Taking a look at your business and facilities from a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) perspective is an important strategy most organizations will need to embrace. Whether in a good or bad economic environment, the benefits of managing your business with an emphasis on resource management view is just good business.

The areas of general focus should be Site Planning, Energy Management, Material Strategies and Usage , Indoor Environment Quality and Waste Management. Our staff of experts at Renovos will help you analyze, develop and implement a plan to improve your business through our LEED Innovation program.

Buildings can receive LEED certification by submitting documentation of meeting or exceeding certain technical requirements of the U.S. Green Building Council. One or more points are earned towards certification for each technical requirement that is attained. Four different levels of certification can be achieved based on the total points earned. For new construction the rating system is:

LEVEL POINTS
1). Certified requires 26-32 points
2). Silver requires 33-38 points
3). Gold requires 39-51 points
4). Platinum requires 52-69 points

The rating system for new construction generally focuses on commercial buildings however rating systems for other building types have been and are being developed.

In addition, there are three prerequisites that each building must meet prior to any rating:
(1) Fundamental commissioning of the systems
(2) Minimum energy performance
(3) The reduction of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in HVAC and refrigerant equipment (related to ozone depletion).

Here are some more specific areas to focus on:
Optimize Energy Performance (1-10 points) - Buildings can receive points for increasing their energy performance beyond the prerequisite energy performance. Typically, a building simulation using the Energy Cost Budget Method is used to demonstrate the energy performance and points are earned based on the percentage improvement above the baseline.

Additional Commissioning (1 point) - Fundamental building commissioning is a prerequisite for LEED certification and essentially addresses system commissioning after substantial completion of system installation. Additional commissioning involves an independent commission agent (independent of the design team or the system contractors) that is part of the design and construction process from the beginning.

Measurement and Verification (1 point) - LEED credits are awarded if the project team can demonstrate that they have provided for the accounting and optimization of energy and water consumption. This involves metering systems and management tools, such as an energy management application that can track actual usage and cost, configure what if scenarios, compare projected cost with actual costs, etc. Such an application can be stand alone or part of a portfolio of facility management applications and should be considered a standard component needed to manage a smart building.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Monitoring (1 point) - LEED credit is given for a carbon dioxide monitoring system that can provide data on the ventilation of spaces which then can be used to adjust the HVAC system. The result is improved indoor air quality and occupant comfort. The monitoring sensors can be designed based on activity levels, zones or space use and then integrated in the building automation system.

Controllability of Systems: Perimeter and Non-Perimeter Spaces (1 point each) - LEED credit is provided if the building affords individual occupants or specific groups in multi-occupant spaces (conference rooms, classrooms, etc.) the capability to control the lighting, temperature and ventilation of their spaces. One credit is provided for perimeter and non-perimeter spaces. This level of individual control, while still maintaining overall system management, is part of programmable lighting and HVAC control systems. Many times this type of control is provided to occupants through touch screens or other smart building systems such as VOIP telephones.

Thermal Comfort: Permanent Monitoring System (1 point) - LEED provides credits for temperature and humidity monitoring systems integrated into the HVAC control system to maintain occupant comfort and automatically adjust conditions as needed. The objective is through additional monitoring and sensors the smart building systems collect more data on system and occupant use which is then turned into actionable information to optimize the system performance and energy usage.

Innovation in Design (1-4 points) - LEED will grant points for innovative ideas not covered by the Green Building Ratings System or ideas that substantially exceed a LEED performance credit.

High performance buildings are a necessity for any organization to remain competitive in the future. The result is that building owners and managers have enhanced performance and functionality in their buildings.

Did you know?
• LEED building rental rate is $11.33 per square foot higher than non-LEED buildings
• LEED buildings have a 4.1% higher occupancy over non-LEED peers
• Energy Star building rental rates command a $2.40 per square foot premium
• Energy Star buildings have a 3.6% higher occupancy rate over non-Energy Star buildings
• Energy Star buildings sell for an average of $61 per square foot more than their peers while LEED buildings command a remarkable $171 per square foot more
• Energy Star buildings use an average of 40 percent less energy than average buildings and emit 35 percent less carbon

Services
Comprehensive Inspection and Analysis
Energy Management
Engineering Management Policies
Preventive Maintenance Program
Engineering Law and Reliability
Engineering Budget Problems
HVAC Analysis and Management
Fire Life System Analysis
Budgeting Study and survey the operation for the building and the facility

We place an emphasis on Energy Management Services.
Identify and quantify energy conservation opportunities associated with Chillers Plant, HVAC, EMS Controls, TES System, AHU, VSD and any other opportunities.
Utility Billing and Data Analysis
Review appropriateness of Energy Conservation Best Practices
Implant Star Energy Program

We have attractive pricing and will offer both fixed rate pricing and performance based contracts.  Contact us at LEEDInnovation@Renovos.com