“You can’t fix what you don’t measure”

These words were never more relevant then when it comes to improving the indoor air quality of a home or business. The EPA has long documented a multitude of sources that could be affecting your health. In fact the EPA has recognized Sick Building Syndrome to describe situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified

At Centex Green our services and products are well designed for remediating a sick home or office, but to apply these resources we must understand the source(s) and location(s) of the offending pollutant. Thus, Centex Green offers analytical services to find and characterize the problem as well as to test the solution to affirm the fix worked. At Centex Green we make your health, the health of your home or business our #1 priority.

Our analytical services cover a variety of tests all performed by the leading commercial indoor air quality (IAQ) laboratory in North America. We offer the following services

Mold analytical services:

Spore trap analysis, with other particles supplement, with Cladosporium and penicillium aspergillus, Bacterial/fungi surface sampling culture combo, Bacterial Identification- Species, Bacterial Identification – Genus, Fecal Coli form (e-coli), Fecal coli form (sludge and bio solids)

Indoor Allergens:

Cat Dander, Dog Dander, Cockroach, Dust mite, Mouse, Rat

Surface samples:

Both Horizontal and vertical, (this would include HVAC system and ducts) Direct microscopic exam (qualitative), Quantitative spore cont, direct exam, Dust characterization, Wood decay

Other :

Yeast, Algae, Asbestos, Lead

Industrial Hygiene:

Volatile Organic Compounds, Solvents, Other Metals

So for those occasions where you suspect the indoor environment is causing acute health and comfort issues give Centex Green a call. We’ll find the problem, correct the fault or deficiency, and improve your health by delivering a healthier home or office

Asit K. Biswas Lecture: Global Water Crisis

Asit K. Biswas Lecture: Global Water Crisis – Myth or Reality?

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Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry

1. Prevent waste: Design chemical syntheses to prevent waste, leaving no waste to treat or clean up.

2. Design safer chemicals and products: Design chemical products to be fully effective, yet have little or no toxicity.

3. Design less hazardous chemical syntheses: Design syntheses to use and generate substances with little or no toxicity to humans and the environment.

4. Use renewable feedstocks: Use raw materials and feedstocks that are renewable rather than depleting. Renewable feedstocks are often made from agricultural products or are the wastes of other processes; depleting feedstocks are made from fossil fuels (petroleum, natural gas, or coal) or are mined.

5. Use catalysts, not stoichiometric reagents: Minimize waste by using catalytic reactions. Catalysts are used in small amounts and can carry out a single reaction many times. Catalysts are preferable to stoichiometric reagents, which are used in excess and work only once.

6. Avoid chemical derivatives: Avoid using blocking or protecting groups or any temporary modifications if possible. Derivatives use additional reagents and generate waste.

7. Maximize atom economy: Design syntheses so that the final product contains the maximum proportion of the starting materials. There should be few, if any, wasted atoms.

8. Use safer solvents and reaction conditions: Avoid using solvents, separation agents, or other auxiliary chemicals. If these chemicals are necessary, use innocuous chemicals.

9. Increase energy efficiency: Run chemical reactions at ambient temperature and pressure whenever possible.

10. Design chemicals and products to degrade after use: Design chemical products to break down to innocuous substances after use so that they do not accumulate in the environment.

11. Analyze in real time to prevent pollution: Include in-process real-time monitoring and control during syntheses to minimize or eliminate the formation of byproducts.

12. Minimize the potential for accidents: Design chemicals and their forms (solid, liquid, or gas) to minimize the potential for chemical accidents including explosions, fires, and releases to the environment.

* Originally published by Paul Anastas and John Warner in Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice,
Oxford University Press: New York, 1998

carpet cleaning austin

Why Do We Matter?

How often may you ask this question, whether it’s in the spiritual sense, in the family structure, or in your vocation. The first two are dicey and best left to theological scholars and mental health professionals. The third item is one I hope we can address on a personal basis and is a topic for the first time in my adult life that I’ve felt as though I’ve answered.

At Centex Green the goal from our inception was to deliver the best carpet cleaning service available while in parallel making sure it improved indoor air quality and was safe for the client by not adding VOCs, using products that are built on renewable materials yet leave no residue (read this as biodegrades), made limited use of resources (water, fuel, electricity). I had no illusions; this was a tall order so it’s been a rewarding journey to develop a service that delivers on every aspect.

When I was working in the semiconductor eco-system I often wondered if what I did really meant that much to anyone … I’m sure it did. Companies built smaller, faster chips with improved computational power and programming features because of the work I did but the lead time from concept to end use were years. With Centex Green, the results are instantaneous, measureable, and real. As with the semiconductor work the enabler for Centex Green was science and engineering. In the same way that Apple and Microsoft saw the value in XEROX’s windows , Centex Green has recognized, tested, and put into practice bio-based science to provide what we consider an unbeatable service.

So you may ask what does this have to do with “why do we matter”. Simply put Centex Green delivers a process that effectively removes the film of dirt in your carpet and rugs while reducing the allergens and mold. The use of very little water means that there’s no chance for molds to grow. The products we use to suspend the soil in solution have a residual effect of hastening the decay process in the materials that cause odors by breaking down the amino and fatty acids. The limited use of water means the carpet and rugs are returned to use in less than 1 hour. And finally the equipment we operate offers a thorough agitation motion, working all sides of the fiber.

I personally did a home service today for a family with children and pets. As you would expect there were plenty of stains from both sources. After a clean with the Centex Green process the carpet which was spotted with many presents from Fido looked as good as new. The pile was straight and the cleaning product delivered again by giving the added bonus of killing the odors and leaving a fresh smell. Getting up in the morning and knowing that without a doubt you are delivering a service that improves the quality of living, minimizes the impact on resources and uses renewable resources is a feeling of excitement I wish everyone could enjoy. Centex Green is my professional holy grail, one I’d like to share with my friends and my friends I’ve yet to meet.

Getting the dirt up – Soil Suspension

Anyone who has spent time cleaning carpets knows the approach to getting a carpet/rug clean you must follow 5 basic actions:

• Dry soil removal
• Soil suspension
• Soil extraction
• Pile setting (finishing or grooming)
• Drying

For the sake of this conversation I’ll step to the second bullet because I truly believe this is where OPers (Cleaners using Oscillating Pad Machines) have a distinct advantage over other methods. With regards to soil suspension what we can do is employ:

• chemical action
• heat
• agitation
• time

to maximize removal. And as you’ll see some steps carry more weight than others.

Chemical Action

Our first step in soil suspension is to use products that reduce the surface tension and dissolve the various soils (chemical action). What’s different about OPers is that when we use encapsulation we are emulsifying some dirt but in general we are growing macroscopic/bulk particles for removal by vacuuming. I maintain this is one cool approach that works quite well. However, when we using colloidal chemistry products (like Orbit Natural and Abstraction) we are using a “technology” that most other’s cleaners overlook.

The dirt and grime in carpets are layers of fine films made up of fat, oil, grease, bacteria, dust mites and skin etc. These films are bonded to each other and to the carpet fiber surface by amino and fatty acids. Most cleaners emulsify some of these films, but do not break down the amino and fatty acids which attract more soil to the carpet. Colloidal chemistry cleaning products use plant based ingredients to remove these films and acids.

The nano sized particles called micelles that represent the active ingredient in the products effectively cut through the carbon bonds in organic molecules and emulsify organic matter. Oil, grease and urine are broken down, suspended and safely lifted away from the carpet fibers. The quick degradation of organic waste causes a significant reduction of offensive odor caused by the naturally slow process of decay, and reduced organic residue will cause a diminution in population of disease carrying insects. Our OP process returns bounce to carpet fiber and effectively removes organic soil without damaging textile fibers.

Elevated Temperature (Heat)

Heat reduces the surface tension of water and enables faster, more efficient cleaning than cold water. It is merely a matter of thermodynamics: heat accelerates the molecular activity of chemicals employed, and thus aids in separation of unwanted matter from fibers. The issue here is that our first step whether encapsulation or colloidal chemistry does a great job of either isolating the dirt as a bulk particle or emulsifying the dirt thoroughly and thus eliminating the need to bring in heat via copious amount of hot water.

Agitation

Agitation is required to accomplish uniform chemical penetration and distribution throughout the carpet. In the absence of agitation, soil suspension tends to be non-uniform, which is often indicated by soil streaks following the removal process. Again what’s great for OPers is that our equipment delivers an aggressive agitation other carpet cleaners can’t provide. The best a “steam cleaner” can do is comb in the pre-conditioning chemicals. The other option would be to employ a bonnet / OP machine before HWE but this approach would be too labor and time prohibited as well as cost ineffective.

Time

Regardless of cleaning technique we all have time but it is often the least considered in obtaining soil suspension. Those soils in the carpet did not appear overnight, they were deposited and compacted over time so we must give the products time to perform their chemical action. Let “dwell time” be your friend and get adequate fiber penetration and maximum soil suspension will occur. If in doubt follow chemical manufacturer’s instructions.

Mike
Centex Green
mike@centexgreen.com

http://twitter.com/centexgreen

Nano chemistry – Using science to clean your carpet and rugs

The dirt and grime in carpets are layers of fine films made up of fat, oil, grease, bacteria, dust mites and skin etc. These films are bonded to each other and to the carpet fiber surface by amino and fatty acids. Most cleaners emulsify some of these films, but do not break down the amino and fatty acids which attract more soil to the carpet. Centex Green’s products use a proprietary formula of plant based ingredients to remove these films and acids.

The nano sized particles called micelles that represent the active ingredient in the products effectively cut through the carbon bonds in organic molecules and emulsify organic matter. Oil, grease and urine are broken down, suspended and safely lifted away from the carpet fibers. The quick degradation of organic waste causes a significant reduction of offensive odor caused by the naturally slow process of decay, and reduced organic residue will cause a diminution in population of disease carrying insects. Our process returns bounce to carpet fiber and effectively removes organic soil without damaging textile fibers.

Is Your Product or Service “Green”?

I am the CEO of Centex Green and a nuclear physicist with over 16 years of government and private industry experience developing new technologies which measure trace pollutants in the environment.  I’ve built my professional career on the scientific method and maintain so should “Green” products and services.   For a product or service to be “Green” it should adhere to the following definition:

Green Should Mean:

• High Efficiency (reduced usage)
• Works as well if not better than it’s hazardous counterparts
• Good for the environment
• Biodegradable
• Renewable resource components
• Safer for the user
• Contributes to good indoor air quality
• Hazardous waste reduction

At Centex Green our signature service is our carpet care (we also sell equipment and products). It’s the most thorough clean available and adheres to the “Green” definition I put forth.

• High Efficiency (reduced usage)
  • We use 45x less water than steam cleaning. This saves ~850 lbs of water per every 1000 sq ft cleaned
• Works as well if not better than it’s hazardous counterparts
  • The proof is in the results. We have many pictures and testimonials which validate our process efficacy
• Good for the environment
  • We use significantly less water; don’t run fossil fuel pumps; use plant based, zero VOC products; the pads we use are 100% cotton and recycled upon end of life.
• Biodegradable
  • Our products consist of organic material which degrade aerobically.
• Renewable resource components
  • The products we use and develop to facilitate cleaning are plant based (mostly corn) colloidal solutions
• Safer for the user
  • Not only safe for the user but for the client; The local Autism chapter members have embraced the Centex Green process
• Contributes to good indoor air quality
  • We use 0- VOC products; this minimizes issues with asthma, allergies, and environmental illnesses
• Hazardous waste reduction
  • There is no hazardous waste; to the contrary, steam cleaners capture tainted effluent that must be treated.

And we must not forget the product or service must be cost competitive. A “Green” product or service will never usurp an existing product or service if the price is not in the same ballpark or lower.

Lastly, if your product or service can pass the criteria I’ve outlined I think we can all agree its “Green”. If it doesn’t that’s okay … it can be “Greener” than the existing solution. As long as companies and individuals involved in bringing products and services to market that can match the profile then the credibility we bring will make switching to “Green” easier for the consumer.

to learn more visit and follow:

http://www.centexgreen.com/our-blog

http://twitter.com/centexgreen

www.centexgreen.com

Nature is profound in its simplicity – My UT Physics Professor

Green cleaning of your personal residence and business can be equally profound in its simplicity.- Mike Pochkowski

When we hear the words, “green”, “environmental”, “organic”, “eco-friendly” it elicits vivid images and often strong emotions that run the gambit. Yet take a moment, step back and think what is the glue that binds these words? I would offer one word …”health”….. Health of the individual and of Mother Nature. Once we more commonly equate “green”, “environmental”, “organic” with “health” the images and emotions that surround these words become easier to assimilate and reconcile.

Who would argue against being healthy at home and work? We diet, we exercise, and we look for magic pills and elixirs. Late night infomercials confirm this fact. How many billions of dollars are spent in these pursuits? I would say we aren’t nearly as focused on having the healthiest homes and businesses possible and thus are not maximizing our physical well being. Yet it’s something we can do for just pennies a day and has a dramatic effect on our bodies. My goal in this blog is to add clarity, data, and science to help educate and tear down misconceptions that unfortunately enveloped parts of the Green movement.

In the coming editions I’ll be discussing indoor air quality, low toxicity green cleaning products, carpet care, and recycling. On occasion I’ll have a guest blogger contribute material. My passion is to help more people, more businesses think Green, employ green products and services, and ultimately these products and services will be common place. As the saying goes “how do you eat an elephant?”; The answer – “One bite at a time”. We are at a point and time for all of us to take a bite, one bite at a time.

learn more:

visit -www.centexgreen.com

follow – http://twitter.com/centexgreen