LEED: The Cleaning Professional’s Next Frontier

In the coming years, distributors and building service contractors (BSCs) should expect to hear more about Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Here are some definitions and explanations that people who are unfamiliar with this program should know.

“LEED” can have three extensions: LEED-EB (“existing buildings”), LEED-NC (“new construction”), and LEED-CI (“commercial interiors”).

About two years ago, the LEED program was formed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Its goal is to help make the places where we live, work, and study healthier by using building materials and incorporating cleaning and maintenance operations that have less of a negative impact on our health and the environment.

The organization also seeks alternatives to help reduce our consumption of energy, water, and paper. It stresses the use of sustainable building and cleaning products, which means that using these products today will not hinder or deplete future generations’ resources.

To accomplish this, LEED has established a stringent evaluation, rating, and certification program. The process includes an evaluation of the site where the building is to be constructed (for new construction), the materials to build the facility, power usage, waste-management operations, products used to clean the facility, and even how these products are stored. If the building’s performance meets LEED standards, it receives credits. With approximately 80 possible credits, a facility can be awarded the following:

• Basic certification: 32–39 credits
• Silver certification: 40–47 credits
• Gold certification: 48–63 credits
• Platinum certification: 64 or more credits

Impact on the Jansan Industry

We can expect LEED to have a major impact on our industry because a growing number of facilities will seek LEED certification. LEED criteria include a cleaning component—allowing building owners to receive 10–14 points toward certification when they take steps to reduce cleaning’s impact on the environment—which makes it clear jansan will play a pivotal role.

As the interest in LEED certification increases, many BSCs and distributors are wondering how this will affect their businesses. Their concerns are often centered around costs, which include being able to provide the training and education that may be necessary to implement high-performance cleaning as well as its impact on day-to-day cleaning tasks.

Cost

Many in our industry believe these programs will result in an increase in costs for training and supplies. Really, the switch may actually save them money because EcoLogo- and Green Seal®–certified cleaning products are assessed based on both their ingredients and their effectiveness and cost competitiveness.* As a result, they should not cost more than traditional cleaning products.

And, becoming LEED certified produces even more savings by reducing work-related injuries and absenteeism. Some traditional cleaning chemicals, especially when improperly used, can be toxic and increase the likelihood of developing health problems. Environmentally preferable cleaning products minimize these problems because they have less impact on the user as well as the facility’s occupants.

Working with LEED

BSCs may be required to make some changes to their daily routine for a facility to become LEED certified, and this often starts at home base, the janitorial closet. Some LEED requirements regarding janitorial closets include:

• A separate outside exhaust
• No recirculated air into the facility
• Both hot and cold water
• Plumbing drains for safe liquid-waste disposal

Also, LEED has requirements regarding storing and mixing chemicals and reporting when chemicals are used. LEED also specifies that janitorial closets must be neat, clean, and dry at all times and even requires photographs as proof.

The objective is to reduce the exposure of building occupants and maintenance personnel to the closet’s potentially hazardous chemicals and contaminants, which can adversely affect indoor air quality, health, building finishes, building systems, and the environment.

Regarding cleaning tools and equipment, LEED requires that vacuum cleaners meet the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label criteria. High-speed burnishers must have active or passive shrouds to reduce particulates that can become airborne while burnishing floors. LEED encourages the use of cylindrical brush floor machines—because they require less water to operate and their pads are more durable than those used on rotary machines—as well as the use of low-moisture carpet extractors. Additionally, cleaning tools must be ergonomically designed to help minimize injury.

There is compelling evidence that high-performance cleaning to achieve LEED certification lowers operating costs, reduces injuries, and improves productivity for a facility and its cleaning crew. And, it helps improve the facility’s health and protects the environment’s well-being. Finally, both LEED and high-performance cleaning help bring recognition to our industry for the important role it plays in keeping people safe and healthy.

*EcoLogo and Green Seal are independent evaluation organizations that test cleaning and other products to assure they are effective, cost competitive, and Green.

About David Frank

David Frank, president of Knowledgeworx, Highlands Ranch, CO,  is known as “the high impact speaker who motivates.” Every year he presents over 100 seminars specifically designed for the cleaning industry. He is a nationally recognized authority with over 25 years of experience in cleaning system design, motivation, leadership, facility management, indoor air quality and numerous other topics for cleaning organizations.

Frank is an active member of the International Sanitary Supply Association who has served on the Indoor Air Quality committees for the Carpet & Rug Institute and Underwriters Laboratories to establish standards for healthy building designs, cleaning standards, and environmental remediation. He brings a wealth of information, ideas, and knowledge that will take your organization to the next level of business development.  He may be reached at 303-906-1818.