NEEFC Maine Environmental Leader Workbook

Maine Environmental Leader Self-Certification
Background
Established in 2003, Maine’s Environmental Leader program has worked with over 170 lodging facilities across the state to provide certification for those displaying an exemplary commitment to the environment. Participants in the program use an operational sustainability assessment tool to identify practices in place and recognize additional opportunities to preserve resources and increase profits.

As of July, 2026, Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) transferred administration of the program to the New England Environmental Finance Center (NEEFC).
NEEFC will work with academic partners at the University of Southern Maine (USM) and the University of New England (UNE) to facilitate the program’s on-site technical assistance. The DEP recognized NEEFC’s ability to leverage and increase applied learning opportunities for USM and UNE students as well as the program’s value for Maine’s vital lodging sector.

Roles and Responsibilities
The NEEFC engages students from USM and UNE in the assessment and verification process for lodging facilities for the state of Maine. The DEP continues to serve the Environmental Leader program in an advisory role.

How to Participate
Interested facilities can complete this assessment form. Once the assessment is submitted, a representative will follow up within 3 business days. Inquiries can be submitted to Peter Cooke (peter.r.cooke@maine.edu) and/or Luke Truman (luke.truman@maine.edu).

*Complete this form to generate a current snapshot of your property's operations.

*No individual scores will be shared outside of the NEEFC and UNE Certification team.

*All identifying data will remain confidential and not be shared with third parties without prior consent.

*Information provided will be securely stored and used solely for recognition and related analysis.

A score of 100 points will result in certification.
- Business Name
- Ownership Group Name
- Management Group Name
- Primary Contact Name
  
  First NameLast Name
- Primary Contact Email
  example@example.com
- Phone Number
  Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
- Business Address
  
  Street Address
  
  Street Address Line
  
  CityState
  
  Zip Code
- Number of rooms
- Business has a written environmental policy.
- Business has an environmental team/task force which meets at least quarterly.
- Business solicits feedback and ideas from employees.
- Elaborate on implemented ideas that have resulted in measurable environmental benefit:
- Property uses printing paper that contains a minimum of 30% post- consumer recycled content.
- Night audit reporting is stored digitally (paper-free), NOT printed out.
- Financial/operational reporting is handled digitally (paper-free).
- Please describe any other strategies used that were not covered above.
- Distribute recycling bins throughout the lodging facility for use by employees and guests in order to recycle beverage containers, food cans, newspapers, glass, and plastics.
- Recycling Procedures (Select all that are recycled, 2 pts each):
- Furniture is donated or repurposed/repaired when updating
- Mattresses/box springs recycled
- Estimated number of mattresses recycled per year
- Universal Waste Management - Required by Maine Law (No Points). Store fluorescent lamps and electronics in a central accumulation area that can be locked.
- Please describe any other strategies used that were not covered above.
- Energy Management System for rooms only while occupied
- Brand or Type of Environmental Management System
- Percentage of guest rooms with LED lights installed
- Number of LED lights per room
- Guests must request to have sheets changed in an effort to reduce energy, water and detergent use
- Guests required to request to have towels changed.
- Refillable amenities: Shampoo
- Refillable amenities: Conditioner
- Refillable amenities: Body wash/ soap
- Refillable ammenities: Lotion
- Use amenities that... (select all that apply, 1 pt each)
- Brand(s) of room amenities
- Donate unused soap to Clean the World (www.cleantheworld.org)
- Donate unused toilet paper rolls instead of throwing away.
- Please describe any other strategies used that were not covered above.
- Environmentally Certified Glass Cleaner (Green Seal or Ecologo, or other)
- Environmentally Certified All-Purpose Cleaner (Green Seal or Ecologo, or other)
- Environmentally Certified Bathroom Cleaner (Green Seal or Ecologo, or other)
- Brand of Cleaning Chemicals used
- Policy for surfaces that get disinfected AFTER being cleaned
- Pillow card signed by the cleaning staff about cleaning products used to clean room.
- Use of biodegradable laundry detergents that do not contain: Phosphates, nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE), or nonionic surfactants
- Ozone washing machines (which use no hot water).
- EnergyStar certified washing machines.
- Please describe any other strategies used that were not covered above.
- Rooms have 1.5 gpm faucets OR aerators installed in faucet
- What percentage of rooms have low flow faucets?
- Rooms have 1.28 gpf toilets.
- What percentage of rooms have low flow toilets?
- Rooms have less than 2.0 gpm shower heads.
- What percentage of rooms have low flow shower heads?
- Waterless urinals OR fractional low flow flush in common area restrooms.
- Number of low flow or zero flush urinals
- Please describe any other strategies used that were not covered above.
- State law (No Points). Notification to employees and customers (signage) if pesticide spraying has occurred. For a reference to this state law see: http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/pesticides/chapter_26/index.htm
- Use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques
- Use of Green Shield certified Pest contractor for IPM:
- Name of certified pest contractor
- Organic (non-chemical) fertilizers used when fertilizers are needed.
- Vegetative buffers to protect water bodies (streams, ponds, lakes, saltwater) from parking lots and driveways. Nature-Based design practices to protect against erosion. https://www.maine.gov/dep/land/ourshore/index.html
- Native species on grounds (need less water and fertilizer to maintain).
- Automatic sprinkler system with moisture sensors (prevents sprinklers from activating when it is raining or just after it has rained). Should apply 1 inch of water per week during growing season in one or two waterings.
- No sprinkler system, hand watered only when needed
- Water for irrigation is sub-metered.
- Please describe any other strategies used that were not covered above.
- Policy on prohibiting discharges to storm drains and removing accumulated fluids from the parking lot.
- Facility has cigarette butt disposal receptacle(s)
- Storm drain catch basins in parking lot are cleaned out entirely on an annual basis.
- Facility uses only dry cleaning methods (e.g. sweeping with a vacuum sweeper) to clean up or prevent the discharge of pollutants.
- Please describe any other strategies used that were not covered above.
- Interior Flat paint: less than 50 g/l VOC content.
- Estimate how many gallons have been purchased or used per year
- Reducing Impact from Carpeting (select all that apply):
- For heating oil tanks: Number of fiberglass and/or secondary containment (i.e. double-wall or double-bottom,etc.) tanks?
- Completed “Is Your Tank In Shape?” checklist for each tank?www.maine.gov/dep/waste/publications/isyourta.html
- Plan in place for for HVAC disruption and motor failure. High efficiency model is identified and in place for immediate replacement.
- Please describe any other strategies used that were not covered above.
- Swimming pool or spa water treatment (select all that apply):
- Insulated pool covering (thermal blanket) to keep heat in when not in use.
- LED lighting inside pool.
- Solar heating system for pool.
- Percentage of food sourced from local suppliers (within state and/ or within 100 miles).
- List local suppliers you source from and the extent to which your food is supplied by them.
- Do you have a composting program?
- Do you use a high temperature/low flow dish washer?
- Low flow pre-rinse spray valve for pre-cleaning dishes (must be less than 1 gal/minute).
- Do you grow any food/herbs on site?
- Do you donate food to soup kitchen or other charitable organization?
- Elimination of single use plastic/Styrofoam products
- Please describe any other strategies used that were not covered above.
- OUTDOOR vending machines
- Number of OUTDOOR vending machines
- INDOOR vending machines
- Number of INDOOR vending machines
- Percentage of common areas and hallways with LED lights installed
- Programmable on/off timers and/or sensors used for lighting and HVAC in low traffic and low occupancy areas. Both inside and outside.
- LED or electroluminescent exit signs throughout 100% of property.
- Low E or Thermapane Windows on Property
- Natural light substituting for electrical light or use of daytime dimming sensors.
- Percentage of energy obtained from renewable sources:
- Describe the source of power generated from renewable sources
- Does your business purchase renewable energy credits (RECs) to offset emissions?
- Amount of kWh in renewable energy credits (RECs) to offset emissions (annual)?
- New efficiency boiler or furnace (within 3 years).
- Year boiler/furnace installed
- Routine maintenance performed on HVAC. Filters changed regularly. (Use of pleated Merv 8 rated filters required for points. No metal mesh filters.)
- High efficiency air conditioning units. SEER of 13 or greater or EER of 11 or greater.
- Fans with humidity sensors in bathrooms.
- Individual PTAC units (package terminal air conditioner) cleaned yearly.
- If PTAC units are cleaned with chemicals, are those chemicals and waste water collected in a waste water system?
- Demand control ventilation for conference rooms, common areas.
- Number of conference rooms or spaces demand control ventilation is used:
- Electric vehicle for business use
- Ice Making
- Number of total ice making machines on property
- Contact Efficiency Maine for a: Walk Through Analysis/Energy Survey & Analysis/Scoping Audit.
- Please describe any other strategies used that were not covered above.
- Has your business worked with the Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine's Workforce to deliver training on operational sustainability for the staff? 50% of training costs are covered www.mccs.me.edu/workforce-training/grant-funded-training/
- Maintain environmental information for guests and staff with current information on what your business is doing to reduce environmental impact. Can include tips and solicit suggestions from customers. ***This is separate from posting the environmental policy and from pillow cards***
- Describe display
- Select number of diplays
- Collaborations/ relationships with local businesses involving discussions of environmental, social or governance topics, AND/OR encouraging other businesses to become certified “Environmental Leaders”. Describe how both entities benefit from the relationship:
- Select number of collaborations with local businesses
- Solicit guest feedback on environmental performance.
- Please describe any other strategies used that were not covered above.
- Do you have written policies regarding:
- Are supplier/contractor sustainability criteria (environmental, social) integrated into procurement decisions?
- Has the property assessed physical climate risks (sea level rise, extreme storms, heat waves) and developed a resilience action plan?
- Do you have written goals for
- Do you track and index progress made YoY for the following:
- Do you break down your carbon emissions based on the Global Reporting Emissions Scope 1, 2 and 3 standards. Please provide a copy below.
- Do you publish a sustainability report? Please provide a copy below.
- Do you attend or hold any Green Meetings or Conferences?
- How many and how often?
- Please use this space to describe any policies, practices, goals, etc that you wish to address that was not covered in any of the sections above. Feel free to write about what you have been working on or envision as future projects for your business.
- Upload any policies or goals here:
  
  Cancelof
- Total Points Scored
- 100 points is an instant certification. For recertification, 130 points is required for the first recertification and rises to 150 points for the second re-certification .
  For questions contact NEEFC Lodging Certification lead:
  Peter Cooke
  peter.r.cooke@maine.edu
  207-409-6732
- Should be Empty: