The Endicott House at MIT replaced hundreds of chemical products used annual with one cleaner that is supposed to be less toxic and more economical. The new cleaner—water. However, it's a bit different than what you drink or water your plants with. This water is special, charged with an electrical current that creates two chemical-free and nearly odorless cleaning solutions. Cleaners like Ajax, Windex and 409 can be harmful when used in large doses, according to the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization that specializes in tox chemical research. As such, the Endicott House now uses two forms of the electrolyzed water, which forms hypochlorous acid and sodium hydroxide. The device that creates the electrolyzed water will save Massachusetts Institute of Technology's conference center in thousands for what it spends on shipping, waste management and overhead.

The solutions can be created on-site, according to general manager of the Endicott House, Michael Fitzgerald. The conference center is familiar with going green, as it recycles, composts and even grows its own produce. The conference center is used to hosting a variety of guests for its conferences. "We've always looked at opportunities in green initiatives," Fitzgerald said. "I thought this product would bring to a new level." So how do you get this electrolyzed water? A low-voltage electrical current passes through salt water, separating the sodium and chloride ions in the water. Then, the sodium ions are exposed to a negative electrical charge, thus creating sodium hydroxide, also known as lye. The chloride ions are exposed to a positive electrical charge, which turns chloride into hypochlorous acid, the active ingredient in bleach that sanitizes. The Massachusetts-based Lynnfield Green Technologies has sold 10 of the electrolyzed devices, which have been used by schools and companies that need cleaning solutions for cafeterias, classrooms, bathrooms and even semi-trucks.

The new solution has saved the Endicott House some trouble as well. The chemicals in bleach tended to eat through plastic, but the new cleaners have ended that problem. Any rashes and skin problems have also disappeared with the new cleaning solution. At retail, the device sells for $10,000 to make the water, which is a potential drawback to the everyday consumer, but for large corporations and hotels, this is just another way to gogreen and also save the company some money on cleaning solutions in the long run.