Best Practices

Consider setting process-water reduction goals higher than this credit’s requirements. Achieving a 40% reduction in process water use can earn an exemplary performance point. 

Check the Energy Star website for clothes washers, ice machines, and food steamers. (See Resources.)

Check the Consortium for Energy Efficiency website, which has a list of products and their associated water efficiencies for clothes washers, dishwashers, ice machines, pre-rinse spray valves, and steamers. (See Resources). 

Onsite composting at the school is a great way for students to learn about waste, biology, and the environment. Schools can also add a garden project to make use of their composted food waste.

Follow specific maintenance practices for the flooring products used. Follow a green cleaning and maintenance policy that limits products with VOCs and other indoor pollutants.

Keep a list of compliant flooring systems used on the project so that O&M staff can use these products for future renovations.

Streamline documentation and research by keeping a master spreadsheet of all items being tracked for each material across MR and IEQ credits.

Contracts for contractors and subcontractors should include their responsibility for ensuring that products they supply comply with LEED’s requirements.

If possible, incorporate in the specifications specific, compliant low-emitting products by product line and manufacturer. 

Record purchases on a tracking sheet—separate from the LEED Online form—so that the information is easily accessible throughout the performance period. (See sample tracking sheet in the Documentation Toolkit.) Remember to transfer all purchasing data from your offline tracking tool into the credit form before you submit your project for review.