GCA Honorable Mention (Evaluation) Higher Education: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
Program Information
Total number of students: 20,530
Total square footage maintained: 3,700,903
Total number of custodians: 125
Total annual cleaning budget: $1,546,063
Green cleaning team members: Connell Friel, Dir. of Custodial Operations; Thomas Smith, Asst. Dir. of Custodial Operations; Adel Mabrouk and William Murray (Custodial Mgrs.); Lorraine Bartolotta, Cindy Toomey and Steven Alonso, (Head Janitors); Michael Youdelman, Recycling Manager; American Maintenance (for 10 contracted bldgs.); Staples, Inc. (for basic cleaning products); Barbara Chernow, SVP, Facilities; Terence Harrigan, Asst. VP, Facilities; James O’Connor, Sustainability Dir.; Gary Kaczmarczyk, Exec. Dir. EH&S.
The green cleaning program began in earnest at Stony Brook University’s west campus in 2007, and it wasn’t long before all of the university’s custodial product purchases were either Green-Seal certified or environmentally preferred.
The program takes a holistic approach to facility cleaning that has affected the university’s decisions on cleaning products, practices, equipment and personnel training, as well as the custodial staff’s commitment to practice environmentally conscious cleaning and sanitation procedures. It goes beyond appearances to focus on health and environmental impacts.
But Stony Brook also found that being truly green required careful analysis of products and methodologies. For example, the university agreed with New York’s Office of Governmental Services decision not to adopt a Green-Seal certification for floor finishes and floor strippers. Stony Brook concluded that its non-certified solution was more environmentally friendly because it requires less stripping and refinishing.