For two decades, the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy for Environmental Design for Existing Buildings Rating System (LEED-EB) has set the standard for green cleaning programs. Today, approximately 30% of all cleaning products are green-certified, and more facilities and service providers are recognized for their sustainable cleaning practices. To maintain the rating system’s rigor, the USGBC updates LEED-EB every five years, with Version 5 currently in development.
The USGBC’s main challenge for this update is balancing the interests of various industries, each vying for more points on LEED’s 110-point scale. These points signify the importance of industries
pertaining to cleaning services, building materials, HVAC systems, and water/energy efficiency in a facility’s sustainability rating. Advocacy groups, labor unions, and communities also seek prioritization of their issues in sustainable building construction, operations, and maintenance.
The cleaning industry takes a hit in round one
In April, the USGBC released its proposed changes to LEED-EB: Operations & Maintenance for the first public comment period. LEED-EB is the leading green building rating system, with
more than 100,000 certified commercial and institutional buildings, as well as more than 500,000 certified homes worldwide.
While the initial proposed changes offered overall improvements, they fell short in:
- Adequately recognizing the importance of cleaning in safeguarding occupant health.
- Ensuring worker training in proper cleaning protocols.
- Addressing the equity challenges faced by low-wage cleaning service workers.
The global cleaning industry mobilized to voice its concerns in response to these shortcomings. Industry members submitted hundreds of comments, and industry representatives met directly with USGBC leaders to address the credits and prerequisites impacting the cleaning sector.
Key organizations involved in this mobilization included ISSA, Building Service Contractors Association International (BSCAI), Cleaning Coalition of America, Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), International Facility Management Association (IFMA), 32BJ Training Fund, and Green Cleaning Network China. Individual service providers, product manufacturers, distributors, and consultants joined them. This collective effort led to significant changes in the latest LEED-EB version released for the second public comment period in September.
Second try brings improvements
One of the most notable changes to come out of the second comment period is the increase in points allocated to cleaning, rising from just one point in Version 4.1 to five in Version 5. This fivefold increase underscores the value of cleaning in maintaining healthy and sustainable buildings. The additional points are expected to lead to better worker training, more thorough cleaning practices, and increased demand for green products and services. These changes will likely boost the financial standing of companies that meet the new LEED requirements.
The second comment period for LEED-EB v5 also brought significant updates related to sustainability and social equity. These updates will positively affect the 100 million frontline cleaning workers worldwide by addressing wages, benefits, training, and worker protections.
LEED-EB v5 also provides up to 13 points for waste management, with a focus on workers who handle, sort, and manage waste, recycling, and composting. These points further highlight the
essential role that cleaning staff play in achieving sustainability goals.
Version 5 brings a greater emphasis on safety and procedural training, highlighting ergonomics and using personal protective equipment (PPE) such as headgear, eye protection, respiratory gear, and fall prevention tools. The updated standards also ensure that staff have the right to take breaks, access essential services, and receive protection from extreme weather conditions, such as during snow removal or while working outdoors in high heat.
A positive outlook for LEED-EB v5
Although LEED-EB Version 5 is still being finalized, it is moving in a promising direction and is slated to be formally released early in 2025. The latest updates benefit facility occupants, the
environment, and the global cleaning industry, highlighting the crucial role of cleaning in sustainable building management. The revised rating system stands to elevate the value of
cleaning while advancing both sustainability and social equity.
To learn more about how LEED Version 5 will benefit the cleaning industry, watch an ISSA video at cmmonline.com/LEED-Version-5.
