SEP Retrofit has worked on numerous complex LEED projects involving campuses, multiple buildings, and phased construction. Our approach is to assess complex projects early in the design process to determine the most cost-effective means to certification, while also ensuring that an appropriate level of consistency is applied to the various project buildings and site elements.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, more commonly known as LEED, is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and supervision of resources.
LEED can be applied to all building types (i.e. commercial as well as residential). It works throughout the building lifecycle, including design and construction, operations and maintenance, tenant fit out, and significant retrofit. Additionally, LEED for Neighborhood Development extends the benefits of LEED beyond the building footprint into the neighborhood it serves.
Lastly, LEED provides a point system to score green building design and construction. The system is categorized in five basic areas: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality. Buildings are awarded points based on the extent various sustainable strategies are achieved. The more points awarded the higher the level of certification achieved from LEED Certified, Silver, Gold, to Platinum.
Reduce your Environmental Footprint
The operation of your building has a huge impact on the environment. A LEED Gold certified building produces 34 percent less greenhouse gas emissions than a non-LEED certified building.
Save Money
By obtaining LEED certification or even improving your LEED score, you can save more money in the long run. This is especially important for businesses in commercial spaces that need to reduce their overhead as much as possible. By improving things such as energy efficiency and water efficiency, you’ll greatly reduce the monthly utility bills, which can add up to a substantial amount in the long run – especially for larger buildings.
Example: The savings of the average LEED Gold certified building:
Create a healthier and efficient work environment
Buildings that are built and operated in ways that are not environmentally-friendly often contain unhealthy indoor environments. Many of the people that work in such environments become ill due to what’s known as sick building syndrome. Sick building syndrome causes absenteeism and a drop in productivity, which is why creating a healthy indoor environment is so important. The healthier your indoor environment is, the more comfortable it will be.
USGBC – United States Green Building Council
