BOMA BEST vs LEED: What’s the Difference? (2025 Guide for Canadian Buildings)

By UpClean — Kelowna’s Premier Office Cleaning & Building Maintenance Partner

Sustainability is now a critical factor in property management. Whether you oversee an office tower, medical facility, retail center, or government building, you’ve likely encountered two major standards:

BOMA BEST

LEED

Both help buildings operate sustainably — but they are not the same.

Understanding the difference helps building owners choose the right certification and select cleaning partners who can actually support their goals.

In this guide, UpClean breaks down BOMA BEST vs LEED, how they compare, what matters most, and how your cleaning partner can influence both.

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1. What Is BOMA BEST?

BOMA BEST (Building Environmental Standards) is Canada’s leading sustainability program for existing buildings.

It focuses on:

• Energy efficiency

• Water conservation

• Waste & recycling

• Indoor air quality

• Cleaning & maintenance operations

• Environmental management

Who gets certified?

The building — not the vendor.

Certification Levels:

• Certified

• Bronze

• Silver

• Gold

• Platinum

BOMA BEST increases property value, tenant satisfaction, and operational efficiency.

Want to see how UpClean supports operational excellence?

➡️ Visit: Building Maintenance Services

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2. What Is LEED?

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a global green building certification program focusing on the design, construction, and operation of buildings.

It evaluates:

• Building design

• Materials

• Energy + water efficiency

• Construction practices

• Ongoing operations (LEED O+M)

Who gets certified?

The building, not service providers.

Main LEED Categories:

• LEED for Building Design & Construction (BD+C)

• LEED for Interior Design & Construction (ID+C)

• LEED for Operations & Maintenance (O+M)

• LEED for Existing Buildings

For O+M certifications, cleaning and maintenance providers directly influence scoring.

Learn how UpClean supports LEED-aligned operations:

➡️ Green Cleaning Programs

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3. Key Differences Between BOMA BEST and LEED

Feature	BOMA BEST	LEED
Primary Focus	Existing building operations	Design, construction + operations
Cost	Lower	Higher
Typical Users	Property managers, operations teams	Architects, engineers, sustainability consultants
Best For	Office, retail, mixed-use, government buildings	New builds or major renovations
Time to Certify	3–6 months	6–18 months
Cleaning Impact	High	High (for O+M category)
Geographic Focus	Canada	Global

BOMA BEST is operational and practical.

LEED is design-heavy and internationally standardized.

Most buildings in BC pursue BOMA BEST first because it's easier, faster, and directly tied to daily operations.

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4. How Cleaning Impacts Both Certifications

Cleaning operations play a major role in both certification systems.

How UpClean Helps Buildings Meet LEED Requirements

UpClean provides:

• EcoLogo & Green Seal–certified cleaners

• HEPA filtration vacuums

• Microfiber cleaning system

• Dust + IAQ control

• Waste diversion support

• Low-VOC chemical use

See our LEED-compliant approach:

➡️ Green Cleaning Services

How UpClean Supports BOMA BEST Requirements

UpClean helps improve multiple scoring categories:

• Indoor air quality (HEPA vacuums)

• Waste management & recycling programs

• Floor care procedures

• Documented cleaning policies

• Staff training (WHMIS, PPE, green cleaning)

• Environmental cleaning procedures

  
  

Learn more:

➡️ Commercial Cleaning Services

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5. Which Certification Should Your Building Choose?

Choose BOMA BEST if:

• You manage an existing building

• You want practical sustainability improvements

• You need faster certification

• You want lower cost

• You want to align with Canadian standards

Choose LEED if:

• You’re planning major renovations

• You’re designing a new commercial building

• You require global recognition

• You want Class A tenant appeal

Many BC properties pursue:

BOMA BEST for operations → LEED O+M for long-term recognition

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6. Why UpClean Is the Ideal Partner for Both Programs

UpClean integrates green cleaning and sustainable building operations into all core services:

✔ Green-certified product line

✔ HEPA air-quality-focused vacuum systems

✔ Microfiber cleaning system

✔ Documented SOPs + SDS binders

✔ WHMIS-certified staff

✔ Waste diversion + recycling audits

✔ Floor care, carpet care, and IAQ control

Want to see how we integrate cleaning + maintenance?

➡️ Building Maintenance Services

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7. Final Verdict: BOMA BEST vs LEED

BOMA BEST

✔ Best for existing buildings

✔ Easy, affordable, operations-focused

✔ Strongly influenced by cleaning practices

✔ Ideal for Kelowna office buildings, government, and strata

LEED

✔ Best for new construction or major renovations

✔ Internationally recognized

✔ Cleaning matters most in O+M category

Cleaning Partner Influence

A building’s certification score can increase or decrease based on the cleaning company’s equipment, chemicals, waste practices, and documentation.

This is why choosing a BOMA BEST–aligned cleaning partner like UpClean matters.

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Ready to Improve Your Building's Sustainability Performance?

UpClean helps Kelowna office buildings, medical facilities, and property managers align with BOMA BEST and LEED standards through:

• Green Cleaning

• Commercial Janitorial

• Building Maintenance

• Floor & Carpet Care

• Waste Diversion Support

  
  

🚀 Book a Free BOMA BEST/LEED Alignment Quote

➡️ Contact UpClean

Let’s make your building cleaner, healthier, and fully aligned with Canada’s best sustainability standards.