LEED Consulting
"Over the past few years, LEED has emerged as the industry's de facto sustainable property rating system and become nearly synonymous with the term 'green building'." (CoStar 2008) With LEED Accredited Professionals in every discipline, Environmental Building Strategies guides teams through the LEED process through efficient documentation strategies. Our responsibility includes managing the design charrettes, documenting LEED compliance, and tooling the project team and subcontractors with the information necessary to have a successful LEED project. We currently partner with architects, developers, and contractors to facilitate the application of all LEED rating systems. We remain actively engaged throughout the life of your project, managing research and staying informed of the latest developments in the green building world.
Having wrote the new version of the LEED BD+C exam and created the LEED EDGE project management software, our ability to streamline a new construction project's certification process will reduce soft cost project certification fees. We currently provide guidance under the LEED for New Construction, LEED for Core & Shell, and LEED for Schools Rating Systems.
- -LEED for New Construction & Major Renovations 2009
- -LEED for Schools
- -LEED for Core and Shell Development 2009
As a result of internal efficiency and LEED EDGE we find our prices are generally half that of our competitors - this has resulted in partnerships with property management and contractors throughout the country who have previously felt pressured to value engineer LEED out of a project because of high LEED Consulting fees.
- -LEED for Commercial Interiors 2009
- -LEED for Retail Interiors (coming soon)
LEED EBOM is where the green building movement is headed. In order to meet the obligations of reducing energy consumption and improving lifestyle we must address the 99% of the market that is our existing building stock. Combining our Commissioning, ENERGY STAR, and Energy Audit Services with a LEED for Existing Buildings Certification, we provide a powerful combination resulting in the reduction of operating expenses with minimized capital requirements.
- -LEED for Existing Buildings Operations & Maintenance 2009
- -LEED for Existing Schools (coming soon)
LEED ND is a complex system that incorporates several development factors that other systems are incapable of realizing. As some of the first LEED for Neighborhood Development Accredited Professionals, we strive to work with project teams at development conception to reduce project certification costs as well as soft cost consulting fees. Please contact one of the Principals to find out more about our Neighborhood Development Consulting Program.
LEED for HOMES is a completely different animal than most other LEED systems - for that EBS' provides all services necessary to see residential structures succeed with limited capital costs to the homeowner. While contacting a LEED provider is a necessary first step, we can facilitate all other LEED for HOMES services such as HERS testing and verification, energy modeling, and LEED Green Rater Services. Coupling a LEED for HOMES Certification with incentives and rebates through Federal, State and Utility programs will ensure maximum value. Some states require special certifications such as Certified Energy Plans Examiner (CEPE) or C-HERS PV to sign off on energy rebate forms - of course we provide those services too.
LEED EDGE is a project management software we developed internally after seeing how much "paper pushing" was occurring during the LEED certification process. Many consultancies were accruing 6 and 7 digit sums for their consulting hours - all which added to project costs and increase the first cost component. This has led to people thinking LEED is costly in the neighborhood of 1-5% of construction costs. Call us to see how an efficient LEED Consultant works - seriously! (415.329.7100).
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A Design Charrette is a forum for project team members to connect and influence design and planning decisions. Besides generating excitement for the project, the meetings encourage agreement on crucial issues and facilitate an integrated approach with the goal of meeting both design and sustainability goals. Environmental Building Strategies prefers to conduct charrettes early in the design process to stimulate integrated design where reduced project costs, schedules, and the best energy and environmental performances are the results. According to the National Resource Defense Council, "though many types of developers make use of charrettes, these workshops are particularly helpful in green building projects, where a well-integrated design is vital to meeting the goals of the project and keeping costs down. Charrettes provide a creative, highly focused atmosphere where your project team can discuss environmental goals, including LEED certification, and come up with an overall green building strategy."
