What Does LEED O+M Require for Green Cleaning?

Which LEED O+M version are you certifying under?

Existing buildings pursuing LEED O+M now work under one of two versions, and they treat green cleaning differently. LEED v4.1 makes a green cleaning policy mandatory; LEED v5 makes green cleaning optional but worth more points. Check which version the project is registered under before writing a policy or changing products.

What a LEED green cleaning policy should cover

The v4.1 prerequisite can be met in two ways: by writing and carrying out an in-house green cleaning policy, or by using a cleaning service certified to a recognized green cleaning standard, such as Green Seal GS-42. Most buildings take the policy route, and a useful policy reads like an operating manual rather than a pledge. Policies written for the prerequisite typically cover the points below.

• Purchasing standards for cleaning chemicals, paper products, trash bags and hand soap
• Standards for powered and manual cleaning equipment
• Cleaning procedures by area, including concentrates and dilution systems
• Hand hygiene and protection of vulnerable occupants
• Entryway systems that stop soil at the door
• Custodial staff training, with records
• How occupant feedback and cleaning quality are measured and acted on

What the green cleaning credits reward

In LEED v4 O+M, green cleaning was split into three credits: a custodial effectiveness assessment, products and materials purchasing, and cleaning equipment. LEED v4.1 folded green cleaning into a single one-point credit earned through one of several options. The custodial effectiveness assessment is an audit of actual cleanliness, commonly scored against APPA's custodial staffing guidelines, and it is the option that tests results rather than purchases.

For LEED v5, Green Seal's summary of the final EQc7 credit says points come from buying certified cleaning products and from using a certified cleaning service. Confirm thresholds and accepted certifications in USGBC's current reference guide before planning purchases around them.

Documentation a cleaning contractor should be able to supply

LEED reviewers see paperwork, not floors, so the contractor's records carry the submission. Ask early, because purchasing data usually has to cover a defined performance period.

• A product list showing each item's third-party certification, such as Green Seal, EPA Safer Choice or UL ECOLOGO
• Purchase records by product and period, including paper goods and liners
• An equipment inventory with relevant specifications, such as filtration and sound levels
• Descriptions of dilution systems and the procedures that use them
• Training records for custodial staff
• Inspection and audit results, and how problems were corrected

Disinfection inside a green program

Green cleaning does not mean skipping disinfection where it is needed. Disinfectants are EPA-registered pesticides, so environmental claims on their labels are restricted, and EPA's Design for the Environment logo is the main marker for registered antimicrobial products that meet lower-hazard criteria. A policy that targets disinfection to high-touch surfaces and outbreak situations, and relies on cleaning alone elsewhere, keeps both occupant health and the green cleaning credit in view.

How EBS supports a LEED building

EBS offers green cleaning with non-toxic, biodegradable products on any program at the client's request, uses HEPA vacuums, and applies EPA-approved disinfection products to high-touch surfaces. Its documented quality system, with eHub inspections, follow-up and corrective-action tracking, produces the kind of cleaning records a LEED submission draws on. The product list, procedures and reporting a project needs can be agreed in the scope at the walkthrough.