Operations & Maintenance

Consider the use of a master site plan or legal mechanism to protect this open space. Organizations like the Trust for Public Land (see Resources) may be able to help with financing by purchasing a conservation easement on a portion of the land in order to maintain perpetual open space and offset the cost of the land that is not being built on.

Continue to protect the areas designated as open space for the remainder of the building’s life. 

The first year of operations is usually a learning period for both the occupants and the facility manager. If your project underwent enhanced commissioning and developed an operations manual, you will have fewer miscommunications and untrained staff.

Building staff will also spend time administering the various parking programs: preferred parking, discounted parking, or vehicle-sharing. Procedures and policies for their use must be developed, along with enforcement mechanisms. 

Make sure that operations and maintenance personnel (or a vendor, if involved) are set up to maintain the alternative fueling stations. Provide them with all required information about safety and maintenance procedures.

Continued compliance with the spirit of this credit is largely based on the honor system and the integrity of building management and users. To ensure that preferred parking policies are respected, consider the following strategies:

Building staff must administer the parking plan: preferred or discounted parking, or vehicle sharing. Procedures and policies must be developed. Consider implementing enforcement mechanisms as well. 

Building personnel are responsible for establishing procedures relating to carpooling or vanpooling and for administering any programs, as applicable. 

Using clear signage to designate areas for carpooling and sharing information about rides is a first step in facilitating communication about such programs. These areas should be easily accessible to all building occupants. 

Communicate with building occupants about the infrastructure or programs in place to minimize single-occupancy vehicles. Take this opportunity to develop an educational program for occupants. Develop literature and post signs in public areas and on the company’s intranet. Make it as easy as possible for people to find out about and use the program.