Identifying green carpet equipment has been made simple with certifications from the Carpet and Rug Institute. However, there are no similar certifications for floor care equipment. Therefore, the best way to determine if a machine is green is to benchmark it against the criteria for the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance program, listed under the Indoor Environment Quality Credit 3.4.

The credit states that battery equipment should use gel batteries. Electric and battery powered equipment should operate at sound levels less than 70 decibels. Propane powered equipment should operate at less than 90 decibels and also feature low-emission engines. Autoscrubbers should feature on-board chemical metering systems or use only tap water to clean.

All equipment should be ergonomically designed to reduce vibration and user fatigue. Equipment should also include safeguards to limit damage to building walls and surfaces.