Sustainable Facilities Tool General Services Administration

A recommended approach to developing and managing a cost-effective, sustainable waste management program is to: Form a multi-disciplinary team to r...

Use biological waste treatment systems to treat waste on site.

Computers for Learning (CFL) and GSAXcess: “The CFL program evolved as a guide for implementing Executive Order 12999, Educational Technology:...

On average, 70% (by weight) of the total municipal solid waste, generated in a federal office building, can either be recycled or composted. The maj...

Cost Savings The national average landfill tipping fee was $45 per ton in 2012. Diverting waste from landfills can lower total waste disposal cos...

EPA solid waste regulations: States are authorized, under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), to regulate solid waste and recycling. ...

https://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/4f7604c1b53aa8cd8525755b00781318

https://sustainableelectronics.org/recyclers

http://e-stewards.org/

http://www.gsa.gov/environmentalservices

Human behavior and interaction with the building space plays a critical component in achieving holistic sustainability. Desired waste reduction resu...

Through a Green Construction Policy and Waste Management Plan, a project team can effectively plan for and take steps to minimize the amount of non-...

Project Managers are often acutely aware of scheduling needs and the need for additional construction and demolition waste removal, furniture, and e...

When employing waste reduction strategies, financial benefits can be realized from several sources including recycling due to behavioral change and ...

Ongoing Purchasing and Waste Policy

Solid Waste Management - Ongoing

Solid Waste Management - Facility Maintenance and Renovation

Construction and Demolition Waste Management

Construction and Demolition Waste Management Planning

Construction and Demolition Waste Management Planning

Construction and Demolition Waste Management

Have mechanical systems to recycle or separate waste been commissioned?

Is there a construction, demolition, and renovation Waste Management Plan?

Does the design include facilities for occupants to compost organic waste?

Has a waste audit been done within the last three years?

Is regular monitoring of waste conducted?

Are there waste-reduction targets?

Is there a construction, renovation, and demolition Waste Management Policy?

Construction Phase, including product optimization and collection of wasted materials

Encourage pilot project ideas, from tenants or custodial personnel, which encourage waste reduction, reuse, and recycling.

Promote reduced waste and increased recycling through voluntary tenant pledge cards and building challenges or competitions.

For accurate waste diversion measurement, require the waste hauler to provide weights (and not volumes) of materials disposed and recycled.

Institute landscaping practices that reduce shipments of green waste, such as mulching mowers.

The Facility Manager, who sometimes serves the building’s Recycling Coordinator, is responsible for procuring solid waste and recycling services and...

The beneficiaries of and direct participants in a solid waste and recycling program are the building occupants, who should participate in the design...

FAR Subpart 23.4 – Use of Recovered Materials and Biobased Products: This policy governs the use of products containing recovered materials an...

The IT personnel play an important role in reducing paper waste by implementing processes that move the occupant work towards paperless. Even with t...

The sustainability specialist advises on legal environmental requirements, as well as sustainability mandates and credit requirements for certificat...

Interior designers can help to design space to minimize the amount of waste that is generated from wear and tear of materials (e.g., carpet tiles); ...

Much of the focus for Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) for Building Design and Construction (BD+C) is on the use of recycled mat...

Since the success of a waste reduction and recycling program relies on voluntary actions by occupants, it is essential to design a recycling program...

Persistent outreach and education are vital to reduce consumption and waste. The Property Manager, who is most often the building’s Recycling ...

Reduce electrical lighting consumption and associated waste heat by pairing harvested daylight with automated dimmers and photosensors.

Utilize sub-meters to monitor electricity use and use this data to identify waste and maintenance concerns.

Dispose of lamps properly to reduce waste; avoid sending substances like mercury and PCBs to the landfill.

Set up a 'hotline' to report leaks or other wastes of water to facility managers or maintenance personnel.

Is there a construction, renovation, and demolition waste management/reduction workplan (if the project exceeds 21,500 ft² in floor area)?

Are there collection points for storing paper, glass, metal, and plastic near where the waste is generated?

While the type and level of service varies, waste management and recycling companies, as well as state and local authorities, may have free or low-c...

Conduct market research to seek opportunities to expand the recycling program to include Styrofoam, all plastics (#1–7), food/organic waste, and oth...

By instituting an effective building recycling program, recyclable material replaces virgin material through multiple product lives. Recycling avoid...

Custodial and maintenance personnel are responsible for collection of trash, recyclables, and compostable material from designated locations through...

The landscape architect is responsible for advising on sustainable landscape design and maintenance, to minimize the amount of waste transported fro...

The Food Service Manager advises on sustainable concessions contracts, consistent with federal sustainability and health and wellness guidance, and ...

Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) for Building Operations and Maintenance (O+M) focuses on policies and best practices to manage ...

Green Globes for NC emphases strategies that reduce the impact of construction and occupant waste. Several questions are asked of the project team t...

Green Globes CIEB requires building-wide strategies to properly handle waste and reduce the quantity that goes to landfills. Several questions are a...

Occupants have a direct impact on water use and are key to a building’s water conservation program. Significant water can be wasted from occu...

The integrative design process understands that buildings, their components, and their context are interrelated. Whole building systems observe this...

Choosing lamps and fixtures with long lives not only saves on maintenance costs but reduces waste that might otherwise go to the landfill. LEDs cont...

HVAC components, particularly cooling towers, steam systems, and humidifiers, are responsible for large amounts of water consumption in our building...

The lighting engineer ultimately determines the power used by the lighting system. The engineer’s equipment selection also affects how much of this ...

Greywater is the water stemming from processes such as showers, hand basins, or kitchen sinks but does not contain any human waste. Reusing greywate...

The intent of the Living Building Challenge materials category is to induce a successful materials economy that is non-toxic, transparent, and socia...

The Sustainable Sites Initiative™ (SITES™) is an interdisciplinary effort by the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird...

The lighting engineer is responsible for ensuring that all lighting regulations are met, interior and exterior spaces are sufficiently and elegantly...

Boiler and steam system equipment consume varying quantities of water within large heating systems depending on the size of the equipment, the amoun...

Water leaves the cooling tower system through evaporation, blow-downdrift, and basin leaks and overflows, and therefore has to be replaced. Since co...

The lighting engineer, in cooperation with the rest of the integrative team, should ensure as much natural daylight permeates the space as possible....

IEQ occupant surveys are a cost effective and valuable resource for identifying areas of discomfort or dissatisfaction to address during renovation ...

HVAC consumes an average of 30% of a facility’s energy use.1 Much of that use is wasted, at times right through the front door. Other times t...

Reduced temperature fluctuations reduce thermal stress.  Benefits of a planted roof are realized through the extended life of the roof membrane...

50% of waste must be diverted during construction and 50% of non-hazardous materials must be diverted during building operation. Provisions must ...

50% of waste must be diverted during construction and 50% of non-hazardous materials must be diverted during building operation. Provisions must ...

Provisions must be provided for reuse and recycling services for building occupants to achieve at least 50% of non-hazardous material diversion. ...

Influencing occupant energy-use behavior through resource use awareness and conservation programs will help to reduce excessive energy consumption. ...

By consuming 17% of the building’s total electricity consumption and further influencing overall energy demand by the waste heat it emits, lig...

Human behavior and interaction with the building space plays a critical component in achieving holistic sustainability. Desired gains in energy effi...

High efficiency plumbing fixtures (toilets, urinals, faucets, and showers) can lead to significant water savings. FEMP BMP #6 gives some guidance on...

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are responsible for providing thermal comfort and fresh air to building occupants. This is...

A “roof over our heads” is an essential part of a building envelope, protecting occupants and building structures and systems from the e...