WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 15, 2020 – As companies, organizations and governments focus on safe and healthy reopening plans in response to the pandemic, more than 130 LEED projects have engaged the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Safety First pilot credits to support those efforts. 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.

The Safety First credits are part of USGBC’s economic recovery strategy and reinforces that healthy people in healthy places is the fastest way to rebuild a healthy economy. The Safety First credits address critical health and safety adjustments building teams should consider in order to confidently welcome back tenants and visitors. The guidance can be used by any LEED project that has certified or is pursuing certification. The more than 130 projects pursuing the credits represent 20 different countries and territories.

“Health and safety has been a core part of LEED from the beginning, but the pandemic has revealed new ways we can leverage sustainability to better support people and communities during this crisis,” said Melissa Baker, senior vice president of Technical Core at USGBC. “These projects are taking the first step and reinforcing USGBC’s belief that in order to rebuild a healthy economy we have to focus on healthy people in healthy places.”

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.