What is a LEED Compliant Cleaning Policy?

Buildings generate nearly 30% of all greenhouse gases, 35% of landfill waste and consume up to 70% of municipal water. LEED recognizes that sustainability is key to the design, construction, and operation of all buildings. LEED helps owners and developers create high-performing, resilient buildings that reduce carbon emissions, save water, conserve energy and reduce waste. LEED also improves people’s quality of life by delivering the optimal conditions for health, comfort and productivity.

What is LEED certification?

LEED (leadership in energy and environmental design) is a global certification program that recognizes sustainability and environmental responsibility in building design, construction and operations. Its metrics promote energy conservation and savings, water efficiency and conservation, indoor air quality and minimized carbon emissions. The LEED program is based on a points system with points awarded for each of these categories. This program gives builders, designers and building owners a framework to follow for measurable solutions. Since 2004, LEED has certified over4,350 buildings in Canada and registered over 8,500, giving Canada the second-highest number of LEED projects anywhere in the world.

Why use a commercial cleaner with LEED cleaning initiatives?

Green cleaners work to protect the health of a building’s occupants, visitors and cleaning staff, as well as reduce the polluting effects on our air and water. LEED cleaning initiatives:

• Enhance your facility’s image

• Support healthier indoor air quality (less chemical, biological, and particulate contaminants)

• Lower costs (improve the health of building occupants, reduce healthcare and insurance costs)

• Increase employee/tenant satisfaction - fewer complaints

• Earn LEED green cleaning points

• Establish you as a leader in green buildings

What are LEED cleaning initiatives?

A green cleaning policy establishes guidelines for efficient and effective cleaning procedures and regulations for using environmentally preferable commercial cleaning supplies and janitorial power equipment. You can achieve up to 3 LEED points for successfully implementing green cleaning initiatives. Green cleaning practices involve: 

Sustainable purchasing of materials, resources and consumables:

• Use of sustainable cleaning materials (reusable/washable cloths for cleaning surfaces, reusable/washable carpet bonnets, reusable/washable dust and wet mops).

• Purchase of green cleaning materials and products such as floor finishes and strippers, disposable janitorial paper products, and trash bags (containing post-consumer content, post-industrial recycled content and/or rapidly renewable materials, Forest Stewardship Certified paper products) 

• Rechargeable batteries in battery-operated equipment.

Attention to indoor environmental quality: 

• Staff training in the hazards, use, maintenance, disposal and recycling of chemicals, equipment and packaging (advanced WHMIS training).

• Use of chemical concentrates with a dilution system 

• Use of cleaning products that bear theGreen Seal or Environmental Choice designation.   

Custodial effectiveness assessment:

• Fully trained staff members, versed in proper LEED safety requirements and procedures.

• Regular inspections to evaluate the effectiveness of the cleaning program and make changes needed to maintain acceptable standards.

• An annual audit to determine the appearance level of the facility.

Sustainable Cleaning Equipment:

• Certified Green Label vacuum cleaners that operate below the 70dBA sound level while capturing 96% of particulates 0.3 microns in size.

• Automated scrubbing machines equipped with variable-speed feed pumps and onboard chemical metering to optimize the use of cleaning fluids.

• Equipment with safeguards to reduce damages to building surfaces.

• Battery-powered equipment furnished with environmentally preferable gel batteries.

• Powered equipment is ergonomically designed to minimize vibration, noise and user fatigue.

• A log of equipment documenting the date of purchase, repair and maintenance, and vendor specifications.

Hazardous cleanup plans: 

• LEED-compliant procedures to follow for chemical leaks, spills or other toxic clean-up situations.

• Plans to minimize damage to human health and the environment.

Materials and resources solid waste management: 

• A waste stream audit to aid in identifying the types of waste and determine opportunities for increased recycling and waste diversion.

There are a number of considerations that go into a professional, sustainable cleaning program. Green cleaning makes a vital contribution to public health and the environment, considers the comfort and well-being of building occupants and maintains the life span and appearance of surfaces in commercial and institutional buildings. Choose a green cleaning company that is knowledgeable and experienced with environmentally friendly cleaning practices, train their staff on LEED compliance and use LEED-approved cleaning products and equipment.

Interested in Green/LEED cleaning services? CallStrathcona Cleaners Ltd at 403-237-8355 or email us at info@strathconacleaners.com. Our Calgary-based business provides janitorial services to an array of industries. We custom-tailor our cleaning and maintenance plans to suit your specific needs. You can even choose non-toxic products and eco-friendly equipment. Depend on us for quality janitorial and office cleaning services and parking lot maintenance. Contact us today!