This prerequisite lays the groundwork for achieving the green cleaning credit. There are two options for complying with the prerequisite. The first is to develop and implement a green cleaning policy. The second is to use a certified cleaning service.

Developing a Policy

A green cleaning policy provides your team with a document of guiding principles and a single reference point for questions. It’s a good idea to create your green cleaning policy early in your project timeline. Working on the policy will familiarize your team with the requirements for the green cleaning credit.

Remember that you don’t have to achieve the policy targets, such as the targeted percentage of compliant cleaning products, but you do have to implement the policy to the best of your ability. The green cleaning credit rewards the actual attainment of your goals.

Keep the Policy Simple

USGBC provides a policy template that addresses all LEED v4.1 requirements. Using the template document is highly recommended—see the Documentation Toolkit for a link to the policy on USGBC’s website.

While teams are free to modify the template, remember that the key to making an effective policy is to keep it simple, straightforward, and easy to use. Flexibility is a plus—for example, when you address green cleaning products, list the standards that products should meet, but leave some room for discretion about exactly which products should be ordered.

Using a Certified Cleaning Service

Teams can use a certified cleaning company in lieu of developing a green cleaning policy. The cleaning vendor must be certified by one of the approved third-party programs (either GS-42 or CIMS-GB), and must develop goals and strategies for reducing energy, water, and chemical use. An audit of the building and/or cleaning vendor (depending on the certification) has been removed from the prerequisite requirements.

Based on a 2023 interpretation, O+M projects can now also use the ISSA GBAC STAR Green Building Accreditation program to comply with this prerequisite option.

This option is attractive for projects using a cleaning vendor that is already certified, or for projects with a longer timeline that can accommodate the extra time needed to switch vendors or to allow the current vendor to obtain a third-party certification. By putting the onus of LEED compliance on the vendor, project teams may save some attention for other green initiatives.

What’s New in LEED v4.1

• The certified cleaning service auditing requirement has been removed
• The cleaning service must instead be “in good standing”

Should I upgrade?

The updates to this prerequisite are minor and only impact the certified cleaning service option.  So this prerequisite probably won’t sway teams toward or away from either rating system.