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More than 130 building projects have engaged LEED’s Safety First Credits in response to COVID-19

Codes and Standards

More than 130 building projects have engaged LEED’s Safety First Credits in response to COVID-19

Best practices helping companies develop and measure healthy, sustainable, and resilient reopening efforts.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | October 22, 2020

Courtesy Pixabay

More than 130 LEED projects have engaged the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Safety First pilot credits to support reopening following COVID-19 shutdowns.

The credits provide sustainable and healthy best practices that align with public health and industry guidelines and help address critical operations including indoor air quality, water systems, cleaning, and re-entry, according to a USGBC news release. The guidance can be used by any LEED project that has certified or is pursuing certification.

The projects pursuing these credits represent 20 different countries and territories. The credits are being used by commercial interior, new construction, and existing building projects, and have included offices, data centers, schools, retail, and hospitality projects.

Safety First credits include protocols for safe cleaning of indoor environments, and also provide guidance on indoor air quality and ventilation, as well as water system recommissioning.

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