Orkin Named USGBC Education Provider

LEED pest control training available online for building property managers.

Atlanta-based pest control company Orkin is a U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Education Provider, committed to enhancing the ongoing professional development of the building industry and LEED professionals through high-quality education programs.

The first course Orkin will offer is "Integrated Pest Management Practices for LEED® Buildings," a free, self-guided online training course (www.IPMLEEDcredits.com) designed to educate property managers about environmentally-friendly pest control practices. Upon completing the course successfully, participants can earn a one-hour continuing education credit towards the LEED Credential Maintenance Program.

“One relatively easy way to minimize the environmental impact of a building is to follow green pest control methods using an approach called Integrated Pest Management, or IPM,” said Ron Harrison, Ph.D., Orkin’s director of technical services. “As part of the LEED performance standards, IPM focuses on ongoing inspection, targeted treatment, documentation and monitoring to help prevent pest infestations before they happen.”

The course teaches property managers how to incorporate Integrated Pest Management – an environmentally conscious approach that combines a number of prevention and control methods, with pesticides used only as a last resort – into their existing building operations and maintenance plans. As the USGBC’s first pest management Education Provider, Orkin has agreed to abide by USGBC-established operational and educational criteria, and is subject to annual reviews and audits for quality assurance.

Pest control currently falls under two different categories in the LEED standards: Sustainable Sites (SS Credit 3 – Integrated Pest Management, Erosion Control and Landscape Management Plan); and Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ Credit 3.9 – Green Cleaning: Indoor Integrated Pest Management).

“Buildings become healthier for tenants and the environment when we reduce or eliminate the need for pesticides,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president and CEO, USGBC. “We’re thrilled to partner with Orkin to deliver this education and help property managers understand how they can apply green pest management practices in their buildings.”

To take the “Integrated Pest Management Practices for LEED Buildings” course, visit www.IPMLEEDcredits.com.

About Orkin, LLC

Founded in 1901, Atlanta-based Orkin is an industry leader in essential pest control services and protection against termite damage, rodents and insects in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Central America, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Asia and the Mediterranean. With more than 400 locations, Orkin’s almost 8,000 employees serve approximately 1.7 million customers. The company serves homeowners and numerous industries, including food and beverage processing, foodservice, hospitality, healthcare, retail, warehousing, property/facilities management, schools and institutions. Learn more about Orkin at www.orkin.com. Orkin is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rollins, Inc. (NYSE: ROL).

About U.S. Green Building Council

The USGBC community is transforming the way we build, design and operate our buildings for healthier places that save precious resources for people to live, work, learn and play in. UGSBC is helping create buildings and communities that regenerate and sustain the health and vitality of all life within a generation. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Council is the driving force of the green building industry, which is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product by 2013. USGBC leads a diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials, concerned citizens, teachers and students. The USGBC community comprises 80 local chapters, 17,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 150,000 individuals who have earned LEED Professional Credentials. Visit www.usgbc.org for more information.