Green Cleaning

Yes. Under the LEED v4 and LEED v4.1 rating systems for Building Operations and Maintenance (LEED O+M), green cleaning practices contribute to points under the Indoor Environment Quality (EQ) category, specifically the Cleaning and Pest Control prerequisite and the Green Cleaning credit.

To earn these points, your cleaning program must demonstrate use of certified green cleaning products, HEPA or high-filtration vacuums, microfiber systems, and documented cleaning protocols that meet LEED standards. Master Care’s green cleaning programs are designed to meet these requirements and we can provide documentation to support your LEED O+M submission.

If your facility is pursuing initial LEED certification or maintaining an existing rating, involve your cleaning provider early, cleaning practices are evaluated as part of the ongoing operations assessment, not just at initial certification.

Transitioning to green cleaning is not simply a product swap. Done correctly, it involves product audit and replacement, equipment upgrades, staff retraining, and updated cleaning protocols. Master Care manages this transition for facilities across British Columbia and Ontario.

The process begins with a free on-site assessment where we evaluate your current cleaning program, identify products and practices that don’t meet green standards, and build a transition plan. A written green cleaning program with documented product specifications is provided, useful both for internal stakeholder reporting and LEED documentation purposes.

Indoor air quality is one of the most direct and measurable benefits of switching to a green cleaning program. Conventional cleaning products, including many disinfectants, floor finishes, and aerosol sprays, release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that accumulate indoors and contribute to headaches, eye and respiratory irritation, and long-term health effects with chronic exposure.

In office environments, these effects are often dismissed as general fatigue or sick building syndrome. Studies by Health Canada and the US EPA consistently identify cleaning product residues as a significant contributor to poor indoor air quality in commercial buildings.

Green cleaning programs address this by selecting low-VOC or VOC-free products, using microfiber systems that require less chemical volume, and employing high-filtration vacuums that remove fine particulates rather than redistributing them. The result is measurably cleaner air, which directly supports employee health, productivity, and absenteeism rates.

Yes, and in several respects, more effective. This is the most common objection to green cleaning programs, and it’s largely based on outdated assumptions.

Modern green-certified disinfectants meet the same Health Canada DIN registration requirements as conventional products, meaning they have been independently verified to kill the same spectrum of pathogens at the same efficacy rates. The active chemistry differs; the kill claims do not.

Microfiber cloths remove up to 99% of surface bacteria with water alone, outperforming conventional cotton cloths that often spread contaminants across surfaces rather than capturing them. HEPA vacuums capture particulates down to 0.3 microns, significantly outperforming standard vacuum filtration.

Where green cleaning sometimes underperforms is when programs are implemented poorly — wrong product selection, incorrect dilution, or inadequate dwell time. Master Care’s technicians are trained specifically in green product protocols to ensure effectiveness is not compromised.

A genuinely green cleaning program differs from conventional cleaning in four areas:

• Products: Green-certified cleaning products are formulated without carcinogens, reproductive toxins, or persistent pollutants. In Canada, look for products certified by EcoLogo (now UL Environment) or Green Seal, or those meeting LEED v4 compliance criteria. These certifications verify both ingredient safety and packaging sustainability, not just marketing claims.
• Equipment: Green programs use HEPA or high-filtration vacuums that capture fine particulates rather than recirculating them, and microfiber systems that clean effectively with significantly less chemical and water than conventional mop-and-bucket methods.
• Procedures: Dilution control systems reduce chemical waste and prevent overuse. Low-moisture floor care reduces water consumption. Colour-coded microfiber prevents cross-contamination between washrooms and food preparation areas.
• Indoor air quality: Conventional cleaning products are a significant source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) indoors. Green programs select low-VOC or VOC-free products to protect occupant health, particularly in poorly ventilated spaces.

Master Care’s green cleaning programs incorporate all four components.

Green cleaning is beneficial for any occupied facility, but it is particularly high-impact for:

• Office buildings with open floor plans: VOCs from cleaning products accumulate quickly in densely occupied, climate-controlled spaces with limited fresh air exchange
• Schools and childcare centres: children are more vulnerable to chemical exposure than adults; provincial health guidelines in BC and Ontario increasingly require or recommend non-toxic cleaning products in these environments
• Medical and healthcare facilities: infection control requirements must be met without introducing additional chemical hazards for immunocompromised patients
• LEED-certified or pursuing certification buildings: cleaning programs must align with green building standards to maintain or earn rating points
• Facilities with staff reporting chemical sensitivities or respiratory conditions: green programs significantly reduce the chemical load in occupied spaces