There are a few ways to focus your purchasing and documentation efforts that can help you earn this credit more easily.

First, swap out the products you spend the most money on annually for versions that meet one or more of the sustainability criteria. Good products to target include:

paper productsdisposable kitchen goodscomputers, laptops, and monitors

Second, target higher-cost products where 100% of the cost will count towards credit compliance. Rechargeable batteries and remanufactured toner cartridges are good examples.

Third, select products that meet more than one sustainability criterion. This allows you to apply a greater percentage of the cost towards credit compliance.

And finally, get familiar with USGBC’s MR calculator and document purchases at regular intervals so there are no surprises at the end of your project’s performance period. This calculator is posted in the Resources tab.