Many education institutions have embraced the growing push for sustainable design and have built environmentally friendly facilities that use resources more efficiently. But the plaudits that administrators receive for LEED certification and other recognition of their efforts may be meaningless if the green commitment ends when a building is completed. A critical factor in operating a school facility in an environmentally responsible way is to put a green-cleaning program into place. Maintenance workers and custodial staffs can switch to equipment and supplies that are less harmful to the environment--especially the students, teachers and other employees whose health might be compromised when exposed to potentially dangerous chemicals. Several states have enacted legislation requiring or encouraging schools to use green cleaning materials and products, and other states are considering similar action. Meanwhile, the Green Schools Initiative, a non-profit environmental advocacy group based in Berkeley, California, has put together a best-practices guide for green cleaning that can help schools and universities determine which products and equipment will lead to an environmentally preferable program.