The policy must meet the minimum content requirements as defined in the USGBC’s two-page memo, “Policy, Program and Plan Models for LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance.”
The green cleaning policy must include all green cleaning materials that are within the scope of the building and site management. If tenants are responsible for cleaning their own spaces, they are not required to comply with your green cleaning policy. If possible, consider providing green cleaning guidelines to any tenants responsible for cleaning in their spaces to encourage environmental best practices.
Contracts with the cleaning contractor should include explicit language describing their role and expectations for contributions to LEED documentation and calculation packages.
This prerequisite requires setting goals for the green cleaning program and demonstrating the management’s commitment to implementing a green cleaning program in spaces controlled by the management. To earn the associated credit (IEQc3.1) the project team has to demonstrate that a comprehensive green cleaning program has been implemented in at least 90% of the occupied areas of the building.
In some buildings, one staff member is in charge of purchasing, while another oversees the cleaning maintenance crew. Depending on the size and scale of the building, there may be either one or multiple responsible parties.
Project teams often overlook hand hygiene strategies (which are especially key for vulnerable populations) and the handling of occupant feedback in their green cleaning policies, even though they are prerequisite requirements, so make sure you address these topics. If none of your hand hygiene and occupant feedback collection strategies need to be modified, the focus will be on formalizing the existing practices to write your policy.
Some or all of your practices most likely will need to be modified. For example, most buildings will find that they will need to use totally new cleaning chemicals that comply with the sustainability criteria. At the same time most cleaning programs already have a compliant training program for cleaning staff and the program may need minor modifications or none at all depending on what the curriculum entails.
After evaluating the current conditions, determine which practices need to be revamped to meet the prerequisite requirement and work with the parties responsible to make sure they understand the requirements and are able to meet them going forward.
In many cases, you’ll find that the work order system is the best way to collect and respond to occupant feedback about the cleaning program. This type of system meets the prerequisite requirements.
Washing hands with soap and water is the most effective hand hygiene method, according to studies. Antimicrobial hand soaps are at best no more effective than soap and water, and at worst provide a false sense of security that can lead to carelessness. Antimicrobial chemicals can also have negative human health and environmental impacts, including promoting antibiotic-resistant bacteria.