April 29 on the charge of felony identification theft because he used someone else's Social Security number to prove residency to work, the story stated.

University of California Police Department (UCPD), who contacted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after arresting Gutierrez, allegedly had denied Gutierrez’s request to have his union representative or a lawyer present after he was arrested, the story noted.

American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) organizer Maricruz Manzanarez said: "They failed to notify the union that a federal agency wanted to investigate Gutierrez. Every time a federal agency wants to interrogate or interview an employee, they have to notify us either by phone or by letter. In this case, our member was arrested and nobody knew about it."

Protesters marched down the streets handing out flyers and urging supporters and sympathizers to show up and support Gutierrez at his May 21 hearing in Oakland, the story added.

According to the Pew Hispanic Center, 17 percent of all JanSan employees (an estimated 680,000 workers) are illegal immigrants.

Click here to read the complete article.

Green cleaning mandated in Maryland schools

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, on May 7, 2009, signed legislation into law that requires the state’s K-12 public schools to obtain and use green cleaning products, according to a press release.

HB 1363, which officially becomes law October 9, 2009, makes Maryland the fifth state to adopt a green cleaning for schools policy of one form or another, the release stated.

According to the release, HB 1363 allows schools to first use existing cleaning products and supplies before they transition to green cleaning products and allows schools to opt out of implementing a green cleaning program if it is not "economically feasible."

The bill defines "green cleaning products and supplies" as those that have "positive environmental attributes" such as: Biodegradability; low toxicity; low volatile organic compound (VOC) content; reduced packaging; and low life cycle energy use, the release noted.

The County Boards of Education must allow for "multiple avenues" in qualifying cleaning products as environmentally preferable, including at the very least products recognized by the: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Design for the Environment (DfE) Formulator program; Environmental Choice; and Green Seal, the release added.

GS-46 for food service operations released

WASHINGTON — Restaurants and food service establishments can now earn Green Seal certification thanks to Green Seal's recent release of the GS-46 Environmental Standard for Restaurants and Food Services, according to a press release.

GS-46 applies to all types of food service operations, including full-service, fast-food, quick-casual, non-commercial and catering operations, and has three levels of achievement: Bronze, Silver and Gold, the release stated.

Dr. Arthur Weissman, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Green Seal, said: "Green Seal has broad consumer and industry recognition. For 20 years, our standards and certification have helped green the lodging industry and a range of product industries. As a result, the Green Seal can be found at hotels, on products online and in retail stores, and on products and services used at schools, hospitals, airports, offices and government facilities. Green Seal's standard development process is American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited and are cited widely by governments, purchasers and other standards including Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)."

The standard is a result of extensive research in all areas of a restaurant's environmental impact, with input from over one hundred stakeholders including industry trade groups, operators, suppliers, academia and environmental and health organizations, the release noted.

Green Seal certification also includes an on-site audit and continual monitoring, which is critical to verifying compliance against the standard and to provide patrons the assurance that real environmental improvements have been made, the release added.

Click here to read the complete release.

First LEED-Silver certified art museum

BUFFALO, NY — The Burchfield Penney Art Center at Buffalo State College has become the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified art museum, obtaining certification at the Silver level, according to a press release.

The state-of-the-art $33 million, 65,000-square-foot building has been aiming for LEED certification since it first opened in November 2008, the release stated.

Ted Pietrzak, director of the Burchfield Penney Art Center, said: "We at the Burchfield Penney are thrilled with achieving the designation of LEED-Silver certification for our new building. We entered into the new museum project with the aim to be a green building not because it's the popular thing to do, but it is our responsibility to contribute personally and corporately to sustainability."

Some of the sustainable aspects of the structure include: Temperature and humidity control systems, which maintain a constant environment to protect valuable artwork; water conservation; reduced energy consumption; and the use of renewable materials, the release noted.

Achieving LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is particularly challenging for art museums because of the exacting climate standards for art preservation and volume of visitors flowing through the building, the release added.

Click here to read the complete release.

Proctor & Gamble sues Georgia-Pacific

CINCINNATI — Proctor & Gamble Company recently sued industry rival Georgia-Pacific Corporation for trademark infringement and deceptive trade practices, claiming that Georgia-Pacific's Brawny brand paper towels have a duplicate pattern to that found on Proctor & Gamble's Bounty brand towels, according to the Business Courier.

The lawsuit, filed May 8 with the U.S. District Court in Cincinnati, charges that the bowtie pattern on Brawny paper towels is a copy of the pattern on Bounty ExtraSoft towels, the story stated.

According to the lawsuit, "Despite the infinite number of shapes from which to choose, and after having sold competing Brawny paper towels for decades without any shapes resembling Proctor & Gamble's Bounty ExtraSoft bowtie mark, approximately one month ago, Georgia-Pacific unexpectedly introduced into the marketplace 'new' Brawny paper towels."

Prior to filing the lawsuit, Proctor & Gamble sent a cease-and-desist letter to Georgia-Pacific in April, but never received a response, the story noted.

Proctor & Gamble seeks unspecified damages and claims that Georgia-Pacific knowingly and willfully copied the pattern to "confuse and mislead" consumers, the story added.

According to the story, in a previous legal battle between the companies in 2003, Georgia-Pacific sued Proctor & Gamble, claiming that its ads for Bounty, which declared the towel absorbed more liquid than Brawny, were false and misleading; Proctor & Gamble lost the suit in arbitration.

Click here to read the complete article.

UM issues Clorox wipes to prevent H1N1

COLLEGE PARK, MD — The Department of Resident Life at the University of Maryland has joined the crusade with the custodial staff to conquer the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, according to the Diamondback.

Last week, Resident Life distributed about $13,000 worth of Clorox disinfectant wipes to campus dormitories in hopes that students will use them on high-touch areas like doorknobs and light switches, the story stated.

Donna Metz, the assistant director for North Campus, said: "When you work in an institution with people in close quarters, we want to do everything we can to protect students' health. It was a preventative thing more than anything else. We're doing the kind of things we always do, like reminding students about good personal hygiene. There are always outbreaks of flu, and we post signs to cover your cough, use sanitary measures and things like that."

An e-mail was sent to all students informing them of the distribution of disinfectant wipes and included tips to keep them safe and healthy, the story noted.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 23 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus in the state of Maryland.

University officials are doing all they can to prevent an outbreak and say they have no intention of closing the school if the virus does show up on campus, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Study: Tea tree oil to treat MRSA

WASHINGTON — Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia), long used to treat acne and minor skin irritations, may soon be used to treat something more severe — Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), according to the Examiner.

A study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy that was conducted at the Department of Microbiology at the University of Western Australia found that Melaleuca alternifolia successfully treated all 66 test cases of Staphylococcus aureus bacterium, 64 of which were Methicillin resistant, the story stated.

According to the study, tea tree oil may be even more effective against the spread of MRSA than some of the drugs commonly used to combat the bacteria.

Similar studies show Melaleuca alternifolia can also successfully prevent the spread and growth of highly resistant fungi and yeast, the story noted.

Tea tree is a powerful volatile oil, passing through the cell membrane quickly and easily and therefore should never be ingested internally; proper ventilation may be required when applying topically and special care and dosing instructions should be followed when using it to treat children as their systems are more sensitive to the effects of the active ingredient, terpinen, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Successful Spartan Chemical seminar

MAUMEE, OH — Over 50 industry professionals assembled at the corporate offices of the Spartan Chemical Company to participate in the invitation-only "Do More with Less! Cleaning in Today’s Economy" seminar on May 5-6, according to a press release.

The market-specific seminar was created to provide insight into the trends affecting building service contractors (BSCs) and facility managers in today’s workplace, the release stated.

Guest speakers included: Jim Harris, Sr., chairman of The Harris Group, speaking on topics such as Systems Thinking for Sustained, High Productivity and Performance Cleaning Utilizing Team Specialists; and David Frank, president of the American Institute for Cleaning Sciences (AICS), speaking on the topics of Capital Expenditures and Mechanization and Green Cleaning – Meeting Sustainability Goals on a Budget, the release noted.

For more information regarding future Spartan seminars, contact Abbey Davidson at 1-800-537-8990, ext. 228, or adavidson@spartanchemical.com, the release added.

Stricter OSHA combustible dust regulations

WASHINGTON — Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulators are moving to adopt tougher rules for controlling combustible dust in the workplace, according to the Courier-Journal.

According to the story, since 1980, more than 130 people have been killed and more than 780 injured in preventable combustible dust accidents.

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board recommended that the federal government require stricter dust controls three years ago, but changes were never implemented, the story stated.

While many labor unions support stricter combustible dust regulations, several industry groups, including The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers and the National Federation of Independent Business, oppose changes, the story noted.

Industry awareness to the dangers of accumulating combustible dust in the workplace has improved in the last few years, but is still inadequate, the story added.

Landlord forces woman out of moldy home

LOUISVILLE, KY — A single mother of six is being forced out of her rental home after she complained about mold growth to her landlord, according to WHAS-TV.

Jo-Manda Quarrells complained that a leaky sink had caused mold to grow in her bathroom, bedroom and closet about five weeks ago, the story stated.

Her landlord, Cook Properties, failed to respond to her complaints for several weeks and the problem continued to get worse, the story noted.

After eventually returning her call, Quarrells' landlord said she had a couple of weeks to leave the property and find a new place for her and her half-dozen children to live, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Georgia-Pacific launches hand hygiene campaign

ATLANTA — Georgia-Pacific Professional recently launched a campaign focused on the company's commitment to promote good hand hygiene practices, according to a press release.

The Healthy Solutions campaign is based on the idea of "The New Chicken Soup" and stresses the importance of hand washing to prevent illness, the release stated.

Alex Volpe, director of the towel category for Georgia-Pacific Professional, said: "Proper hand washing and drying with a paper towel are the foundations of successful infection control practices. Through our easy-to-use washroom products, Georgia-Pacific Professional provides effective hygiene solutions every day while consumers are away from home."

The Healthy Solutions website features specific information about promoting proper hygiene in public places such as schools, food processing facilities, restaurants, airports, health care facilities and office buildings, the release noted.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends regular, vigorous hand washing with soap and water for at least 15 to 20 seconds, the release added.

Click here to read the complete release.

America's five most unusual restrooms

WASHINGTON — For those who care more about unique aesthetics than any other atribute, here is a short list of the five most unusual restrooms in America, according to Digital City.

CBGB's in New York City ranked number five for having every inch of the walls covered in graffiti, the story stated.

Art Chicks in Louisville, NE, came in at number four for its chic, all-pink décor geared towards women, the story noted.

According to the story, the Madonna Inn located in San Louis Obispo, CA, landed the number three spot for its cave-designed men's room with urinals that looks like waterfalls and sinks that resemble large clamshells.

Jungle Jim's International Market in Fairfield, OH, scored the number two position for its restroom entrances fashioned to look like port-o-potties, the story added.

As reported in the article, the winner of the most unusual restroom in America is the heaven and hell themed facility at the Brio Restaurant in Rockford, IL.

Click here to read the complete article.

Indoor air quality issues for Louisville-area schools

LOUISVILLE, KY — Jefferson County students are regularly exposed to toxic chemicals more than nearly any other metropolitan area in the United States, according to WHAS-TV.

The conclusion came after the data from a year-long USA Today study that measured indoor air quality in the 263 Louisville-area schools was released, the story stated.

According to the study, all but 5 of the 263 public and private schools in greater Louisville were ranked in the bottom 10 percent of toxic schools; 18 Jefferson County Schools were ranked in the bottom one percent.

Dr. David Pollares said: "Plants are there, the factories and the schools are right near them and it’s just kind of a no-brainer. The kids are going to get exposed because it’s right around that vicinity."

According to the story, in 2002, Jefferson County ranked last out of 736 counties in the southeast for health risks from air pollution.

As a result of the poor air quality, the Strategic Toxic Air Reduction (STAR) Program was formed in 2005, which adopted new standards for toxic waste emissions in Louisville, the story noted.

The Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District disputes the study’s findings, saying the figures used in the study, which were from 2005, came from before the STAR program started, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.