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LEED v2009
Existing Building Operations
Indoor Environmental Quality
Green Cleaning—Purchase of Sustainable Cleaning Products and Materials

LEED CREDIT

EBOM-2009 IEQc3.3: Green cleaning - purchase of sustainable cleaning products and materials 1 point

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LEEDuser expert

Alexis Voeltner

LEED AP O+M, BREEAM In-Use Licensed Assessor, Fitwel Ambassador

UL Solutions
Sustainability Project Manager

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Credit language

USGBC logo

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

Requirements

Implement sustainable purchasing for cleaning materials and products, disposable janitorial paper products and trash bags. Cleaning product and material purchases include items used by in-house staff or outsourced service providers. One point is awarded if 30% of the total annual purchases of these products (by cost) meet at least 1 of the following sustainability criteria:

  • The cleaning products meet 1 or more of the following standards for the appropriate category:
    • Green Seal GS-37, for general-purpose, bathroom, glass and carpet cleaners used for industrial and institutional purposes.
    • Environmental Choice CCD-110, for cleaning and degreasing compounds.
    • Environmental Choice CCD-146, for hard surface cleaners.
    • Environmental Choice CCD-148, for carpet and upholstery care.
  • Disinfectants, metal polish, floor finishes, strippers or other products not addressed by the above standards meet 1 or more of the following standards for the appropriate category:
    • Green Seal GS-40, for industrial and institutional floor care products.
    • Environmental Choice CCD-112, for digestion additives for cleaning and odor control.
    • Environmental Choice CCD-113, for drain or grease traps additives.
    • Environmental Choice CCD-115, for odor control additives.
    • Environmental Choice CCD-147, for hard floor care.
    • California Code of Regulations maximum allowable VOC levels for the specific product category..
  • Disposable janitorial paper products and trash bags meet the minimum requirements of 1 or more of the following programs for the applicable product category:
    • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (or local equivalent for projects outside of the U.S.) for Janitorial Paper and Plastic Trash Can Liners.
    • Green Seal GS-09, for paper towels and napkins.
    • Green Seal GS-01, for tissue paper.
    • Environmental Choice CCD-082, for toilet tissue.
    • Environmental Choice CCD-086, for hand towels.
    • Janitorial paper products derived from rapidly renewable resources or made from tree-free fibers.
  • Hand soaps meet 1 or more of the following standards:
    • No antimicrobial agents (other than as a preservative) except where required by health codes and other regulations (e.g., food service and health care requirements).
    • Green Seal GS-41, for industrial and institutional hand cleaners.
    • Environmental Choice CCD-104, for hand cleaners and hand soaps.
For projects outside the U.S., any Type 1 eco-labeling program as defined by ISO 14024: 1999 developed by a member of the Global Ecolabelling Network may be used in lieu of Green Seal or Environmental Choice standards [Europe ACP: Green Seal and Environmental Choice Equivalent].The materials and products described above must be purchased during the performance period to count toward the credit.

Alternative Compliance Paths (ACPs)

Europe ACP: Green Seal and Environmental Choice Equivalent
Projects in Europe may use the following approved standards in place of Green Seal and Environmental Choice:
  • EU Ecolabel
  • Bra Miljöval (Good Environmental Choice)
  • Der Blaue Engel (The Blue Angel)
  • Ekologicky Šetrný Výrobek (Czech Ecolabel)
  • Svanen (The Swan, Nordic Ecolabel)
  • Листок жизни (Vitality Leaf )
  • Жива планета (Living Planet)
[view:embed_resource=page_1=2740840]
Credit substitution available
You may use the LEED v4 version of this credit on v2009 projects. For more information check out this article.
See all forum discussions about this credit »

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Cost estimates for this credit

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Frequently asked questions

How should projects in other countries submit for this credit, where Green Seal or Environmental Choice labeled products aren’t available and but local products might meet the credit intent?

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 »

Addenda

7/6/2012Updated: 2/14/2015
Global ACP
Description of change:
Add the following sentence after the final bullet point and before the final paragraph: "For projects outside the U.S., any Type 1 eco-labeling program as defined by ISO 14024: 1999 developed by a member of the Global Ecolabelling Network may be used in lieu of Green Seal or Environmental Choice standards."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
11/2/2009Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Replace the term description with the text "Green cleaning is the use of cleaning products and practices that have lower environmental impacts and more positive indoor air quality impacts than conventional products and practices."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
8/1/2011
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

We want to request an interpretation of the requirements for LEED EB EQc3.3 stated in a previous CIR dated 4/24/2004. The CIR appears to be written for new construction and for sale unit properties (such as condos).The 2004 LEED NC CIR states that multi-unit residential buildings must meet the requirements for commercial buildings (covering common area, owner controlled areas of the building), and the following for the residential, tenant controlled areas:Item #1: Educate the residents on the green cleaning concepts and products via discussion and written materials upon move-in and periodically thereafter.Item #2: Provide an estimated six-month supply of green cleaning products to residents, as wellas information on how to easily purchase refills and/or replacements.Assume that a Multi-Family Residential Apartment (Rental) Property complies with the following:1.The property that is applying for LEED EB certification meets all the requirements for LEED EB Green Cleaning credits for common spaces/owner controlled spaces including the cleaning policy and plan, products purchased and used, equipment purchased and used, and also follows the same green cleaning procedures whenever they have access to residential apartment units (including during all

Ruling:

The project has proposed an alternative compliance path for 2009 Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance projects that include multi-family residential units for IEQ Prerequisite 3: Green Cleaning Policy, IEQ Credit 3.1: Green Cleaning High Performance Cleaning program, and IEQ Credit 3.3: Green Cleaning- Purchase of Sustainable Cleaning Products and Materials using Innovation in Design credit requirements outlined in Formal Inquiry dated 04/08/2004 ID #766 for multi-family New Construction projects. The proposed approach is not acceptable. For IEQ Prerequisite 3: Green Cleaning Policy and IEQc3.1: Green Cleaning-High-Performance Cleaning Program, the green cleaning policy and program includes resident areas. Additional steps should be taken to educate the residents on the green cleaning concepts and recommended products via discussion and written materials upon move-in and periodically thereafter. Examples of acceptable steps could include a written program, a brochure, a coupon for discounted purchase, or a bulk supply of cleaning supplies available at maintenance office. For existing building projects with multi-family spaces attempting IEQ Credit 3.3: Green Cleaning- Purchase of Sustainable Cleaning Products and Materials the percent of total annual purchases must include all cleaning purchases made for the building, regardless of who purchased the products (residents or building staff).Applicable internationally.

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
2/27/2008
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

The building we are attempting to certify is a state government residential building; hence the use of commercial-grade, concentrated cleaners requiring dilution is inappropriate and not desired. The manufacturers of the household cleaners (non-concentrates) currently in use at the residence have provided MSD sheets and letters confirming that they meet and/or exceed GS-37 requirements. In other words, they are all green, environmentally friendly cleaning products that meet the intent of the credit, in our opinion. We hope that USGBC accepts these products for the corresponding point(s).

Ruling:

To meet MRc4\'s Sustainability Criteria A, cleaning products must be Green Seal GS-37 certified or establish equivalency via third-party verification. It is not enough for the Building Applicant to just submit a MSDS and a letter from the manufacturer that the cleaning products meet or exceed Green Seal GS-37 requirements. The Building Applicant must also provide documentation that summarizes and verifies on a point by point basis how the cleaning products meet or exceed the Green Seal GS-37 requirements. Building Applicants may only default to Sustainability Criteria B California Code of Regulations maximum allowable VOC level requirements for cleaning products not covered by GS-37 categories. Applicable Internationally.

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
1/1/2014
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

Our building has a comprehensive recycling program, part of which includes collecting organic material for composting. This material is collected in BPI-Certified compostable bags, as required by our local commercial composting facility.

According to our understanding of IEQc3.3, we need to include purchases of these bags as “plastic trash can liners.” Because they do not contain recycled content, they will work against us in achieving this credit even though they are purchased as a direct component of our sustainability efforts. Since these liners comprise almost 15% of the building's total spending on cleaning supplies, this will have a significant negative impact on our ability to achieve this credit.

We propose two possible methods for alternative compliance on this credit:
1. Exclude these liners from tracking altogether because they are not truly petroleum-based "plastic trash can liners,"
OR
2. Include them for credit as an environmentally superior product vs. a liner that is petroleum-based (ie: Rapidly Renewable)

Ruling:

The biodegradable/compostable trash can liners must be included in the purchases for IEQc3.3 Green Cleaning – Purchase of Sustainable Cleaning Products and Materials. The liners may be considered a sustainable purchase under the disposable janitor paper products and trash bags product category provided they meet the Federal Trade Comission's Green Guides definition for compostable. The definition is "A marketer claiming that an item is compostable should have competent and reliable scientific evidence that all the materials in the item will break down into, or otherwise become part of, usable compost (e.g., soil-conditioning material, mulch) in a safe and timely manner (i.e., in approximately the same time as the materials with which it is composted) in an appropriate composting facility, or in a home compost pile or device."
Evidence that the liners are used for the collection of compostable waste and are composted should be provided, such as a letter from the property manager confirming the composting program for the building or supporting documentation from MRc6 or MRc7 showing that the waste is composted.

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
11/1/2011
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

The project team proposes to use a environmentally preferable cleaning solution, a handheld ionized tap water system, to eliminate or significantly reduce the amount of chemicals used within the project building.
The ionized water system works as follows:

1.When the spray bottle trigger is pressed, the water flows through a water cell that applies a slight electrical charge to the tap water.
2.The charged water passes through an ion exchange membrane, where the ionized water is separated into an oxygenated mixture of positively and negatively electrically charged nano-bubbles.
3.When applied directly to a surface, the ionized water helps break apart and lift the dirt from the surface like a magnet, enabling it to be wiped away.
4.Before the water exits the nozzle, a slight electric field is applied, allowing the water to carry a low-level electric field to the surface where the germs may be living. When used as directed with tap water in the majority of municipalities, this low-level electric field can kill more than 99.9 percent of harmful germs.

Using an ionized water cleaning system would no longer require purchase of many green cleaning chemicals; therefore, the project team has developed a new approach to documenting IEQc3.3. Rather than documenting that 30 percent of the products purchased meet the LEED sustainable cleaning criteria (by cost), the project team proposes to document the cleaning methods used during each cleaning shift. After each shift, the housekeeping personnel will document the cleaning methods and chemicals (or tap water if using the electrolyzed water system) used. Sustainable methods and chemicals that meet the LEED requirements for this alternative compliance approach will include either the use of chemicals that meet existing IEQc3.3 requirements or the use of ionized tap water.
An alternative compliance table will be created by the project team to account for criteria (with regard to performance vs. purchases) in order to demonstrate compliance with the SSc3.3 requirements.

Ruling:

"The project team seeks allowance to satisfy the credit requirements through the use of ionized tap water in lieu of chemical cleaning solutions. This is an acceptable approach if the following criteria are met:

•Manufacturer’s documentation of third-party performance testing is included with the credit submittal documentation. The testing should demonstrate performance comparable to Green Seal, Environmental Choice, or another standard equivalent to or more stringent than those required in IEQc3.3: Green Cleaning—Purchase of Sustainable Cleaning Products and Materials.
•If the device is marketed and used for antimicrobial cleaning, manufacturer’s testing must demonstrate antimicrobial performance comparable to EPA’s Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) and Design for the Environment (DfE) requirements as appropriate for use patterns and marketing claims.
•A custodial effectiveness assessment is performed as outlined in IEQc3.2: Green Cleaning—Custodial Effectiveness Assessment.
•The typical performance metric (percentage of purchases based on cost) for evaluating compliance with this credit will not apply. The project team may show compliance with one of the following:
a) Showing, based on one year of historic cleaning chemical costs, that use of ionized tap water during the performance period has reduced the purchase of chemical cleaning and material products by at least 30%. Any changes in occupancy or other factors that vary between the baseline year and the performance period that affect the need for cleaning products must be accounted for in the analysis.
b. Tracking the total cost of all cleaning and material products purchased during the performance period, plus the amortized cost for the ionized water cleaning system (amortized over 12 months).
c) Tracking the total volume of cleaning and material products and ionized water used during the performance period and showing that 30% meets the existing IEQc3.3 criteria or is ionized tap water. Applicable internationally.
"

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
4/1/2008
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

We have registered a state government residence under the original version of LEED-EB. For MRc4 we would like to use a cleaning product line that has Environmental Choice certification (CCD-110,146 and 148) but not GS-37 certification. Since the new version of LEED-EB accepts Environmental Choice as a qualifying third-party verification standard, will you approve the substitution for our building certification?

Ruling:

The following sustainable purchasing standards or criteria for cleaning materials and products, disposable janitorial paper products and trash bags are acceptable for documenting qualifying purchases on a cost basis to meet the LEED-EB v2.0 MRc4 sustainability criteria. Cleaning products: o Green Seal GS-37 for General-Purpose, Bathroom, Glass, and Carpet Cleaners Used for Industrial and Institutional Purposes. o Environmental Choice CCD-110 for Cleaning and Degreasing Compounds. o Environmental Choice CCD-146 for Hard surface Cleaners. o Environmental Choice CCD-148 for Carpet and Upholstery Care. If the above standards are not applicable for a specific product category (e.g., for products such as disinfectants, metal polish, floor finishes or strippers), products shall meet one or more of the following programs for the appropriate product category: o Green Seal GS-40 for Industrial and Institutional Floor-Care Products. o Environmental Choice CCD-112 for Digestion Additives for Cleaning and Odor Control. o Environmental Choice CCD-113 for Drain or Grease Traps Additives. o Environmental Choice CCD-115 for Odor Control Additives. o Environmental Choice CCD-147 for Hard Floor Care. o California Code of Regulations maximum allowable VOC levels for the specific product category. Disposable janitorial paper products and trash bags: o U.S. EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines for Janitorial Paper and Plastic Trash Can Liners. o Green Seal GS-09 for Paper Towels and Napkins. o Green Seal GS-01 for Tissue Paper. o Environmental Choice CCD-082 for Toilet Tissue. o Environmental Choice CCD-086 for Hand Towels. Janitorial paper products derived from rapidly renewable resources or made from tree-free fibers. Applicable Internationally.

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
See all forum discussions about this credit »

Checklists

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Documentation toolkit

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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.

Credit achievement rate

XX%

Upgrade to LEEDuser Premium to see how many projects achieved this credit. Try it free »

LEEDuser expert

Alexis Voeltner

LEED AP O+M, BREEAM In-Use Licensed Assessor, Fitwel Ambassador

UL Solutions
Sustainability Project Manager

Get the inside scoop

Our editors have written a detailed analysis of nearly every LEED credit, and LEEDuser premium members get full access. We’ll tell you whether the credit is easy to accomplish or better left alone, and we provide insider tips on how to document it successfully.

USGBC logo

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

Requirements

Implement sustainable purchasing for cleaning materials and products, disposable janitorial paper products and trash bags. Cleaning product and material purchases include items used by in-house staff or outsourced service providers. One point is awarded if 30% of the total annual purchases of these products (by cost) meet at least 1 of the following sustainability criteria:

  • The cleaning products meet 1 or more of the following standards for the appropriate category:
    • Green Seal GS-37, for general-purpose, bathroom, glass and carpet cleaners used for industrial and institutional purposes.
    • Environmental Choice CCD-110, for cleaning and degreasing compounds.
    • Environmental Choice CCD-146, for hard surface cleaners.
    • Environmental Choice CCD-148, for carpet and upholstery care.
  • Disinfectants, metal polish, floor finishes, strippers or other products not addressed by the above standards meet 1 or more of the following standards for the appropriate category:
    • Green Seal GS-40, for industrial and institutional floor care products.
    • Environmental Choice CCD-112, for digestion additives for cleaning and odor control.
    • Environmental Choice CCD-113, for drain or grease traps additives.
    • Environmental Choice CCD-115, for odor control additives.
    • Environmental Choice CCD-147, for hard floor care.
    • California Code of Regulations maximum allowable VOC levels for the specific product category..
  • Disposable janitorial paper products and trash bags meet the minimum requirements of 1 or more of the following programs for the applicable product category:
    • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (or local equivalent for projects outside of the U.S.) for Janitorial Paper and Plastic Trash Can Liners.
    • Green Seal GS-09, for paper towels and napkins.
    • Green Seal GS-01, for tissue paper.
    • Environmental Choice CCD-082, for toilet tissue.
    • Environmental Choice CCD-086, for hand towels.
    • Janitorial paper products derived from rapidly renewable resources or made from tree-free fibers.
  • Hand soaps meet 1 or more of the following standards:
    • No antimicrobial agents (other than as a preservative) except where required by health codes and other regulations (e.g., food service and health care requirements).
    • Green Seal GS-41, for industrial and institutional hand cleaners.
    • Environmental Choice CCD-104, for hand cleaners and hand soaps.
For projects outside the U.S., any Type 1 eco-labeling program as defined by ISO 14024: 1999 developed by a member of the Global Ecolabelling Network may be used in lieu of Green Seal or Environmental Choice standards [Europe ACP: Green Seal and Environmental Choice Equivalent].The materials and products described above must be purchased during the performance period to count toward the credit.

Alternative Compliance Paths (ACPs)

Europe ACP: Green Seal and Environmental Choice Equivalent
Projects in Europe may use the following approved standards in place of Green Seal and Environmental Choice:
  • EU Ecolabel
  • Bra Miljöval (Good Environmental Choice)
  • Der Blaue Engel (The Blue Angel)
  • Ekologicky Šetrný Výrobek (Czech Ecolabel)
  • Svanen (The Swan, Nordic Ecolabel)
  • Листок жизни (Vitality Leaf )
  • Жива планета (Living Planet)
[view:embed_resource=page_1=2740840]
Credit substitution available
You may use the LEED v4 version of this credit on v2009 projects. For more information check out this article.

XX%

Upgrade to LEEDuser Premium to see how many projects achieved this credit. Try it free »

Got the gist of IEQc3.3 but not sure how to actually achieve it? LEEDuser gives step-by-step help. Premium members get:

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In the end, LEED is all about documentation. LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit, for premium members only, saves you time and helps you avoid mistakes with:

  • Calculators to help assess credit compliance.
  • Tracking spreadsheets for materials purchases.
  • Spreadsheets and forms to give to subs and other team members.
  • Guidance documents on arcane LEED issues.
  • Sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions.
  • Examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects.

How should projects in other countries submit for this credit, where Green Seal or Environmental Choice labeled products aren’t available and but local products might meet the credit intent?

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.)

7/6/2012Updated: 2/14/2015
Global ACP
Description of change:
Add the following sentence after the final bullet point and before the final paragraph: "For projects outside the U.S., any Type 1 eco-labeling program as defined by ISO 14024: 1999 developed by a member of the Global Ecolabelling Network may be used in lieu of Green Seal or Environmental Choice standards."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
11/2/2009Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Replace the term description with the text "Green cleaning is the use of cleaning products and practices that have lower environmental impacts and more positive indoor air quality impacts than conventional products and practices."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
8/1/2011
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

We want to request an interpretation of the requirements for LEED EB EQc3.3 stated in a previous CIR dated 4/24/2004. The CIR appears to be written for new construction and for sale unit properties (such as condos).The 2004 LEED NC CIR states that multi-unit residential buildings must meet the requirements for commercial buildings (covering common area, owner controlled areas of the building), and the following for the residential, tenant controlled areas:Item #1: Educate the residents on the green cleaning concepts and products via discussion and written materials upon move-in and periodically thereafter.Item #2: Provide an estimated six-month supply of green cleaning products to residents, as wellas information on how to easily purchase refills and/or replacements.Assume that a Multi-Family Residential Apartment (Rental) Property complies with the following:1.The property that is applying for LEED EB certification meets all the requirements for LEED EB Green Cleaning credits for common spaces/owner controlled spaces including the cleaning policy and plan, products purchased and used, equipment purchased and used, and also follows the same green cleaning procedures whenever they have access to residential apartment units (including during all

Ruling:

The project has proposed an alternative compliance path for 2009 Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance projects that include multi-family residential units for IEQ Prerequisite 3: Green Cleaning Policy, IEQ Credit 3.1: Green Cleaning High Performance Cleaning program, and IEQ Credit 3.3: Green Cleaning- Purchase of Sustainable Cleaning Products and Materials using Innovation in Design credit requirements outlined in Formal Inquiry dated 04/08/2004 ID #766 for multi-family New Construction projects. The proposed approach is not acceptable. For IEQ Prerequisite 3: Green Cleaning Policy and IEQc3.1: Green Cleaning-High-Performance Cleaning Program, the green cleaning policy and program includes resident areas. Additional steps should be taken to educate the residents on the green cleaning concepts and recommended products via discussion and written materials upon move-in and periodically thereafter. Examples of acceptable steps could include a written program, a brochure, a coupon for discounted purchase, or a bulk supply of cleaning supplies available at maintenance office. For existing building projects with multi-family spaces attempting IEQ Credit 3.3: Green Cleaning- Purchase of Sustainable Cleaning Products and Materials the percent of total annual purchases must include all cleaning purchases made for the building, regardless of who purchased the products (residents or building staff).Applicable internationally.

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
2/27/2008
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

The building we are attempting to certify is a state government residential building; hence the use of commercial-grade, concentrated cleaners requiring dilution is inappropriate and not desired. The manufacturers of the household cleaners (non-concentrates) currently in use at the residence have provided MSD sheets and letters confirming that they meet and/or exceed GS-37 requirements. In other words, they are all green, environmentally friendly cleaning products that meet the intent of the credit, in our opinion. We hope that USGBC accepts these products for the corresponding point(s).

Ruling:

To meet MRc4\'s Sustainability Criteria A, cleaning products must be Green Seal GS-37 certified or establish equivalency via third-party verification. It is not enough for the Building Applicant to just submit a MSDS and a letter from the manufacturer that the cleaning products meet or exceed Green Seal GS-37 requirements. The Building Applicant must also provide documentation that summarizes and verifies on a point by point basis how the cleaning products meet or exceed the Green Seal GS-37 requirements. Building Applicants may only default to Sustainability Criteria B California Code of Regulations maximum allowable VOC level requirements for cleaning products not covered by GS-37 categories. Applicable Internationally.

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
1/1/2014
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

Our building has a comprehensive recycling program, part of which includes collecting organic material for composting. This material is collected in BPI-Certified compostable bags, as required by our local commercial composting facility.

According to our understanding of IEQc3.3, we need to include purchases of these bags as “plastic trash can liners.” Because they do not contain recycled content, they will work against us in achieving this credit even though they are purchased as a direct component of our sustainability efforts. Since these liners comprise almost 15% of the building's total spending on cleaning supplies, this will have a significant negative impact on our ability to achieve this credit.

We propose two possible methods for alternative compliance on this credit:
1. Exclude these liners from tracking altogether because they are not truly petroleum-based "plastic trash can liners,"
OR
2. Include them for credit as an environmentally superior product vs. a liner that is petroleum-based (ie: Rapidly Renewable)

Ruling:

The biodegradable/compostable trash can liners must be included in the purchases for IEQc3.3 Green Cleaning – Purchase of Sustainable Cleaning Products and Materials. The liners may be considered a sustainable purchase under the disposable janitor paper products and trash bags product category provided they meet the Federal Trade Comission's Green Guides definition for compostable. The definition is "A marketer claiming that an item is compostable should have competent and reliable scientific evidence that all the materials in the item will break down into, or otherwise become part of, usable compost (e.g., soil-conditioning material, mulch) in a safe and timely manner (i.e., in approximately the same time as the materials with which it is composted) in an appropriate composting facility, or in a home compost pile or device."
Evidence that the liners are used for the collection of compostable waste and are composted should be provided, such as a letter from the property manager confirming the composting program for the building or supporting documentation from MRc6 or MRc7 showing that the waste is composted.

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
11/1/2011
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

The project team proposes to use a environmentally preferable cleaning solution, a handheld ionized tap water system, to eliminate or significantly reduce the amount of chemicals used within the project building.
The ionized water system works as follows:

1.When the spray bottle trigger is pressed, the water flows through a water cell that applies a slight electrical charge to the tap water.
2.The charged water passes through an ion exchange membrane, where the ionized water is separated into an oxygenated mixture of positively and negatively electrically charged nano-bubbles.
3.When applied directly to a surface, the ionized water helps break apart and lift the dirt from the surface like a magnet, enabling it to be wiped away.
4.Before the water exits the nozzle, a slight electric field is applied, allowing the water to carry a low-level electric field to the surface where the germs may be living. When used as directed with tap water in the majority of municipalities, this low-level electric field can kill more than 99.9 percent of harmful germs.

Using an ionized water cleaning system would no longer require purchase of many green cleaning chemicals; therefore, the project team has developed a new approach to documenting IEQc3.3. Rather than documenting that 30 percent of the products purchased meet the LEED sustainable cleaning criteria (by cost), the project team proposes to document the cleaning methods used during each cleaning shift. After each shift, the housekeeping personnel will document the cleaning methods and chemicals (or tap water if using the electrolyzed water system) used. Sustainable methods and chemicals that meet the LEED requirements for this alternative compliance approach will include either the use of chemicals that meet existing IEQc3.3 requirements or the use of ionized tap water.
An alternative compliance table will be created by the project team to account for criteria (with regard to performance vs. purchases) in order to demonstrate compliance with the SSc3.3 requirements.

Ruling:

"The project team seeks allowance to satisfy the credit requirements through the use of ionized tap water in lieu of chemical cleaning solutions. This is an acceptable approach if the following criteria are met:

•Manufacturer’s documentation of third-party performance testing is included with the credit submittal documentation. The testing should demonstrate performance comparable to Green Seal, Environmental Choice, or another standard equivalent to or more stringent than those required in IEQc3.3: Green Cleaning—Purchase of Sustainable Cleaning Products and Materials.
•If the device is marketed and used for antimicrobial cleaning, manufacturer’s testing must demonstrate antimicrobial performance comparable to EPA’s Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) and Design for the Environment (DfE) requirements as appropriate for use patterns and marketing claims.
•A custodial effectiveness assessment is performed as outlined in IEQc3.2: Green Cleaning—Custodial Effectiveness Assessment.
•The typical performance metric (percentage of purchases based on cost) for evaluating compliance with this credit will not apply. The project team may show compliance with one of the following:
a) Showing, based on one year of historic cleaning chemical costs, that use of ionized tap water during the performance period has reduced the purchase of chemical cleaning and material products by at least 30%. Any changes in occupancy or other factors that vary between the baseline year and the performance period that affect the need for cleaning products must be accounted for in the analysis.
b. Tracking the total cost of all cleaning and material products purchased during the performance period, plus the amortized cost for the ionized water cleaning system (amortized over 12 months).
c) Tracking the total volume of cleaning and material products and ionized water used during the performance period and showing that 30% meets the existing IEQc3.3 criteria or is ionized tap water. Applicable internationally.
"

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
4/1/2008
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

We have registered a state government residence under the original version of LEED-EB. For MRc4 we would like to use a cleaning product line that has Environmental Choice certification (CCD-110,146 and 148) but not GS-37 certification. Since the new version of LEED-EB accepts Environmental Choice as a qualifying third-party verification standard, will you approve the substitution for our building certification?

Ruling:

The following sustainable purchasing standards or criteria for cleaning materials and products, disposable janitorial paper products and trash bags are acceptable for documenting qualifying purchases on a cost basis to meet the LEED-EB v2.0 MRc4 sustainability criteria. Cleaning products: o Green Seal GS-37 for General-Purpose, Bathroom, Glass, and Carpet Cleaners Used for Industrial and Institutional Purposes. o Environmental Choice CCD-110 for Cleaning and Degreasing Compounds. o Environmental Choice CCD-146 for Hard surface Cleaners. o Environmental Choice CCD-148 for Carpet and Upholstery Care. If the above standards are not applicable for a specific product category (e.g., for products such as disinfectants, metal polish, floor finishes or strippers), products shall meet one or more of the following programs for the appropriate product category: o Green Seal GS-40 for Industrial and Institutional Floor-Care Products. o Environmental Choice CCD-112 for Digestion Additives for Cleaning and Odor Control. o Environmental Choice CCD-113 for Drain or Grease Traps Additives. o Environmental Choice CCD-115 for Odor Control Additives. o Environmental Choice CCD-147 for Hard Floor Care. o California Code of Regulations maximum allowable VOC levels for the specific product category. Disposable janitorial paper products and trash bags: o U.S. EPA Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines for Janitorial Paper and Plastic Trash Can Liners. o Green Seal GS-09 for Paper Towels and Napkins. o Green Seal GS-01 for Tissue Paper. o Environmental Choice CCD-082 for Toilet Tissue. o Environmental Choice CCD-086 for Hand Towels. Janitorial paper products derived from rapidly renewable resources or made from tree-free fibers. Applicable Internationally.

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes

LEEDuser expert

Alexis Voeltner

LEED AP O+M, BREEAM In-Use Licensed Assessor, Fitwel Ambassador

UL Solutions
Sustainability Project Manager

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