Official language
Ecologically intentional landscaping and exterior maintenance can enrich the building’s appearance and reduce impacts on the surrounding environment, and it can be low-cost, or cost neutral compared to conventional landscaping. Natural landscapes can deliver real health benefits by providing occupants with a meaningful place for relaxation breaks and reducing stress.
Typically, project teams approach this best practice by taking stock of current processes, equipment, and supplies, and then incorporate environmental-preferable options into vendor contracts and standard operating procedure (SOP) language. Examining conventional choices and considering more sustainable alternatives is the first essential step towards making improvements.
The intent of this best practice is to achieve the intended operations of the surrounding landscape using operations and maintenance best practices that focus on maximizing human health, comfort, and safety while minimizing adverse environmental effects.
Objective
Create and implement an effective landscape and exterior maintenance plan that reduces the need for harmful chemicals, eliminates runoff, enhances water and energy management practices, and reinforces waste diversion efforts.
Submittal Requirements
The following are the required submittals in order to fulfill the objective of this best practice.
-
A landscape and exterior site maintenance policy outlining current landscape and exterior maintenance practices for the project that, at minimum, include the following:
- Purpose: clear statement of why the policy exists and how it will support the overall sustainability goals of the organization.
- Start Date: date the policy goes into effect.
- Scope: activities covered by the policy.
- Goals: intended outcomes of the policy.
- Responsible Parties: person(s) or department(s) responsible for implementing certain sections of the policy.
-
Guidelines: rules and procedures to implement the policy including:
- Type of approved maintenance equipment and exterior cleaning products approved for use, including snow and ice removal. (*if not included in BP11 Green Cleaning guidelines)
- List of pest control strategies and products approved for use. (*if not included in BP12 IPM guidelines)
- Landscape waste management plan. (*if not included in BP10 Waste Management Plan)
- Monitoring plan for irrigation systems. (*if not included in BP09 Water Leak Detection procedures)
- Strategies: methods or techniques used to enhance implementation of the policy including how landscape and site maintenance practices are communicated to necessary parties.
- Performance Metrics: procedures on quantifying the policy’s success.
- Tracking: method of monitoring the success of the policy.
- Continual Improvement: process for promoting and implementing ongoing improvements to landscape.
For Tenant-Controlled Spaces
Option 1. Tenant Responsibility
-
A landscape and exterior site maintenance policy outlining current landscape and exterior maintenance practices for the project that, at minimum, include the following:\
- Purpose: clear statement of why the policy exists and how it will support the overall sustainability goals of the organization.
- Start Date: date the policy goes into effect.
- Scope: activities covered by the policy.
- Goals: intended outcomes of the policy.
- Responsible Parties: person(s) or department(s) responsible for implementing certain sections of the policy.
-
Guidelines: rules and procedures to implement the policy including:
- Type of approved maintenance equipment and exterior cleaning products approved for use, including snow and ice removal. (*if not included in BP11 Green Cleaning guidelines)
- List of pest control strategies and products approved for use. (*if not included in BP12 IPM guidelines)
- Landscape waste management plan. (*if not included in BP10 Waste Management Plan)
- Monitoring plan for irrigation systems. (*if not included in BP09 Water Leak Detection procedures)
- Strategies: methods or techniques used to enhance implementation of the policy including how landscape and site maintenance practices are communicated to necessary parties.
- Performance Metrics: procedures on quantifying the policy’s success.
- Tracking: method of monitoring the success of the policy.
- Continual Improvement: process for promoting and implementing ongoing improvements to landscape.
- Tracking: method of monitoring the success of the policy.
- Continual Improvement: process for promoting and implementing ongoing improvements to landscape.
OR
Option 2. Ownership/Management Responsibility
- Documentation (e.g. an executed lease agreement, signed letter from owner/property manager) stating landscape and/or exterior maintenance responsibilities are the responsibility of ownership/management and outside of tenant’s control.
Implementation Guidance
For additional details and recommended steps for implementing this best practice, please see the BIT Building Program Manual.
BIT User’s viewpoint
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Frequently asked questions
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Online resources
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Implementation toolkit
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Ecologically intentional landscaping and exterior maintenance can enrich the building’s appearance and reduce impacts on the surrounding environment, and it can be low-cost, or cost neutral compared to conventional landscaping. Natural landscapes can deliver real health benefits by providing occupants with a meaningful place for relaxation breaks and reducing stress.
Typically, project teams approach this best practice by taking stock of current processes, equipment, and supplies, and then incorporate environmental-preferable options into vendor contracts and standard operating procedure (SOP) language. Examining conventional choices and considering more sustainable alternatives is the first essential step towards making improvements.
The intent of this best practice is to achieve the intended operations of the surrounding landscape using operations and maintenance best practices that focus on maximizing human health, comfort, and safety while minimizing adverse environmental effects.
Objective
Create and implement an effective landscape and exterior maintenance plan that reduces the need for harmful chemicals, eliminates runoff, enhances water and energy management practices, and reinforces waste diversion efforts.
Implementation Requirements
For additional details and recommended steps for implementing this best practice, please see the BIT Building Program Manual.
Submittal Requirements
The following are the required submittals in order to fulfill the objective of this best practice.
-
A landscape and exterior site maintenance policy outlining current landscape and exterior maintenance practices for the project that, at minimum, include the following:
- Purpose: clear statement of why the policy exists and how it will support the overall sustainability goals of the organization.
- Start Date: date the policy goes into effect.
- Scope: activities covered by the policy.
- Goals: intended outcomes of the policy.
- Responsible Parties: person(s) or department(s) responsible for implementing certain sections of the policy.
-
Guidelines: rules and procedures to implement the policy including:
- Type of approved maintenance equipment and exterior cleaning products approved for use, including snow and ice removal. (*if not included in BP11 Green Cleaning guidelines)
- List of pest control strategies and products approved for use. (*if not included in BP12 IPM guidelines)
- Landscape waste management plan. (*if not included in BP10 Waste Management Plan)
- Monitoring plan for irrigation systems. (*if not included in BP09 Water Leak Detection procedures)
- Strategies: methods or techniques used to enhance implementation of the policy including how landscape and site maintenance practices are communicated to necessary parties.
- Performance Metrics: procedures on quantifying the policy’s success.
- Tracking: method of monitoring the success of the policy.
- Continual Improvement: process for promoting and implementing ongoing improvements to landscape.
For Tenant-Controlled Spaces
Option 1. Tenant Responsibility
-
A landscape and exterior site maintenance policy outlining current landscape and exterior maintenance practices for the project that, at minimum, include the following:\
- Purpose: clear statement of why the policy exists and how it will support the overall sustainability goals of the organization.
- Start Date: date the policy goes into effect.
- Scope: activities covered by the policy.
- Goals: intended outcomes of the policy.
- Responsible Parties: person(s) or department(s) responsible for implementing certain sections of the policy.
-
Guidelines: rules and procedures to implement the policy including:
- Type of approved maintenance equipment and exterior cleaning products approved for use, including snow and ice removal. (*if not included in BP11 Green Cleaning guidelines)
- List of pest control strategies and products approved for use. (*if not included in BP12 IPM guidelines)
- Landscape waste management plan. (*if not included in BP10 Waste Management Plan)
- Monitoring plan for irrigation systems. (*if not included in BP09 Water Leak Detection procedures)
- Strategies: methods or techniques used to enhance implementation of the policy including how landscape and site maintenance practices are communicated to necessary parties.
- Performance Metrics: procedures on quantifying the policy’s success.
- Tracking: method of monitoring the success of the policy.
- Continual Improvement: process for promoting and implementing ongoing improvements to landscape.
- Tracking: method of monitoring the success of the policy.
- Continual Improvement: process for promoting and implementing ongoing improvements to landscape.
OR
Option 2. Ownership/Management Responsibility
- Documentation (e.g. an executed lease agreement, signed letter from owner/property manager) stating landscape and/or exterior maintenance responsibilities are the responsibility of ownership/management and outside of tenant’s control.
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