LEED v5 Rewards Use of Green Seal

The newest version of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED building standard highlights the value of Green Seal-certified products and rewards projects that incorporate certified materials into their buildings and operations.

The LEED v5.0 Rating System specifies Green Seal’s standards for cleaners and degreasers, floor care products, sanitary paper, hand care and hand sanitizers, paints, trash bags, and commercial cleaning services. Specifically:

- Using Green Seal-certified products for at least 75% of a building’s cleaning products and materials earns:
   - 1 point in the Green Cleaning Credit (O&M)

- Using a Green Seal-certified cleaning service earns:
   - 1 point in the Green Cleaning Credit (O&M)

- Green Seal-certified paint:
   - Contributes toward 1 point for the Materials & Resources: Building Product Selection & Procurement Credit (BD&C and ID&C)
   - Contributes 1 product toward the Material & Resources: Low-Emitting Materials Credit (BD&C)

Green Seal is specified in five product and service categories in the Green Cleaning Credit – more than any other third-party standard. Using Green Seal-certified green cleaning products and a Green Seal-certified cleaning service together qualifies projects for 5 percent of the 40 points buildings need to earn the minimum level LEED certification.

The updated USGBC rating system is the most recent among hundreds of standards and policies that use Green Seal as shorthand for proven-safer products. That’s because sustainability leaders recognize that our science-based standards demand leadership at every stage of the product lifecycle. Together with the manufacturers in our community, we will continue to ensure the Green Seal certification mark helps buyers cut through the chaos to find products that meet truly comprehensive health and sustainability standards — from beginning to end.