June 23, 2010
by Environmental Building Strategies
in LEED
Tags: LEED 2009, LEED credit compliance, LEED EDGE, LEED project management tool
The Beginning Of LEED EDGE
Here at EBS we have experienced first-hand the frustration that goes along with LEED credit compliance. From CIRs to credit appeals to excess paper-pushing, we knew there had to a better way. Enter LEED EGDE! A tool first conceived internally, LEED EDGE has allowed us to provide clients with accurate, real-time answers to their credit compliance questions. As a result, we save our clients money by being twice as efficient as other consultants. In addition, clients now have the added benefit of knowing the exact level of certification their project is on track to achieve at any time!.
Problems With Credit Compliance
During the development of LEED EDGE, we saw three fundamental flaws in the credit compliance process: excess cost, credit confusion, and wasted time. First, we understood that the compliance process was already an expensive one often leading to frustrating cost increases. Second, we saw how projects could shift focus, making LEED compliance difficult to monitor. Third, we knew how difficult it could be for a project to move forward when the status of certain LEED credits was uncertain.
What Does LEED EDGE Do And How Does It Address Those Problems?
LEED EDGE is a project management tool aimed to simplify and streamline the credit compliance process. It centralizes the total anticipated credits a project could achieve in one tab, guiding the user through each credit with point system breakdowns and information boxes, making the entire process less confusing. In addition, the tool’s functionality allows the user to see the project’s over-all LEED status at any time by offering instant feedback with drop-down menus and easy field entry. As a result, EDGE makes the LEED compliance process more cost-effective, efficient, and easier to understand.
How To Try It Out?
If you go to our website, www.TheLEEDEDGE.com, you’ll find more detailed information about product features as well as ways to either demo or buy one of the two modules currently available: LEED O&M 2009 and LEED CI 2009. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at info@ebsconsultants.net!
Thanks!
-The EBS Team
August 5, 2009
by Environmental Building Strategies
in LEED, Uncategorized
Tags: Green Building, LEED 2009, USGBC
12. Research the USGBC website – ask around
The USGBC wants you to succeed – they happen to want you to be in compliance too. They are pushing the market in a new direction and by signing up you are agreeing that direction is a good one – you are advocating the same thing. Because they want you to succeed they have tools and resources on their website for you to use. These include a breakdown of all the LEED rating systems, LEED projects that have been successful in the pass, sample presentations on why to build green and green building benefits, and many other useful tools and information on green building.
A new addition to the wealth of assets provided by USGBC is a new LEED online tool. Once a project is registered its status can be followed by all team members using the online template. Consultants, owners, project managers, architects, or any individual involved in the LEED process can see how many credits the project has qualified for and how many more it needs to reach the desired certification level. This great tool solves a previously serious problem, lack of transparency throughout the process and keeps all team members’ expectations firmly rooted in reality. It also helps keep the project on budget and on time.
Research the USGBC website and CIR’s – get involved in your local chapter to find contractors or people who know and understand the system. They may also be able to provide you with contacts to successfully complete the mission.
–The EBS Team–
July 28, 2009
by Environmental Building Strategies
in Green Building, LEED, Uncategorized
Tags: Green Building, LEED 2009, LEED AP, LEED AP exam
The following is from a Buildinggreen.com article written about Matt’s experience writing the new LEED AP exam:
New LEED AP Exam Writer Tells All
Editor’s Note: When Matt Macko, a principal at Environmental Building Strategies, told me that he was the only energy expert in the room when the new LEED AP BD+C exam was written, I asked him to write the story of his experience for BuildingGreen.com. Here’s what he told us. If you have questions for Matt, please leave them in the comments section, and he offered to answer them. The details of the new LEED AP credentialing program were also announced today. – Tristan Roberts, LEED AP
To see the rest of the article go to http://www.buildinggreen.com/live/index.cfm/2009/7/28/New-LEED-AP-Exam-Writer-Tells-All
–The EBS Team–
May 4, 2009
by Environmental Building Strategies
in LEED, Uncategorized
Tags: Green Building, LEED, LEED 2009
2. Evaluate compliance and strategies
Teams must initially evaluate their projects ability to comply with LEED and which system is most appropriate. Sometimes costs will be too much of a hurdle to overcome especially with certain versions of the new LEED 2009 system. If region is a hurdle then often more expensive credits will have to be sought after such as Enhanced Commissioning or Thermal Comfort Verification. Some credits can be easily figured into a project at the end – these credits include the ID Credit for Green Cleaning or the EA Credit for Green Power
It’s important to understand that only two things are truly required in LEED – Basic Commissioning and an energy model demonstrating a 14% more energy efficient building than ASHRAE 90.1-2004 (now 2007). Evaluate your ability to get those credits first. They are the initial hurdle in any project and while they aren’t normally difficult, they do provide a good starting point for evaluation of costs and feasibility. Also, make sure you have read what is required of a team on a LEED project and verify that your team has the tools, resources, and drive to see it through to success. The documentation portion can be a frustration and sticking point – see Real Life LEED for more information on this.
I will say in closing however that documentation is supposed to be easier with LEED 2009. The latest update from a member circle event the other night was that many advancements had been made in the area of speed and reliability.
The EBS Team
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