Describe, in a clear, detailed manner, how each of your best management practices reduces the environmental impacts associated with conventional practices.
If your plan is created by an in-house staff person familiar with and responsible for maintaining the project site, there will be minimal costs associated with creating the credit documentation.
Minimal costs are involved with revising vendor contracts and implementing environmental best management practices. Some green practices or products may carry small premiums. For example, additional site visits by your contractors for proactive pest monitoring may carry additional hourly charges. On the other hand, reduced use of pesticides and better preventive practices may reduce costs.
Work with the key operations staff and vendors to incorporate IPM practices into their operations.
When mechanical controls or least-toxic chemicals do not sufficiently address pest infestations, you are permitted to use toxic chemicals as a last resort, as long as you provide universal notification that complies with the credit requirements.
Adoption of 100% of the IPM plan’s environmental best practices is required, and the program should govern all components of pest management at your project building and site.
There will be minimal additional costs for this credit if open space was already planned. If the team was not planning on including open space, or was only planning a limited area, then adjusting the building footprint could result in a cost increase or less buildable square footage.
Define the conditions under which your facility will resort to using toxic pesticides—for example, an infestation that poses a threat to the safety or well-being of human occupants. The IPM manager and vendors must understand the circumstances under which universal notification should be carried out. This definition should be included in contractual language with the vendors that handle pest management at the facility. Adopt a stringent definition of “emergency conditions”—times when only 24 hours of advanced notice is required.
All rodenticides, including self-contained baits, are always considered toxic and require occupant notification if used anywhere on the project site.
Non-rodent pesticides that do not meet Tier 3 criteria but are administered in self-contained baits are also considered least-toxic; no universal notification is required for their use.