LEED Services

LEED Certification: Being Good to Mother Nature is Great for Your Bottom Line

The U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program is a leading-edge system for designing, constructing, operating and certifying green buildings.

Most building types can be eligible for LEED™ certification, so whether you're creating a new structure or renovating an existing building, planning for LEED certification early in the development process is critical. Certification not only provides a better end product, it also avoids potentially expensive additional service requests from design consultants and contractor change proposals during project delivery.

This nationally accepted LEED point-based rating system promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in six key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, indoor environmental quality, and innovation in operations (or innovation & design depending upon rating system). Buildings can obtain certified, silver, gold, or platinum levels according to their sustainability and green criteria.

LEED Commissioning: Critical Tasks for LEED Certification

One of the most important steps in obtaining an LEED certification at any level is Commissioning. This is the process of reviewing and documenting that buildings are designed, installed, functionally tested, and capable of being operated and maintained according to the owner's operational needs. It’s also a prerequisite for a project to receive a LEED rating.

Commissioning is divided into two levels: Fundamental Building Systems Commissioning and Additional (Enhanced) Commissioning. Fundamental Building Systems Commissioning requires six tasks that are generally considered more traditional (or fundamental) commissioning tasks:

  1. Engage a Commissioning Authority = Certified Commissioning Professional (CBCP)
  2. Review design intent and basis of design documentation
  3. Include commissioning requirements in the construction documents
  4. Develop and utilize a commissioning plan
  5. Verify installation, functional performance, training and documentation
  6. Complete a commissioning report

Additional (Enhanced) Commissioning earns one additional credit toward LEED certification. To achieve this credit, the following five tasks must be completed in addition to the six required for the Fundamental Building Systems Commissioning prerequisite:

  1. Complete a focused design review prior to the construction documents phase
  2. Complete a focused design review of the construction documents
  3. Complete a selective submittal review for commissioned equipment
  4. Create a re-commissioning management manual
  5. Contract for a warranty or post-occupancy review

Commissioning is a lengthy, complicated process and CBO Financial can guide you every step of the way. By pairing our LEED expertise with our professional experience as architects, contractors, and developers, we’ll provide your team with the insight to ensure a successful and more effective LEED effort. We're at the forefront of understanding and applying green-building strategies and technologies, and as design leaders, we develop the scope of work for sub-consultants and contractors, and then ensure that your project earns the right points to achieve LEED status.

Learn more about the LEED program by attending our online Green Building & The LEED Green Building Rating System: Introduction & Overview workshop on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 1 pm EST. To register please email vbokhari@cbofinancial.com.

For more information about CBO Financial’s LEED Certification services, contact Corinne Cheairs at ccheairs@cbofinancial.com