LEED v4
Existing Buildings
Indoor Environmental Quality
Green cleaning - equipment

EBOM-v4 EQc8: Green cleaning - equipment 1 point

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Credit language

USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Intent

To reduce chemical, biological, and particulate contaminants from powered cleaning equipment.

Requirements

ESTABLISHMENT
Create an inventory of existing interior and exterior equipment, including what is brought on site by vendors. At least 40% of all powered janitorial equipment (purchased, leased, or used by contractors) must meet the following criteria. For existing equipment that does not meet the criteria, develop a phase-out plan for its replacement with environmentally preferable products at the end of its useful life. All powered equipment must have the following features:
  • safeguards, such as rollers or rubber bumpers, to avoid damage to building surfaces;
  • ergonomic design to minimize vibration, noise, and user fatigue, as reported in the user manual in accordance with ISO 5349-1 for arm vibrations, ISO 2631–1 for vibration to the whole body, and ISO 11201 for sound pressure at operator’s ear; and
  • as applicable, environmentally preferable batteries (e.g., gel, absorbent glass mat, lithium-ion) except in applications requiring deep discharge and heavy loads where performance or battery life is reduced by the use of sealed batteries.
Vacuum cleaners must be certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute Seal of Approval/Green Label Vacuum Program and operate with a maximum sound level of 70 dBA or less in accordance with ISO 11201. Carpet extraction equipment, for restorative deep cleaning, must be certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute's Seal of Approval Deep Cleaning Extractors and Seal of Approval Deep Cleaning Systems program. Powered floor maintenance equipment must have vacuums, guards, or other devices for capturing fine particles, and must operate with a maximum level of 70 dBA, in accordance with ISO 11201 Propane-powered floor equipment must have high-efficiency, low-emissions engines with catalytic converters and mufflers that meet the California Air Resources Board or EPA standards for the specific engine size and operate with a sound level of 90 dBA or less, in accordance with ISO 11201. Automated scrubbing machines must be equipped with variable-speed feed pumps and either (1) on-board chemical metering to optimize the use of cleaning fluids or (2) dilution control systems for chemical refilling. Alternatively, scrubbing machines may use tap water only, with no added cleaning products.
PERFORMANCE
At least 40% of all powered janitorial equipment (purchased, leased, or used by contractors) must meet the above criteria. For existing equipment that does not meet the criteria, develop a phase-out plan for its replacement with environmentally preferable products at the end of its useful life. See all forum discussions about this credit »

Frequently asked questions

My vacuum is CRI certified but operates above 70 dBA. Is it compliant with the credit requirements?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

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In a multi-tenant building, some tenants have their own cleaning contractor. Does their equipment need to be included in the calculations for this credit?

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We are using green cleaning contractor that will comply with 100% of the green requirements in LEED for materials and equipment. However, they do not have a way to track the quantity/cost of the actual products that are used at our project site because th

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

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See all forum discussions about this credit »

What does it cost?

Cost estimates for this credit

On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.

Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.

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Documentation toolkit

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Addenda

This credit has no LEEDuser summary

See all forum discussions about this credit »
Guest expert

Stephen Ashkin

The Ashkin Group LLC
President

LEEDuser overview

Frank advice from LEED experts

LEED is changing all the time, and every project is unique. Even seasoned professionals can miss a critical detail and lose a credit or even a prerequisite at the last minute. Our expert advice guides our LEEDuser Premium members and saves you valuable time.

For full access, sign up now for LEEDuser Premium

Already a premium member? Log in now

Credit language

USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Intent

To reduce chemical, biological, and particulate contaminants from powered cleaning equipment.

Requirements

ESTABLISHMENT
Create an inventory of existing interior and exterior equipment, including what is brought on site by vendors. At least 40% of all powered janitorial equipment (purchased, leased, or used by contractors) must meet the following criteria. For existing equipment that does not meet the criteria, develop a phase-out plan for its replacement with environmentally preferable products at the end of its useful life. All powered equipment must have the following features:
  • safeguards, such as rollers or rubber bumpers, to avoid damage to building surfaces;
  • ergonomic design to minimize vibration, noise, and user fatigue, as reported in the user manual in accordance with ISO 5349-1 for arm vibrations, ISO 2631–1 for vibration to the whole body, and ISO 11201 for sound pressure at operator’s ear; and
  • as applicable, environmentally preferable batteries (e.g., gel, absorbent glass mat, lithium-ion) except in applications requiring deep discharge and heavy loads where performance or battery life is reduced by the use of sealed batteries.
Vacuum cleaners must be certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute Seal of Approval/Green Label Vacuum Program and operate with a maximum sound level of 70 dBA or less in accordance with ISO 11201. Carpet extraction equipment, for restorative deep cleaning, must be certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute's Seal of Approval Deep Cleaning Extractors and Seal of Approval Deep Cleaning Systems program. Powered floor maintenance equipment must have vacuums, guards, or other devices for capturing fine particles, and must operate with a maximum level of 70 dBA, in accordance with ISO 11201 Propane-powered floor equipment must have high-efficiency, low-emissions engines with catalytic converters and mufflers that meet the California Air Resources Board or EPA standards for the specific engine size and operate with a sound level of 90 dBA or less, in accordance with ISO 11201. Automated scrubbing machines must be equipped with variable-speed feed pumps and either (1) on-board chemical metering to optimize the use of cleaning fluids or (2) dilution control systems for chemical refilling. Alternatively, scrubbing machines may use tap water only, with no added cleaning products.
PERFORMANCE
At least 40% of all powered janitorial equipment (purchased, leased, or used by contractors) must meet the above criteria. For existing equipment that does not meet the criteria, develop a phase-out plan for its replacement with environmentally preferable products at the end of its useful life. See all forum discussions about this credit »

Documentation toolkit

The motherlode of cheat sheets

LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit is loaded with calculators to help assess credit compliance, tracking spreadsheets for materials, sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions, and examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects for you to check your work against. To get your plaque, start with the right toolkit.

For full access, sign up now for LEEDuser Premium

Already a premium member? Log in now


Frequently asked questions

My vacuum is CRI certified but operates above 70 dBA. Is it compliant with the credit requirements?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

In a multi-tenant building, some tenants have their own cleaning contractor. Does their equipment need to be included in the calculations for this credit?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

We are using green cleaning contractor that will comply with 100% of the green requirements in LEED for materials and equipment. However, they do not have a way to track the quantity/cost of the actual products that are used at our project site because th

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

See all forum discussions about this credit »
Guest expert

Stephen Ashkin

The Ashkin Group LLC
President