Start-up Story/Pilot Projects
Start-up Story
The Green Cleaning Program officially began in the summer of 2004 after receiving partial funding by a donor who was interested in the health effects of cleaning chemicals. The group began doing research into traditional cleaning products, the health and environmental effects of them, alternative cleaners, 
third-party certifying agencies, scientific studies about cleaning, and existing green cleaning programs (including green cleaning at the Divinity School). The group also met with vendors, made site visits to green cleaning programs, and interviewed people running green cleaning programs. After the research phase was completed, the group decided to test Green Seal certified products. Three pilot projects began and all were highly successful. In addition to testing green cleaning products, the group tested different cleaning methods, such as microfiber cloths and HEPA vacuums. In addition, cleaning procedures that minimize the amount of cleaning products and packaging used have been employed in all of the pilot projects. Examples of these procedures include entrance mats and dilution control equipment. The group wanted the program to be more holistic than just focusing on cleaning. They decided to include janitorial products in their research and pilot projects. Their pilot project buildings have been testing recycled, non-bleached paper towels, new paper towel dispensers, recycled toilet tissue, and energy efficient hand dryers. The last phase of the program is education and outreach. The Green Cleaning Program is teaming up with the Resource Efficiency Program (REP) to educate students about green cleaning products. In addition, students will be able to obtain green cleaning chemicals from their superintendent's office in Fall 2005. Other educational materials include stickers for the new hand dryers and paper towel dispensers to educate people about the new products.
Pilot Projects
At the start of each pilot project the custodial staff and management were introduced to the new products and trained. The training covered general cleaning procedures and cultural shift issues relating to green cleaning. The training attempted to make a pride shift from just cleaning and doing a good job to participating in Harvard University’s environmentally friendly and state of the art program on the front lines. The health and environmental benefits of such a project were explained and feedback on product performance was solicited. The training also addressed the need for a change in their conceptions from simply what a clean building looks and smells like to what kind of an environment is being created in the building.
All of the pilot projects tested Green Seal certified or recommended cleaning products and microfiber cloths. All also tested dilution control systems which allow custodians to use concentrated products that require less packaging. Dilution control systems take the guess work out of diluting products, which leads to less waste of cleaning chemicals. The Green Cleaning Program's pilot projects are not just about what products and techniques we are using, it also focuses on what should not be used. The following products were removed from pilot project sites and replaced with more environmentally friendly and healthy alternatives: automatic aerosol deodorizers, urinal blocks, and chemically treated dust cloths.
Divinity School
The Divinity School has been using Green Seal certified cleaning products for years, thanks to Facilities Superintendent Roy Lauridsen. In October 2004, their green cleaning program was expanded in all six buildings to include other green cleaning products and methods. The following changes were instituted at the Divinity School: XLerator low-energy hand dryers, HEPA filtration vacuum cleaners, microfiber cloths and mops, dilution control systems, and Green Seal certified or recommended products.
46 Blackstone Street
46 Blackstone Street houses University Operations Systems, which includes FMO and HGCI. Toilet paper was switched to a recycled Green Seal certified product that is recycled and processed with non-chlorine bleach. State-of-the-art touchless paper towel dispensers were installed, which reduce the spread of germs and release a predetermined amount of paper to reduce waste. The paper towels are unbleached and made with high percentages of post consumer waste recycled materials. The building is cleaned with Green Seal certified or recommended products, microfiber cloths and mops, dilution control systems, and HEPA filtration vacuum cleaners.
175 North Harvard Street
175 North Harvard Street also houses University Operations Systems. This building also has recycled, non-chlorine bleached toilet paper, touchless paper towel dispensers, unbleached, recycled paper towels, Green Seal certified and recommended cleaning products, HEPA filtration vacuums, dilution control systems, and microfiber cloths and mops.
Freshmen Dorms
FMO began testing green cleaning products, dilution control systems, and microfiber cloths in four freshmen dorms: Canaday, Greenough, Hurlbut, and Pennypacker. FMO will be phasing in HEPA filtration vacuums in these dorms in the near future. This program was such a success that all of the Harvard freshmen dorms will be cleaned with green cleaning products.
New and Upcoming Projects
Harvard Yard
All freshmen dorms will be cleaned with Green Seal certified products and microfiber cloths beginning in the summer of 2005. In addition, all freshmen rooms will receive green cleaning products when they arrive on campus in September 2005.
Upperclass Houses
Upperclassmen will be able to borrow green cleaning products from their Superintendent's office beginning in September 2005.
All FMO-Cleaned Buildings
Custodians will begin purchasing Green Seal certified general purpose cleaners as needed for all FMO buildings.