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Pest management with reduced health impacts
To earn this credit, you need to design a plan for integrated pest managementIntegrated pest management (IPM) is the coordinated use of knowledge about pests, the environment, and pest prevention and control methods to minimize pest infestation and damage by the most economical means while minimizing hazards to people, property, and the environment. (IPM), and implement it 100% of the time. This approach to pest management limits the negative impacts that conventional pest management often has on the health of building occupants and uses the least-toxic means of pest management possible.
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9 Comments
Where does Interior Plant Maintenance fit into IPM?
Many property management groups and tenants purchase interior plants to be placed in building common areas and tenant spaces. Typically, in a multi-tenant situation, a third party contractor will be hired to provide interior plant maintenance services. I recently had a conversation with two such interior plant maintenance companies and discovered that they sometimes use insecticides that do not appear on the SF list of "least toxic" pesticides. Where does this service fit into IPM?
Shira Norman replied YRG sustainability Jan 25 2010
All pesticides, including insecticides and herbicides, that are not classified as Tier 3 products on San Francisco's list can be used in and around a project building so long as you issue universal notificationUniversal notification means notifying building occupants not less than 72 hours before a pesticide is applied in a building or on surrounding grounds under normal conditions, and within 24 hours after application of a pesticide in emergency conditions. Use of a least toxic pesticide or self-contained nonrodent bait does not require universal notification; all other pesticide applications do. prior to applying the chemicals. However, it is always important to consider non-chemical pest management solutions prior to administering toxic pesticides.
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Jan 27 2010
Drew, just checking—is your question about whether the vendor's services are covered by the credit at all? (Since they are not directly under the control of building management.)
The answer to that question is YES, and hopefully you can get the companies to compete against each other to improve their practices!
Drew Johnson replied Jan 27 2010
Thanks for your comment Shira.
Tristan, yes I was seeking clarification as to whether or not this service was addressed by the credit at all, and hoping someone in the LEEDUser community would have dealt with this on a project. Leaning heavily on the intent of EQc3.6, my assumption was, "yes" these services and the chemicals used are indeed covered. In the reference guide, it is clear that use of pesticides in exterior landscape maintenance is to be included in Outdoor IPM (SSc3), but the requirements for EQc3.6 do not make specific mention of interior plant maintenance as a part of Indoor IPM.
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Jan 27 2010
Drew, I see what you're saying—although indoor plants are a common realm for application of pesticides, so for that reason I think it's pretty clear that they're covered.
Pesticides not listed in 2007 San Francisco List
Most of the chemicals being used for my project are not listed in the 2007 San Francisco Reduced-Risk Pesticide List.Does it mean that the credit cannot be achieved or if we are issuing the 72hour prior notification, we will still achieve the credit.Please Advise.Thank You.
Shira Norman replied YRG sustainability Jun 25 2010
It's always good to look into non-chemical and least toxic options prior to applying conventional pesticides; however, as long as you demonstrate that the building management issued universal notificationUniversal notification means notifying building occupants not less than 72 hours before a pesticide is applied in a building or on surrounding grounds under normal conditions, and within 24 hours after application of a pesticide in emergency conditions. Use of a least toxic pesticide or self-contained nonrodent bait does not require universal notification; all other pesticide applications do. (alerting all occupants) at least 72 hour prior to pesticide applications or within 24 hours after emergency pesticide applications, you comply with the credit requirements.
Re-application of Toxic Pesticides
We have a project that needs to use toxic pesticides to control the rodents. We have taken the LEED compliant procedure and notified the tenants 72 hours prior to the pesticide application. The pest control vendor needs to refill the toxic pesticide. Do we need to use universal notificationUniversal notification means notifying building occupants not less than 72 hours before a pesticide is applied in a building or on surrounding grounds under normal conditions, and within 24 hours after application of a pesticide in emergency conditions. Use of a least toxic pesticide or self-contained nonrodent bait does not require universal notification; all other pesticide applications do. for a refill?
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Jul 27 2010
I assume the refill is some time later, like a few days or weeks? I would say you'd want to use notification, yes. I would err on the side of more notification, not less.
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