Hour glass and calendar concept for time slipping away for important appointment date, schedule and deadline

In 2002, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Rating System for Operations & Maintenance, which provides the roadmap to green cleaning. It was designed to help building owners, facility managers, building service contractors (BSCs), manufacturers, and distributors reduce levels of chemical, biological, and particulate contaminants, which can compromise human health, building finishes and systems, and the environment, by implementing effective cleaning procedures and products.

Since then, more than 130,000 buildings have been certified in the LEED rating systems. Further, it is estimated that for every building that is LEED-certified, two to three buildings use its green cleaning guidelines but have not sought certification. 

"Without question, LEED transformed the professional cleaning industry," said Steve Ashkin, president of The Ashkin Group. "LEED provided a roadmap, making it clear to building owners, managers, and all segments of our industry, what constitutes a comprehensive green cleaning program." 

However, after a lapse of nearly 10 years, those credits are due to be revised. Ashkin, who is on the LEED Indoor Environmental Quality Technical Advisory Group, is directly involved with the revisions. He is asking jan/san industry members to share their thoughts on what revisions they would like to see as it pertains to green cleaning.  

"Our industry has changed so much, just in the past few years. We have the first-hand insights and expertise necessary to help guide the future of LEED," he said. "This will help them evolve and better assist building owners, managers, and all those focused on creating healthier facilities while reducing adverse impacts on the environment."

For those wanting to share their suggestions, Ashkin said he can be contacted through his company website, https://www.ashkingroup.com/contact, or by email at Steve@AshkinGroup.com.

"I view this as an opportunity for our industry," added Ashkin. "The roadmap LEED is developing will impact our industry for years to come, and we can make a difference. But time is of the essence. We need to get involved with this now, before the 1st of June 2021.”