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LEED Pre-Certification
Priming your building for obtaining LEED Certification.
LEED Pre-Certification Overview
Our Pre-Certification service targets the initial phases of a LEED project with the intention of streamlining the preparation for credit and pre-requisite achievement which will be later required in the Performance Period.
Details
For most buildings, the road to achieving LEED Certification will require some degree of operational changes, whether it is how the building uses ongoing consumables, how it consumes energy/water, how it deals with waste outputs, how it is cleaned, or other operating characteristics.
For some projects that may require substantial energy and plumbing retrofits, dividing the overall certification process up into specific phases can be easier for management to grapple with. Because LEED for existing buildings is largely focused on operations and maintenance, it is best to make changes to the facility that will have a lasting effect that will carry on both before and after certification. For this reason, taking time upfront to focus on making the building comply with LEED standards can streamline both the certification process as well as operational management of the building.
What our LEED Pre-Certification Includes
Every building is different which may require an array of LEED related project management and preparation. Our Pre-Certification is intended to make the building ‘LEED ready’ which will also depend on which credits are expected to be pursued. Some of the general things we provide are:
- Level 2 LEED Gap Analysis
- Custom Energy Audit
- 1-Hour Green Building Occupant Education Session
- Energy efficiency and/or renewable energy Project Management
- Recommendations and guidance on how to increase Energy Star Score
- Plumbing retrofit project management (if needed)
- LEED Credit related building preparation
- LEED Certification strategy development- scheduling, planning and time line
How Much Will LEED Cost for Your Building?
Our Level 2 LEED Gap Analysis, which is included in our Pre-Certification package, answers just this. It is nearly impossible to understand how much LEED will cost on your building without knowing how it is operating. One of the most important, if not the most important, requirements of LEED for Existing Buildings is the energy performance, which is based on the Energy Star Score. This is why determining your Energy Star Score is one of the first things we do in every project. Read more about our Level 2 LEED Gap Analysis to understand what it examines.
The Pre-Certification Process
If your building will need a higher Energy Star Score that what it currently has, increasing the energy performance will be the first priority because it is the most time sensitive. This is because the Energy Star Score is based on 12 months of energy performance, which means that the score will take several months to be impacted by energy efficiency changes. For example, if a robust energy efficient retrofit is implemented and reduces energy needs by 50% for 2 months, because the Energy Star Score takes into account 12 months, the net effect is only about an 8% total change. This is why we implement energy efficiency into the project as early as possible, which also gives us time to integrate many other LEED components while the energy performance is increasing.
By performing a Custom Energy Audit, we are able to assess which components of your building will benefit the most from no, low, mid, and high cost operational adjustments. Part of what makes our Custom Energy Audit unique and valuable is that includes developing a Reconciliation Optimization which reconciles the array of potential Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) into one optimized “master plan”. The ‘optimization’ is based on the original goals of the energy efficiency needs, such as budget restraints and LEED credits.
If the project is going for LEED Certification, than the likely most optimal solution will be the greatest energy reduction for the least cost. Most other energy audits will simply detail what is available, without taking the additional time to use expertise to determine which integrated strategy will bring the greatest utility to the owner and project.
As part of the road to increasing the energy performance of your building, we include at least one 1-Hour Green Building Occupant Education Session in the initial stages of Pre-Certification to focus on the behavioral element of resource consumption.
Because occupants are the largest consumers of energy for every building, we believe that integrating energy use awareness into the minds of the users of the building can have significant effects on reducing energy consumption. Besides reducing energy needs of the building, it can be a great way to kick-off a LEED project and begin to introduce LEED and green building concepts to the occupants early on. We have found that if the users of the building are truly on-board with LEED from the start, the entire certification process goes much smoother.
If capital changes are needed to decrease energy needs of the building, we will utilize our Energy Efficiency Project Management capabilities to actualize the energy efficiency plan. Our goal is to begin the energy efficiency campaign as soon as possible, which includes project managing the changes so that they will be timely and effective.
If the owner is interested exploring renewable energy options, we will include our Renewable Energy Enhancement solution as part of the Pre-Certification package. This is streamlined way for for owners to realize the cost and energy producing benefits from exploring multiple renewable energy technologies and installers, with minimal to no time needed on their part, besides the presentation of multiple options. Due to the fact that there are many other considerations to renewable energy besides strictly the cost/benefit potential, we leave the decision of what to pursue in the hands of the owner, to the extent that they want our input.
Indoor plumbing may also present a challenge to many projects. Although, the LEED rating system rewards water efficiency rather well, especially in most Colorado regions due to the Regional Priority credits. Because of this, we try to explore reaching the maximum indoor water efficiency point threshold, for the least cost amount. Depending on the building, it may be as simple as installing some new aerators, shower heads, or flushometers. Others may require deeper plumbing retrofits. In the event that a major plumbing overhaul is needed or selected, we try to phase in products as much as possible to avoid purchasing things that may end up not being compatible with the building.
After these major areas are covered, and depending on the time needed to increase the Energy Star Score, we will further refine various operations in the building such as pest management, cleaning, hardscape management, landscaping, indoor air quality, purchasing, waste, recycling, and more.
What We Need to Get Started
We will need to conduct a brief interview with the primary building operator and owner, perform a walk-through of the building, and have at least 12 months of utility bills. To learn more, or to schedule a no obligation fact finding consultation regarding a LEED Certification, contact us today.
Additional Questions?
For additional questions regarding LEED Pre-Certification please contact us.
