Does food waste need to be sorted through?
If the food waste is collected separately, you should weigh the food waste to include it in your audit results, however you are not required to sort though it.
Can the waste audit include a sample selection of waste generated at the project building (i.e. waste from the first floor only)?
No, the waste audit must include all waste generated from the project building over a given time period (usually 24 hours).
Does being a GS-42 Certified Provider assist in meeting the prerequisite and associated credit requirements?
Unfortunately there is no official streamlined option for contracting with a GS-42 certified provider to simplify the LEED documentation, however the service provider is probably already doing most of what LEED requires for the prerequisite and associated credit requirements. That said, if you are working with a GS-42 certified provided, acquiring the necessary documentation will be significantly easier than working with a vendor who is new to green cleaning.
Our project consists of a building with multiple tenants. The core areas are maintained by building management but the tenants are responsible for their own cleaning. Can I still achieve the prerequisite?
Yes. As stated in the Step-By-Step Guidance in the LEED Reference Guide, the scope of the policy needs to cover only the portion of the building and site under the building management’s control. That said, teams should consider sharing the green cleaning program information with tenants and encourage them to adopt best practices in their spaces.
What if my project has rules or regulations that contradict the policy requirement, such as using bleach in a school or using abrasive cleaners in a healthcare environment?
Compliance for the prerequisite is not based on the ability to meet the policy goals or sustainability criteria 100% of the time. However, teams should make every effort to follow the policy as much as possible and to modify current practices that clearly contradict with the intent of the green cleaning policy.
What’s the difference between the policy and the program?
The policy is required to meet the prerequisite and clearly establishes high-level goals and sustainability criteria for the green cleaning program. The green cleaning program carries out the goals and strategies of the policy by establishing guidelines for cleaning procedures. Although the two components are distinct for the LEED prerequisite and credit, teams often meet both the prerequisite and the credit requirements with the same document.
We have a product that complies with very stringent E1 and E0 European standards for low emissions. Does this product comply with this credit?
Not necessarily. The requirements for this credit are based on the wood product containing no added urea formaldehyde (NAUF). While a NAUF product may comply with European standards, you can't assume that a product complying with European standards is NAUF—you need to check the binder.
Our project is planning to use no composite wood products. Do we automatically earn this credit?
LEEDuser hasn't seen an official ruling on this, but our expert consensus is no. (And keep in mind that laminating adhesives are part of the credit requirements, too.)
What are the VOC limits for primers? They seem to be listed in both GS-11 and SCAQMD Rule 1113.
As stated in the credit language, architectural paints and coatings applied to interior walls and ceilings are subject to GS-11.
If a project registered after the 4/14/10 addendum, then primers must use the 50 g/L and 150 g/L VOC limits for flat and non-flat paints, respectively. The only exception would be when it can be demonstrated, based on the purpose of the primer and supporting manufacturer data, that the product meets the definition of specialty primers per SCAQMD Rule 1113.
How should handheld aerosol spray paints be handled?
Handheld aerosol spray paints are not covered by Green Seal GS-11 or SCAQMD Rule 1113, the relevant standards under this credit. A CIR under LEED-NC v2.2 was issued that excluded spray paints from this credit, and there have been no rulings reversing this for LEED 2009 projects, although there is not officially a ruling one way or another that applies to LEED 2009. See LEED Interpretation #2486 2/10/2009.