CT Schools and Green Cleaning

By Jeffrey Clonts

On Wednesday May 6, 2009 the Connecticut House of Representatives approved a bill that would require state school systems to use “green” cleaning products by July 1, 2011. The legislation passed 124-19 and now moves to the Senate.

Green cleaning products are those that do not contain harsh cleaning agents like ammonia and bleach. Standard cleaning products also often have chemicals and ingredients like benzene and formaldehyde that have been suspected of causing illness, including cancer. Many chemical cleaners also contain unnecessary antibacterial compounds, which may lead to antibiotic resistance.

In fact, indoor air quality in our homes and schools is a growing health issue. The EPA studies show that levels of air pollution inside our homes and schools are two to five times greater than outdoors. Cleaning products are not the only culprit when it comes to indoor air quality. Off gassing from building materials, paint, carpet and mechanical systems all contribute to the problem.

Those who opposed the House bill were mainly concerned about the potential for expensive unintended consequences. Rep. John W. Hetherington, R-New Canaan expressed his concern over increased liability lawsuits if the green products are mandated.

There was some additional concern over cost of green cleaning products. The bills supporters noted that the cost of such products have gone down due to more demand from consumers and broader availability.

There are several green cleaning products available for your home. Check out Dr. Bronner (www.drbronner.com), Earth Friendly Products (www.ecos.com), Ecover (www.ecover.com), Method, which even has a “Detox Kit” to detox your home (www.methodhome.com), Seventh Generation (www.seventhgeneration.com), and Shaklee (www.shaklee.com) and WOW Green (www.wowgreen.net). You can also make your own with common ingredients such as baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice. You can find recipes at The Daily Green.

If you are interested in more information on green cleaning products for your home, check out this video from ABC News.