Connecticut Foundation
for Environmentally Safe Schools

Regional School District 18 School Green Clean Recognition Program

Program Coordinator Name:
School District: Lyme/Old Lyme Schools (Regional School District 18)
Number of School Buildings: Five
Address: Administrative Office, 4 Davis Road, Old Lyme, CT 06371

When did you begin a shift to green clean practices?

2004

What environmentally preferable products are currently in use in schools in your district? Are they certified by a third party such as Green Seal?

General cleaning, antibacterial, glass cleaners. Antibacterial is advertised as "green" but does not fully meet anti-bacterial requirements.

What green clean equipment and procedures are being implemented?

HEPA vacuums, HEPA floor buffers, premium floor waxes to minimize floor buffing and floor stripping, micro fiber cleaning clothes.

Who participates in your green clean program? (i.e. number of schools, members on your TFS teams like nurses, custodians and parents, etc.) What role do they play in this process?

Custodians, Teachers, parent input through TFS program.

How do you evaluate the effectiveness of the green clean program?

The ability to effectively clean. The Custodians experimented with a number of product brands until the best products were found.

What were some initial obstacles to switching to a green clean approach? How did you overcome these obstacles?

Obstacles were primarily due to availability of products and effectiveness of products.

What benefits are you experiencing as a result of a green clean program? (i.e. cost and/or health benefits)

We do not measure the health benefits since it is impossible to know if improvements are due to school or other environments.

What recommendations would you make to other school districts and indoor environmental quality teams considering a green clean approach?

Work a number of vendors to find products that best fit your needs.