Green Cleaning no longer an option?

Hi Emily, the green cleaning policy is now part of the LEED O+M Starter Kit innovation option - https://www.usgbc.org/node/10401650?return=/credits/new-construction/v4/...

Don't think this really answered the question, or least not for my V4 NC project....   Is there anything preventing our project from trying to pursue this as an ID strategy as so many of us have done in the past?  I would really like to officially confirm if I can still include this innovation credit for a NC project.

Hi Elaine,

The short answer is unfortunately no - green cleaning on its own won't be approved as a v4BD+C project Innovation.

We attempted on a v4 project recently to test the theory and received the following GBCI certification review comments:

"As outlined in the BD+C NC v4 Innovation Catalog (https://www.usgbc.org/credits/new-construction/v4/innovation-catalog), to earn points for a green cleaning strategy, the project must demonstrate compliance with the Innovation strategy LEED O+M Starter Kit. To earn one point for the LEED O+M Starter Kit Innovation Credit, the project must document two of the five credits listed in the LEED O+M Starter Kit credit requirements (SSp Site Management Policy, MRp Ongoing Purchasing and Waste Policy, MRp Facility Maintenance and Renovations Policy, EQp Green Cleaning Policy (Option 1), EQc Integrated Pest Management).

Provide the following.

a. A revised form indicating that the project is attempting the LEED O+M Starter Kit Innovation Credit.

b. Documentation of one additional qualifying strategy (SSp Site Management Policy, MRp Ongoing Purchasing and Waste Policy, MRp Facility Maintenance and Renovations Policy, or EQc Integrated Pest Management)."

Hi Elaine, you can pursue it, but its bundled in the O+M Starter Kit. This means you have to pursue at least 1 other eligible policy (listed below) in addition to Green Cleaning to achieve 1 point.

• SSp Site Management Policy
• MRp Ongoing Purchasing and Waste Policy
• MRp Facility Maintenance and Renovations Policy
• EQc Integrated Pest Management

You cannot pursue just the Green Cleaning policy as a stand alone credit any longer under v4.

Trista and Joanne thanks for the feedback that you have discovered regarding V4  I have a followup question...Did your team think the additional requirements were not worth pursuing the Innovation Credit?  I am doing a government project and they require a LEED silver project be delivered and the budget cutbacks are eliminating points but the Owner/User seems willing to do what they can on their end to get LEED credits and Green Cleaning seemed like a good fit.

Great question, I don't think adding a second policy makes the point too onerous to pursue. The Ongoing Purchasing and Waste Policy is generally straightforward and probably a good fit for a government occupant (along with a Green Cleaning Policy). You could download the USGBC templates for each policy (available in the LEED Credit Library on USGBC's website) and show them to the owner, and see if they are willing to adopt them.

Don’t want to intrude but the O&M starter kit Pilot credit in LEED v4 is a great fit for Goverment clients

The policies are easily adopted and include green cleaning 

Let me know if you need help and I’m happy to send you some starter templates or you can find great examples on LEED user 

407-402-5515

Since this pilot credit is now part of the Innovation Credit Library, we can gain two ID credits using the starter kit. The threshold for 1 credit is documenting two credits in the kit. To gain the second ID point, do we need to just document one more starter kit credit (3 starter kit credits = 2 ID credits)? - Thanks

Hi Robert, a second Innovation point can be achieved by documenting an additional two policies/plans.

Hello all.  Curious as to if any of you have attempted to use Option 2 "Certified Green Cleaning Service" in the LEED O+M Starter Kit Innovation Credit for BD+C.  From the looks of it, only Option 1:  In-House Green Cleaning Policy is allowed, but it wasn't entirely clear in the language if Option 2 for Certified Green Cleaning Service was prohibited?