LEED-EB Consulting

Operations and maintenance of a building has a large impact on the environment. Nationally, residential and commercial buildings account for 38% of greenhouse gas emissions; in New York City, building-related emissions are almost double that.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, developed in 1993 by the US Green Building Council (USGBC), provides a set of consistent benchmarks with which to measure environmental performance and commit to sustainable practices. According to the USGBC, "LEED for Existing Buildings is a road map for delivering economically profitable, environmentally responsible, healthy, productive places to live and work."

All LEED categories have four levels of certification: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum, based on points earned in five categories of environmental performance:

• Sustainable Sites - Site related issues, including planting and landscaping, transportation, water emissions, soil erosion, and ecological impact.

• Water Efficiency - Involves water efficiency, wastewater innovations, discharge water compliance, and water use reduction.

• Energy & Atmosphere - Includes building commissioning, energy performance standards, renewable energy, building operations, and maintenance and measurement.

• Materials & Resources - Recycling and source reduction, toxics reduction, hazardous waste, construction and demolition recycling, and environmentally preferable purchasing.

• Indoor Environmental Quality - Outside air, asbestos and PCB's, ventilation and monitoring, indoor pollutants, and thermal comfort, amongst other initiatives.

In addition to numerous other environmental and health benefits for a building's occupants, LEED-EB certified buildings offer energy savings that range from 30%-70% annually, yielding lower building operations costs.

Great Forest's LEED® accredited professionals assist building owners and managers in coordinating the design and implementation phases of sustainability initiatives, achieving LEED certification, and communicating the message of sustainability to building occupants and the public at large.