FAIRFAX, Va. —  NPMA staff, in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and ASPCRO, has worked closely with the U.S. Green Building Council to revise its "Existing Buildings:  Operations & Maintenance" rating system, which governs pest management activities in LEED certified properties. 

The LEED 2012 third public comment period is now open from March 1-20, 2012 which marks the start of the LEED 2012 program delivery process. This third draft of the rating system is focused on providing a globally applicable, simple-to-use, technically advanced system. Members of the public can comment on any substantive changes made since the second public comment period, which ran from August 1 through September 14, 2011. Once the comment period process concludes, LEED 2012 will be balloted in June and launch in November.
 
Many PCOs informed NPMA that the previous standards were often confusing and difficult to comply with.  After working with USGBC and its other stakeholders, NPMA believes they have proposed a workable set of standards, even if it does not contain everything NPMA had requested.  A copy of the revised rating system with the changes tracked can be seen by clicking here.

The revised IPM standards can be found on pages 124 to 126.  Among other improvements, the revision provides that "a project meets the requirements if the IPM service is provided by a certified member in good standing of the GreenPro, EcoWise or GreenShield programs or a program with equivalent IPM standards, provided  that the service provided complies with the respective program's standards."
 
It is especially important that leaders in providing green pest management services submit comments in support of the revisions.  Comments are due by March 20th and may be submitted here.
 
Contact Bob Rosenberg brosenberg@pestworld.org or Andy Architect aarchitect@pestworld.org if you have questions or comments.