Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction, LEED BD+C: Schools, LEED ID+C: Commercial Interiors, LEED BD+C: Core and Shell, LEED O+M: Existing Buildings

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.2, v2 - Schools 2007, v2 - LEED 2.0, v2 - LEED 2.0, v3 - LEED 2008

Inquiry

Our project wishes to achieve the requirements of this credit by purchasing roll-up walk-off mats and using internal maintenance staff to clean them on a weekly basis instead of hiring an outside contracted service organization. The internal staff are permanent employees of the organization not a contracted cleaning service. Staff is on-site everyday to complete regular maintenance tasks as well as respond to specific needs as they arise. Completing their job responsibilities accurately and completely guarantees their employment; much like fulfillment of contractual requirements ensures that an outside company is paid, job completion ensures that the staff are paid for their time and service. In order to ensure that the internal staff are aware of their responsibilities and ensure completion of this task on a weekly basis the following documentation would be supplied in place of a 2-year contract: - Achieve all requirements for an Innovation in Design award for implementation of a Green Housekeeping Plan as accepted in other CIRs. - A copy of the Green Housekeeping Plan including weekly requirements for cleaning entrance mats and replacement as necessary. - Signed Acknowledgment from all maintenance staff that they have read, understand and will comply with the Green Housekeeping Plan. - A copy of maintenance staff job descriptions stating compliance with the Green Housekeeping Plan and LEED required maintenance. In the case of existing employees, job descriptions will be updated or addenda issued. - Signed Letter of Commitment from the Owner stating their commitment to ensuring maintenance practices are completed as required by the Green Housekeeping Plan and will be included in the job descriptions and facility operations for a period of no less than 2 years. Requiring an additional contract when in-house staff are capable of this cleaning task and held responsible for their actions puts a financial burden on this non-profit as well as increasing pollution due to vehicle traffic associated with unnecessary visits to the facility. We believe this approach meets the intent of credit and we are providing the equivalence of the contractual cleaning requirements with a service organization. Of course, all other requirements for this credit will be met. Please advise.