LEED Certification

Let us help you achieve both environmental stewardship and cost savings by creating a net-positive regenerative building. Our program starts by selecting a state-of-the-art building envelope and façade that uses high-performing, aesthetically pleasing regional materials. By utilizing regional materials, we minimize the environmental impact of transportation. According to LEED, regional materials are defined in the Materials & Resources (MR) Credit 5 as “building materials or products that have been extracted, harvested, or recovered, as well as manufactured, within 500 miles of the project site for a minimum of 10% or 20%, based on cost, of the total materials value.”

By integrating renewable energy, passive cooling through natural ventilation, and passive heating through solar methods, significant energy savings can often be achieved. Additionally, innovative architectural design elements can help reduce the need for larger mechanical systems. Shading, whether through natural landscaping or building elements such as awnings, overhangs, and trellises, can significantly decrease the energy required to cool your building. Incorporating skylights for daylighting can also help reduce your electricity bill. Furthermore, adding cistern water collection can help save on your water bill.

The California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen) establishes the minimal requirements for sustainable practices in both residential and commercial construction projects. In addition, the California Energy Code (Title 24) establishes minimum standards for building energy performance. LEED certification on the other hand, is a more restrictive and widely used green building rating system worldwide. By achieving this certification, building owners can significantly reduce wasteful and unnecessary energy and water consumption.

Commissioning and conducting energy audits on either a newly constructed or existing building is an excellent way to assess repairs and upgrades. By making these upgrades, improvements can be made to materials, mechanical equipment, electrical lighting and outlets, plumbing fixtures, and controls such as Building Management Systems (BAS), Energy Management Systems (EMS), Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems.