Environmental Choice is requesting opinions on “harmonizing” their standards with Green Seal.

Environmental Choice has recently announced that they are seeking input on “harmonizing” their cleaning product standard (CCD-146) with Green Seal’s comparable standard (GS-37), along with the overall harmonization between Green Seal and EcoLogo standards. And by “harmonization” I am assuming that for all practical purposes they are suggesting that they make the standards the same.

Over the years, I have become a big proponent of the “marketplace”, as history has repeatedly shown --- monopolies are incredibly inefficient. The challenge has always been to have “informed consumers” so that they would be capable of making the right decisions.

The deadline for submitting these comments is June 6, 2008.

USGBC Requests Comments on LEED 2009.

The US Green Building Council has recently announced that it has begun work on LEED 2009. I have to hand it to the LEED Steering Committee who even with all the success of LEED is not sitting still, but continues to look for ways to improve.

Their new effort is specifically trying to align the prerequisites and credits among the various LEED Rating Systems and making all the credits in each System total 100, improve the weighting of the various credits based on environmental and health impacts as some have suggested that that current weighting is arbitrary, and finally to introduce elements that allow the Rating Systems to better address regional differences as a building in Florida has different issues to deal with compared to a similar structure in Minnesota.

Comments are only taken online and are due by June 22nd.

The Key To Sales Success Part 3 - Writing the Report

In February we began our series on the “Key to Sales Success” --- that one strategy or critical step in the process that leads to success. In that first article we discussed the 3 Bucket Approach to evaluating a prospect needs and then to logically organize the information in a way that allows them to make a purchasing decision. If you haven’t read that article or want to do a quick refresher, simply click here.

In March we followed with an article to help you actually gather the information that later will be sorted into the 3 Buckets. The 3 Bucket Approach will help you deal efficiently with a lot of information that you find during your audit, and does so in a way that aids the sales process. And in that article we provided lots of “red flags” --- things to look for to make the process even easier. If you haven’t read that article or want to do a quick refresher, simply click here.

In this month’s article we want to provide some tips to help you actually write the report. As we mentioned in March, the level of detail is based on what you really need to do to help the prospect make an informed decision.

Ashkin Group News

THE ASHKIN GROUP RECOGNIZED AS AN OFFICIAL EDUCATION PROVIDER BY THE USGBC
The Ashkin Group has been recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as an official Educational Provider. It is the first time the USGBC has selected a member of the cleaning industry as an official Education Provider.

The Ashkin Group was acknowledged for its half-day program entitled “Solving the Green Cleaning Puzzle.” The material and interactive activities enable participants to gain a more thorough knowledge of Green cleaning in both practice and application.

Read full press release here.

The Ashkin Group, LLC Introduces New Website: More User-Friendly Site Includes Information on Value of Green Cleaning
In its effort to illustrate how Green cleaning can be beneficial to a wide variety of industries, The Ashkin Group LLC has unveiled a new website that more fully empowers visitors with its incorporation of “quick and easy navigation buttons.”

The site, launched in April 2008, is a project spearheaded by Ashkin technology director Eric Hauck. It offers more information on how Green cleaning is of relevancy to assorted industries such as healthcare, cleaning, and education.

Read full press release here.

Reduce, Unplug, and Control your Temperature

Ashkin Group member John Russell explains that when you eat a hamburger, you’re not just eating the hamburger; you’re actually responsible for the gas a truck used to deliver that meat to the grocery store, the coal used to generate electricity for its refrigeration as well as heating the stove to cook that yummy burger. And that’s all part of your human footprint.

There are many ways to undo the damage that you do with money. Some people or organizations will even try to sell you “carbon offsets” – for example, planting trees in Kenya to balance out your cars exhaust or Delta offers you an option when you book online to make a contribution to The Conservation Fund’s Go Zero program to plant trees to offset the carbon emissions that result from your flight.

Green News Roundup: This Month's Top Headlines

Green Schools Going green to clean schools. Requiring 'green' cleaning products is part of a move to reduce toxic chemicals in schools across Illinois and in turn improve indoor air quality. It's now mandated by a state act affecting 5,659 schools across Illinois. Read More Here

Green Schools - Part II Canadian schools sent brochures from climate change skeptics. An American think tank has sent more than 11,000 brochures and DVDs to Canadian schools urging them to teach students that scientists are exaggerating how human activity is the driving force behind global warming. Read More Here

Green and Your Health Pollution sends men bald. Okay gentleman --- perhaps another good reason to promote Green Cleaning is that new research shows that men living in polluted areas are more likely to go bald than those breathing cleaner air. Read More Here

Green Hospitals - link to VIDEO Green hospitals expand mission to 'do no harm.' Some hospitals are reducing energy usage, building with sustainable materials, and incorporating green for a holistic healing environment. Thirty percent of new health care construction follows environmentally-friendly principles. Read More Here

Green Group of the Month:
Greensburg GreenTown

Many of us now are aware of the tragic, yet inspiring story of the small Kansas town of Greensburg. A little more than a year ago, a massive category-five, 205 mile-per-hour tornado – measuring close to two miles wide – met the town head-on, destroying almost everything in its path. In ten minutes time, schools, landmarks, businesses, century-old homes, family farms – places that once were the setting to priceless memories – were violently ripped from the landscape.

Greensburg GreenTown is a grassroots, community-owned organization launched by volunteers that is assisting the town population implement green strategies into their homes, and their lifestyles.

The Ashkin Group Calendar of Events

Click below for The Ashkin Group's schedule of upcoming events and presentations.