Green Cleaning and LEED AP BD+C Exam Preparation

What is Green Cleaning?
Why to go for Green Cleaning?
Green Cleaning in LEED
What is Green Cleaning?
Green cleaning refers to using cleaning methods and products with environmentally friendly ingredients and procedures which are designed to preserve human health and environmental quality.

Why Green Cleaning?
Conventional cleaning products may contain bleach, ammonia and other chemical agents that leave your home or office looking clean, but pollute the air quality. Many ingredients found in household cleaners can cause eye irritation, skin irritation, lung irritation and have been implicated as possible contributes to asthma and cancer. Children are especially vulnerable to the effects of these chemicals simply due to the fact that they are smaller and still growing

Green Cleaning products are

Non-toxic
Made with natural ingredients
Biodegradable
Hypoallergenic i.e. less allergenic
No harmful fumes
Septic tank safe
Free of petrochemicals, chlorine bleach, phosphates, nitrates, borates, kerosene, phenol, lye, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, ammonia, formaldehyde, etc.
No animal testing
Recyclable packaging
LEED and Green Cleaning
LEED O+M addresses green cleaning widely in the prerequisites and credits. In LEED AP BD+C exam preparation and ID+C projects can score Innovation credit by incorporating Green Cleaning policy. Following are the prerequisite and credits associated with Green Cleaning in LEED O+M

1. EQ Prerequisite – Green Cleaning Policy
In order to comply with the prerequisite projects much establish a green cleaning policy.

What is expected in a Green Cleaning Policy?

The green cleaning policy defines the actions necessary to reduce the level of chemical use, protect the life of the building, increase indoor air quality, and reduce the environmental harms caused by traditional cleaning programs. A good policy identifies responsible parties and outlines how to measure progress toward the goals. The requirements of the green cleaning prerequisite align with already-established third-party certifications. These certification programs outline the practices, procedures, products, and equipment of a viable green cleaning program.

Projects can use USGBC template for Green Cleaning Policy available in http://www.usgbc.org/resources/eqp-green-cleaning-policy-template

2. EQ Credit – Green Cleaning – Custodial Effectiveness
To achieve this credit project has to audit the implementation and effectiveness of Green Cleaning Policy.  The Association of Physical Plant Administrators (APPA) has developed a standard auditing procedure that managers can follow to monitor cleaning performance over time. Trends can thus be identified and best practices shared with custodial staff, creating a continuous improvement process.

3. EQ Credit – Green Cleaning – Products and Materials
This credit requires that projects should purchase green cleaning products such as floor finishes and strippers, disposable janitorial paper products, and trash bags. Green Cleaning products should contribute to 75% by choice.  Green Cleaning products should meet the requirement of the following or equivalent international standard

Green Seal
EPA Safer Choice Standard (Previously Environmental choice)
UL Eco logo
4. EQ Credit – Green Cleaning –Equipment
This credit requires projects to use of high performance cleaning equipment. High-performance green cleaning equipment typically uses less energy and water and often requires less abrasive cleaning compounds or less toxic cleaning chemicals, thereby protecting the indoor air quality of a building and limiting occupants’ exposure to chemicals. In addition, it may require fewer repairs, be more effective, and cause less damage to building surfaces.

This credit requires the purchase and use of green cleaning equipment that is certified for efficiency and ergonomic design to minimize vibration, noise, and user fatigue and thus reduce the incidence of musculoskeletal or repetitive stress injuries. At least 40% of the powered cleaning equipment should comply with the requirements of Green Cleaning Equipment

For more details visit us@ LEED AP BD+ C exam preparation

Eligibility Requirements For the LEED Green Associate (GA) And LEED AP With Specialty Exam

As you may already know, there are now two different levels of LEED exams a person can take to enroll into LEED Version 3: the LEED Green Associate (LEED GA) exam, and a LEED AP Specialty exam.

New in LEED v3, there are now eligibility requirements that a person must fulfill in order to be qualified to take either the LEED GA exam and the LEED Specialty exam. The eligibility requirements are different for both and are detailed in this article.

To be eligible for the LEED Green Associate exam, a person must fulfill at least one of the following eligibility options. The first option is to have previous experience supporting a LEED registered project. Secondly, a person can have experience working in a sustainable field of work. The architecture and engineering fields are obviously in a sustainable field of work, but the eligibility requirements becomes a little obscure with other, "less obvious"places of work. Simply put, if a place of work can somehow related to sustainability and green design, then it will most likely qualify for the eligibility requirement.

Thirdly, a person can attend an education program that addresses green building principles.

For the LEED AP with Specialty exam, which includes Building Design and Construction (BD&C), Interior Design and Construction (ID&C), Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance (O&M), LEED for Homes and LEED for Neighborhood Development, there is simply just one eligibility requirement. However, the requirement is one that is sure to be a hurdle for many new candidates who want to become a LEED AP under LEED Version 3. A person applying for a LEED AP specialty exam must have previous experience with a LEED registered project within three years of the application submittal date.

Many people will not be able to meet this requirement. If this is the case, those people can always become eligible for a LEED Green Associate exam and pass that first, and hopefully gain experience working on a LEED registered project, thus enabling them to take a LEED AP Specialty exam.

The requirements for both the LEED GA and LEED Specialty exam must be documented in the form of a letter, written by a supervisor, project manager, client, etc. of the candidate. The letter should also explain how the candidate participated as well.

If you are already a LEED AP from a previous version of the LEED exam, then you have a different path to enter LEED Version 3


For more details visit us @ LEED Green Associate Study Guide

Source: http://www.intheleed.com