NC 2009 - Green Cleaning ID credit

On a recent LEED NC 2009 we attempted the green cleaning credit as an innovation point and we received the following clarification request from our review team:

"Please provide a completed copy of the LEED-EBOM 2009 IEQp3 Prerequisite Form, along with the Green Cleaning Policy that has been developed for the project. The Green Cleaning Policy must follow the LEED-EBOM Policy Model and demonstrate the development of a comprehensive and quantitative green cleaning program which includes detailed information regarding staff training, cleaning processes and chemicals, and occupant feedback."

Be sure to submit the completed LEED EBOM EQp3 Template with your documentation. In addition to meeting EQp3, requirements for LEED EBOM credits EQc3.3 and EQc3.4 must be met and documented very thoroughly. If the green cleaning program is being provided by a third party ensure that you include a copy of the signed contract between the building owner and service provider.

I, like you, have found the guidance on the green cleaning innovation point quite vague. The above was our experience on a very recent project, so that is what I can offer as advice. Hope it helps!

Is anyone familiar with how to handle an ID Green Cleaning credit for residential portions of a project? We have a mixed-use project and I understand how to get this credit for the commercial portion but am not sure how to apply the ID Green Cleaning requirements to residential because we can't control what these tenants will purchase and if they will follow a green cleaning policy. Will writing a policy be enough to earn the credit, along with the other EBOM IEQp3 requirements, etc.? Does anyone have experience with this and/or achieved this credit for a building with commercial and residential spaces?

From EBOM, it seems up to 10% of the floor area may be exempted from almost any credit, if the area is not under management control. Moreover, for IEQp3, on the other hand, the scope says that the green cleaning policy can be limited to the areas directly controlled by building management. IEQp3 credit requirements is essentially what I would follow to complete the NCv2009 ID Green Cleaning credit SO would this mean I can exempt all residential portions because building mgmt will not have control over these spaces???? Please help!
Thanks!

Joeseph,
In general, when you use another program's credits for an ID credit in 'your' program, you must do the associated pre-req along with the credit. So if you want to only do one of those EBOM cleaning credits you will have to also implement the pre-req. I don't believe that you'll be required to do all three credits plus the pre-req to get one innovation credit. This also holds true for other credits. If you wanted to use LEED HC's acoustical credit, you would have to implement the acoustical pre-req.

Courtney,
I think you might want to look at Core and Shell for what you would be required to do. That seems to be the best place on where to draw a line between what you can control (building management, commercial tenants) and what you can't control (residents). But you may need a CIR to clarify the approach depending on the sizes of residential/commercial/core space. A policy alone is likely not enough to earn the credit. You may want to consider adding green cleaning practices to the leasing guide as an educational piece.

I have been in touch with a GBCI Project Reviewer on the issue of green cleaning. Apparently they are not referencing the LEED Interpretations that we used to reference for green cleaning. Instead, they are referencing the LEED Project Submittal Tips for LEED-NC 2009 - http://www.gbci.org/Libraries/Certification_Resources/LEED_Project_Submi... (See page 27). However, there is an error here related to green cleaning, it says: “The following LEED EBOM credits are allowed in LEED BD+C 2009 as ID credits: SSc2 Building Exterior and Hardscape Management Plan, SSc3 Integrated Pest Management (projects cannot earn both EBOM IEQ3.6 and SSc3), Erosion Control, and Landscape Management, WEc1.1 Water Performance Measurement-Whole building (project teams must meter the whole building AND one subsystem (irrigation, cooling tower, etc.) electronically and have automated daily readings), WEc4.1 Cooling Tower Water Management, MRp1 Sustainable Purchasing Policy, MRp2 Solid Waste Management Policy, IEQp3 Green Cleaning Policy/IEQc3 Green Cleaning Program, IEQc3.4 Sustainable Cleaning Equipment (all cleaning equipment purchased for initial occupancy must be included), and IEQc3.6 Green Cleaning-Indoor Integrated Pest Management (projects cannot earn both EBOM IEQ3.6 and SSc3). The LEED EBOM Submittal Template and all documentation that it requires must be provided (the performance period is not relevant).”

The error is that there is no IEQc3 Green Cleaning Program - it is IEQc3.1.

Here is what the reviewer said: “You are correct that the Reviewer Tips are referring to IEQc3.1: Green Cleaning Program. IEQc3.1 in EBOM requires the establishment and implementation of a High Performance Green Cleaning Program that addresses, among other required elements, the requirements of IEQc3.3 (Green Cleaning Products) and IEQc3.4 (Green Cleaning Equipment). In the program, goals and performance measurement methods would be established to put the project on the right track towards achieving IEQc3.3 and IEQc3.4. This is different than the requirements for IEQc3.4 (Green Cleaning Equipment), which requires you to document the actual equipment that is used to clean the building along with the maintenance of that equipment and any new equipment that is purchased over time.

Note that IEQc3.1: Green Cleaning Program is very similar to IEQp3: Green Cleaning Policy. Therefore, you can achieve an Innovation in Design point for one of these credits, but IEQp3 and IEQc3.1 may not count as two separate Innovation in Design points in the BD&C application.”

Unfortunately this is a little different than the advice Ralph received.

Joseph - There is a Green Cleaning Policy thread further down this page as well - http://www.leeduser.com/credit/NC-2009/IDc1?page=0#comment-34077.

Courtney - I seem to remember their used to be a CIR (now LI) for residential green cleaning. Consider searching for green cleaning in the LI and Addenda Database - https://www.usgbc.org/leedinterpretations/lilanding.aspx.

I found two pretty good Interpretation Rulings (4/8/2004 and 2/3/2004) which states:

".....Provide an estimated 6 month supply of these products to residents, as well as information on how to easily purchase refills/replacements, in order to increase the likelihood that these types of products will be permanently adopted. The inquirer's commercial supplier might be one purchase option (and is beneficial in regards to the use of concentrates). Another option would be standard retail products, preferably available at a local store (if not, then via internet or phone order). Submit a narrative and highlighted supportive documents (e.g., relevant to policy, O&M, communications, products and contracts) as part of your LEED certification submittal.
Note: Projects using LEED 2009 rating systems should reference LEED 2009 Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance IEQp3: Green Cleaning Policy when attempting green cleaning as an innovation strategy. Applicable Internationally."

It seems this still applies because it has been updated to include a "Note" referencing 2009 projects.

The key to successfully applying LI's is to check the Applicability Matrix on the Applicability Tab. It outlines which versions of which rating systems the LI can be used on. For instance, https://www.usgbc.org/leedinterpretations/LISearch.aspx?liaccessid=5580 was a LEED-NC v2.0 CIR that has not yet been considered any other rating systems; however, it cannot be used with EBOM.

It might be worth asking GBCI a question about your specific situation regarding mixed use. I’d try using Contact Us to try and reach Technical Customer Service and if that fails go the CIR/LI route. Good luck.