Let's start by defining LEED Certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design): it is a voluntary, consensus-based national rating system for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. Developed by USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council), LEED addresses all building types and emphasizes state-of-the-art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials and resources selection, and indoor environmental quality. LEED is a practical rating tool for green building design and construction that provides immediate and measurable results for building owners and occupants.

How can Orange Pest Control Help? The easiest points you can get for your LEED Certification are just one phone call away. Here are the LEED Certification areas required to convert your building that we can help you in:

Sustainable Sites SS Credit 3: Calls for Integrated Pest Management, Erosion Control, and Landscape Management Plan. Orange Pest Control can help you with the outdoor integrated pest management (IPM) program in this sector. This outdoor IPM program will effectively manage outdoor pests, such as plants, fungi, insects, and animals, in such a way that protects human health and the surrounding environment by employing the most effective, least-risk option. IPM calls for:  using the least-toxic chemical pesticides; minimizing the use of chemicals; targeting locations and use only for targeted species. In addition, IPM relies on routine inspection and monitoring to ensure it addresses the issue of pests in a proactive, rather than a reactive manner. Moreover, an outdoor IPM plan must address all of the specific IPM requirements listed in EQ Credit 3.9, Green Cleaning: Indoor Integrated Pest Management (described above) including:

• Preferred use of non-chemical methods;
• Definition of universal notification and emergency conditions notification (advance notice of not less than 72 hours under normal conditions and 24 hours in emergencies before a pesticide, other than a least-toxic pesticide, is applied in a building or on surrounding grounds that the building management maintains). The outdoor IPM plan must also be integrated with any indoor IPM plan for the building, as appropriate. We can also help in minimizing the use of chemical fertilizers through less polluting alternatives to artificial chemicals.

Indoor Environmental Quality EQ Credit 3.9: Green Cleaning:
Orange Pest Control can also help in this section with the Indoor Integrated Pest Management part. Orange Pest Control will develop, implement and maintain an indoor integrated pest management (IPM) plan for your Facilities. An IPM program or plan is generally defined as managing indoor pests in a way that protects human health and the surrounding environment, while improving economic returns through the most effective, least risk option. IPM programs call for using: the least toxic pesticides; minimum use of pesticides; use of pesticides only in targeted locations; and use only for targeted species. In addition, IPM requires routine inspection and monitoring for indicators of the presence of pests or for pest attractants (such as sources of food and water for pests). An IPM plan must include at a minimum the following elements, integrated with any outdoor IPM plan that is also employed by the facility:
• Integrated methods, site or pest inspections,pest population monitoring, evaluation of the need for pest control and one or more pest control methods, including sanitation, structural repairs, mechanical and living biological controls, other non-chemical methods, and if nontoxic options are unreasonable and have been exhausted, the use of the least toxic pesticide appropriate for the task.
• Specification of the circumstances under which an emergency application of pesticides in a building or on surrounding grounds being maintained by building management can be conducted without complying with the earlier provisions.
• A communication strategy that provides for universal notification of building occupants at least 72 hours in advance of
application of a pesticide under normal conditions; or 24 hours after application of a pesticide in emergency
situations, other than a least toxic pesticide.

Put simply, IPM is a safer, and usually less costly option for effective pest management in the indoor environment. An IPM program makes common sense strategies to reduce sources of food, water and shelter for pests in buildings and grounds. An IPM program takes advantage of all pest management strategies, including the judicious and careful use of pesticides when necessary.

So what's in it for you besides the obvious reasons? Why become a green building?
Environmental benefits:
* Enhance and protect ecosystems and biodiversity
* Improve air and water quality
* Reduce solid waste
* Conserve natural resources

Economic benefits:
* Reduce operating costs
* Enhance asset value and profits
* Improve employee productivity and satisfaction
* Optimize life-cycle economic performance

Health and community benefits:
* Improve air, thermal, and acoustic environments
* Enhance occupant comfort and health
* Minimize strain on local infrastructure
* Contribute to overall quality of life

Orange Pest Control and your building: Let's make green buildings available to everyone within a generation! Give us a call today to get started at 1-888-972-7031.

For more information about LEED certification, visit www.usgbc.org.

Mention this article for discounts on any of our South Florida Eco-Green & Organic LEED Pest Control Services.