Green Seal and Healthy Schools Campaign Launch New Program

Green Seal^® and Healthy Schools Campaign have officially launched the Healthy Green Schools & Colleges program, which helps school facility professionals identify and implement low- and no-cost measures that can make a big difference in indoor air quality without major capital investments.

The Healthy Green Schools & Colleges program, originally announced in 2019, was developed in partnership with recognized school facility management leaders and covers the full range of facilities management practices, including cleaning and disinfecting; integrated pest management; sustainable purchasing; HVAC and electric maintenance; indoor air quality testing and monitoring; training; and communication.

“The pandemic has highlighted the importance of creating healthier indoor environments, yet many schools struggle to maintain facilities that support the health of all students and staff,” said Doug Gatlin, Green Seal CEO. “This nationally available program addresses a critical gap by providing schools with the guidance and network to continuously improve the health and sustainability of their facilities.”

Healthy Green Schools & Colleges offers school facility professionals a three-step process to improve indoor air quality and sustainability in their facilities:

1. Assess: Schools complete a free online self-assessment to objectively measure performance, strengths, and weaknesses, and to view total points scored toward the Healthy Green Schools & Colleges standard.
2. Commit: Schools commit to improving performance by joining the Healthy Green Schools & Colleges program and gaining access to its resources, which includes guidebooks, training materials, and a peer network of facility professionals on a similar journey.
3. Improve: Participating schools use program resources to improve performance at their own pace. Schools that reach the top level of achievement can apply for Healthy Green Schools & Colleges certification to earn public recognition for their verified expertise in providing healthy school environments.

The Healthy Green Schools & Colleges program is available to school districts, colleges, and universities across the spectrum—whether they are just getting started with environmental health and sustainability improvements or are already leaders.

The organizations also announced the first Healthy Green Schools & Colleges participants, which include Cape Elizabeth School Department, Consumnes River College, Kansas City Public Schools, University of Georgia, and West Allis-West Milwaukee School District.

Industry leaders in the manufacturing and distribution of green cleaning products who have provided support to Healthy Green Schools & Colleges include platinum-level sponsors Diversey , GP PRO, Spartan Chemical Co. Inc., and GOJO Industries.

Healthy Green Schools & Colleges will host a live program kickoff webinar with the program director and representatives from the first participating schools at 1 p.m. Central Time on Tuesday, October 4. Register here.