Be sure to track all equipment maintenance and repair activities during the performance period. Such activities include, but are not limited to, vacuum bag replacement, mechanical repairs, and cleaning the machines.

Since all equipment purchased during the performance period must comply with the associated criteria, make sure to track all equipment purchases throughout the performance period. 

Establish a system for tracking all maintenance and repairs performed on  cleaning equipment during the performance period.

Implementing green alternatives may require staff retraining. Alternative equipment may require different techniques, frequency of use, etc.

Consider testing new equipment before committing to a large bulk purchase in order to make sure that the equipment meets your facility's needs.

Dispose properly of your old cleaning equipment in an appropriate fashion. Certain equipment, such as battery-powered machines, may require special disposal procedures.

Generally, there's no cost premium associated with compliant cleaning equipment.

Manufacturer literature often does not specify the environmental standards with which the piece of equipment complies. This may be the case even for compliant equipment. If the manufacturer’s literature does not contain information regarding LEED criteria, secure further documentation that includes this information—such as a letter from the manufacturer verifying compliance.  

Your project team must obtain manufacturer data (through the supplier or your own research) demonstrating that your equipment complies with the equipment-specific standards listed in the LEED rating system. Just because the label says that cleaning equipment is “green,” ergonomic, or has safeguards that minimize damage to building surfaces, does not mean that the equipment meets all of the credit requirements. 

If your team does not currently purchase cleaning equipment through a supplier, you'll need to research compliant alternatives yourself. Begin by looking into the equipment offered by your current distributors. Some popular manufacturers offer compliant cleaning equipment. You can also find a list CRI Green Label compliant products on the Carpet and Rug Institute’s website (see Resources).