With much of the country planning to reopen after shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Green Building Council has released a new set of guidelines for sustainable best practices to take precautions against the virus’s spread, as part of a larger strategy moving forward. They come in the form of four new LEED credits—the Safety First Pilot Credits—which now accompany the USGBC’s Healthy Economy strategy, created in response to the pandemic. The credits, released in May, outline how LEED will support recovery efforts as businesses and communities prepare for post-pandemic life. The USGBC says it will refine the Safety Credit recommendations as needed and, in the meantime, is also welcoming feedback.
1. Re-Enter Your Workspace
This credit helps create a management and operations plan for reoccupancy that includes, at a minimum, two of the following categories: building or place preparation; workforce preparation; access control; social distancing; green cleaning; touch point reduction; and communication. The USGBC offers sample questions for management and occupants to answer and submit as part of obtaining the credit (e.g., “Did you feel safe today?” “Did others follow the rules today?”).
2. Clean and Disinfect Your Space
Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this credit addresses the procurement and use of cleaning supplies and disinfectants for use in a shared or public space, as well as procedures and training for cleaning personnel and occupancy control. On the USGBC’s website, you can find a list of approved disinfectants, chemical cleaning products, hand soaps and sanitizers, and more. The credit also requires the use of PPE by cleaning personnel—including eye protection, masks, and gloves.
3. Manage Indoor Air Quality During COVID-19
To minimize airborne spread of the virus, this credit builds on the indoor air quality prerequisites and credits in LEED and largely takes cues from the CDC’s recommendations, including increasing the percentage of outdoor air, increasing the total air flow, and using natural ventilation. The USGBC notes that, of course, all of the provided information is precautionary and cannot guarantee the prevention of illness, while also noting that because buildings vary so greatly, best judgment must be used to make sure a recommendation makes sense for a specific building, location, and season.
4. Build Water System Recommissioning
Many buildings are coming out of a monthslong period without most, if not all, of their occupants—a lull that could mean the presence of stagnant water that’s unsafe to drink or use. This credit also looks to the EPA and CDC for guidance and requires building owners and managers to test the water, develop a water management plan, work with local water and public health authorities, and communicate with occupants about the status of the water. It also requires ongoing maintenance of the building water system after testing and flushing are complete. If there were issues, building owners must make sure that pathogen growth stays minimized by regularly checking water quality parameters like temperature, pH, and disinfectant levels.
