At least one operations staff member with a solid understanding of the LEED requirements and the contents of the San Francisco Pesticide Hazard Screening List, should oversee IPM plan implementation. If no one has been designated the point person for pest-related issues, choose a staff person who has regular interactions with pest management vendors and is willing to learn about and implement nonchemical pest prevention and resolution measures.

Carefully examine pest management service offerings to verify that IPM is truly applied. Since IPM is still gaining traction in the industry, vendors often claim to practice IPM, even if they don’t fully understand the intent or requirements of it. Also, not all IPM programs are LEED-compliant. For example, if your vendor monitors pest populations, ensures that loading docks and trash receptacles are kept clean, and uses mechanical pest controls most of the time, but doesn’t provide universal notification when applying pesticides, their IPM program does not comply with the requirements.

If multiple vendors manage a variety of pest issues communicate IPM best practices to all vendors involved and formalize your expectations in contractual language. Designate a staff member who can facilitate communication between multiple vendors and ensure that their processes and methods complement one another.

Indoor and outdoor IPM plans are commonly combined and carried out by a single contractor. Given that an IPM plan focuses on prevention, it makes sense to think of interior pest problems within the context of exterior conditions, including the building envelope and entry points. Additionally, combining outdoor and indoor IPM makes implementing the pest management policy (including future revisions) much easier, as there is only one document to oversee. 

Integrated pest management (IPM)

Work with key operations staff and vendors (such as landscaping and pest management) to determine whether any of their current methods qualify as environmental best management practices.

Even if you do not have a comprehensive IPM plan, you may already conduct one or more of the following activities, making it easier to add additional IPM practices:

routine site inspections and maintenance,
routine pest inspections,
pest population monitoring,
substantial evaluation of the need for pest control,
and sanitation as a preventative measure for pest infestations.

Conduct an inventory of all pest management products and practices currently implemented on the project site and associated grounds. Consider combining outdoor and indoor IPM programs, using one inventory of pest management practices to document compliance with this credit and with SSc3: Integrated Pest Management, Erosion Control, and Landscape Management Plan. The inventory needs to address exterior and interior IPM issues.

Consider attempting the extra point for Exemplary Performance through IDc1 by doubling your vegetated open space over the credit requirements. Many schools, particularly in rural or suburban areas with a lot of playing fields, find this relatively easy to achieve. 

Consider attempting the extra point for Exemplary Performance through IDc1 by doubling your vegetated open space over the credit requirements.