September 02, 2010


Logo of the Green Cleaning Award for Schools & Universities


Sponsored by American School & University, The Green Cleaning Network and the Healthy Schools Campaign.



Created in conjunction with the Green Cleaning Network and Healthy Schools Campaign, American School & University's Green Cleaning Award recognizes education institutions for their healthy and sustainable approaches to cleaning to protect health without harming the environment.

Interested in entering your school in the 2010 Green Cleaning Award competition? Download the 2010 application.

Click here to read more on eligibility, judging criteria and the awards process.

Like most other departments in education institutions, the maintenance department often is challenged to do more with less. This year's entrants of the 2009 Green Cleaning Award for Schools & Universities have shown that they are doing just that — and making a positive impact on the environment as well.

The entries were diverse: some were in their first few years of green-cleaning programs; others had been going green for more than a decade. They all had one thing in common: green cleaning was a priority in their everyday jobs.

In this special awards program, an expert jury of green-cleaning professionals (see Meet the Jury) chose seven education institutions whose green-cleaning programs went above and beyond just using green products to protect health without harming the environment. The jury named two Grand Award winners in the school district category and one Grand Award winner in the higher-education category. It also gave one Honorable Mention in each category. A new category this year, Best New Program, recognizes those programs that are just getting off the ground, but in a commendable way.

Judging criteria were based on the comprehensiveness and quality of the program, and how well each education institution followed the following five steps, as outlined in the second edition of The Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools:

  • Use green-cleaning products.
  • Use green equipment and supplies.
  • Adopt green-cleaning procedures.
  • Use green paper and plastic products.
  • Share the responsibility.

The seven winners showcased in the following articles show how much one education institution, district or campus can accomplish — often in a short amount of time.

2009 School Districts Winners

2009 Higher Education Winners

The Green Cleaning Award for Schools & Universities is sponsored by American School & University; the Green Cleaning Network, a non-profit clearinghouse that shares information and educates the marketplace in order to accelerate the adoption of green cleaning; and the Healthy Schools Campaign, a non-profit that advocates for policies and model programs that enable students and staff members to learn and work in a healthful school environment.

2008 School Districts Winners

  • Grand Award: Jonesboro Public Schools, Jonesboro, Ark.
  • Honorable Mention: Oswego C.U.S.D. #308, Oswego, Ill.

2008 Colleges Winners

  • Grand Award: Miami Dade College, North Campus, Miami
  • Honorable Mention: Colorado College, Colorado Springs

2008 Universities Winners

  • Grand Award: University of California—Santa Barbara
  • Honorable Mention: Michigan State University, East Lansing
  • Honorable Mention: University of Georgia, Athens
  • Honorable Mention: Western Washington University, Bellingham, Wash.

Click here to read more detailed profiles of each 2008 winner from AS&U's Green Cleaning Award special section in the December 2008 issue.

2007 School Districts Winners

  • Grand Award: Hernando County Schools, Brooksville, Fla.
  • Honorable Mention: Mayfield City School District, Mayfield Heights, Ohio

2007 Colleges Winners

  • Grand Award: Delta College, University Center, Mich.
  • Honorable Mention: Union College, Schenectady, N.Y.

2007 Universities Winners

  • Grand Award: University of Washington, Seattle
  • Honorable Mention: Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta

Click here to read more detailed profiles of each 2007 winner from AS&U's Green Cleaning Award special section in the December 2007 issue.

Visit American School & University's green section for the latest articles on green design, construction, products and more.

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