The latest revision to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB v5) has sparked significant debate within the sustainability community. Authored by advocate Stephen P. Ashkin on June 5, 2024, the critique highlights the diminishing emphasis on professional cleaning’s role in sustainable building management. Ashkin points out that the new standards sadly turn away from the previously understood importance of environmental training for cleaning staff, with potential risks to both service excellence and the health of our buildings.
Cleaning’s Diminished Influence on Sustainability
Training and Management of Cleaning Staff
Cleaning has been fundamental in upholding a building’s sustainability but LEED-EB v5 appears to sidestep this principle. The revised standards exclude essential prerequisites for the management and training of cleaning personnel. This is an alarming change, considering that cleaning staff trained in eco-friendly practices have been pivotal in previous LEED versions. With the new system neglecting such critical expectations, we are potentially compromising the quality of services and, more distressingly, the health of the building occupants.
A comprehensive approach to sustainability isn’t merely about energy efficiency or waste reduction. It entails an inclusive understanding that encompasses the human element, particularly those on the front lines like cleaning staff. Training these individuals was once deemed essential to sustain green buildings. Their knowledge and skills in implementing environmentally safe practices contributed to healthier work environments. However, LEED v5’s shift could undermine the continuity of those green standards and the dedication of those custodians of cleanliness.
Points Allocation for Cleaning Practices
When assessing the contributions of cleaning practices to sustainability, LEED v5’s points system is disappointingly narrow. Assigning minimal points for cleaning—and equating it to a single occupant survey—fails to recognize the substantial impact cleaning has on indoor environmental quality. Cleaning should be more than an afterthought in sustainable building management. It is a linchpin to maintaining the safety and health of the environment within.
Ashkin argues that the robust influence cleaning holds over a building’s environmental quality deserves far greater representation in LEED’s point system. A singular occupant survey falling short of encompassing the myriad ways in which cleaning facilitates a building’s sustainability illustrates a disconnect. From reducing pollutants to ensuring safe indoor air quality, cleaning services go well beyond what’s captured in a simple survey. LEED v5, therefore, risks trivializing the essential services that contribute profoundly to the well-being of both the building and its occupants.
The Need for Social Equity in Cleaning
Overlooking Frontline Cleaning Personnel
One of the most striking oversights of LEED v5 is its approach to social equity—particularly its neglect of those in the cleaning industry. Ashkin underscores that these workers often face challenging conditions and are indispensably crucial for sustainable facility operations. Unfortunately, LEED v5 does not seem to consider the development and welfare of these workers, effectively sidelining the champions who implement and uphold these green practices daily.
These frontline workers are the unsung heroes in the narrative of sustainability. Yet, the updated LEED standards seem to undervalue their contribution by shirking from holistically addressing social equity. Up until now, fair treatment, opportunities for training and development, and recognition of cleaners’ vital role were integral in building a sustainable environment that values every participant. However, this new iteration of LEED could inadvertently reinforce a disregard for the welfare and growth of these essential members of the building services sector.
Advocating for Change
The recent update to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB v5) has stirred notable discussion within the eco-minded community. In a critique penned by sustainability proponent Stephen P. Ashkin on June 5, 2024, he spotlights a worrying shift in the new revision. Ashkin expresses concern over the downgraded focus on the crucial role that professional cleaning plays in green building maintenance. He argues that this change overlooks the historical importance of equipping cleaning personnel with environmental training. This oversight may compromise not only the standard of service provided but also the environmental health of the buildings themselves. Ashkin’s analysis warns that neglecting the educational component of cleaning can have unintended detrimental effects, thereby igniting a call to action for a reevaluation of the standards to better serve our buildings and the planet.
