If writing construction specifications for your facility additions and alterations, be sure to incorporate sustainability requirements. The specification should be part of the contractor and subcontractor bid package, requiring them to comply with the credit and document compliance.

Carefully review manufacturer data. Don’t rely on claims stating that a specific product will “give” you a LEED point, when it will only contribute to the credit. No matter what the manufacturer says or has on their website, the specific criteria need to be met explicitly. 

Low-VOC materials, Green Label-certified carpet, and recycled content materials can usually be substituted for non-sustainable materials at no added cost.

Concentrate green procurement around big-ticket purchases first, as those may be enough to satisfy the 50% credit threshold, or will at least get you close.

Work with vendors who offer environmentally preferable product options. Encourage existing vendors to offer these options.

If you develop a list of approved items, try to offer several options in each product category, as cost and availability may vary over time.

Prior to making the list of recommended credit-compliant products, test and research new products with sustainable features to verify quality and appropriateness. For example, try low-VOC paint in a small test area before specifying its use as part of a major alteration project.

Instead of tracking purchased products and checking compliance in retrospect, develop a list of facility alteration materials approved based on sustainability criteria. Require approval for purchase of products outside the approved list. 

Identify compliant products as alternatives to conventional products. Collaborate with the contractor, purchasing agents, and vendors early on to research environmental products and to collect and file cut sheets. 

Use the policy developed under MRp1: Sustainable Purchasing Policy to establish a purchasing program for materials used during facility alterations and additions and set environmental purchasing goals for these products.