| Overview of services available: |
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Project Launch - Eco-charrette (design workshop) facilitation and coordination |
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Mid-project peer review |
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LEED consultation - research, document preparation, task management |
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Environmental materials research and recommendations |
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Energy performance modeling and building optimization |
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Commercial and residential energy code training and compliance documentation |
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Case study and education development |
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RFQ, RFP and design competition assistance and coordination (green team building) |
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Project-specific educational presentations for the project team or client |
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Project goal-setting workshops to identify green opportunities |
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Greening of bid documents for contractors |
Commercial Green Building Services provides technical assistance
on environmentally-sustainable building and community
design, building science, energy efficiency and renewable
energy. Our clients include the private sector, government
agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations,
and utilities. As a 501(c)3 private, non-profit education,
research and technical assistance organization. Southface
does not directly provide design or construction
services, but rather serves as a consultant to the
owner or design team.
Commercial Green Building Services promotes
the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™)
program of the US Green Building Council. LEED addresses
site, energy, water, materials, and indoor environmental
quality. Southface has expertise in all of these areas,
and is skilled at assisting design teams in using a wholistic
approach to creating high performance buildings. The
Southface team of LEED accredited professionals, engineers
and building scientists provide the following technical
services:
- Training and consulting on environmentally
responsible building design and construction
- Eco-charrette facilitation
- Design
reviews and in-field training and diagnostics
- LEED process guidance and administration,
including scheduling, task management, documentation,
and submittal preparation
- Environmental materials research and
recommendations
- Development of specifications to support
the LEED process
- Equipment and system life cycle analysis
and costing
- Energy performance modeling and building
optimization
- Commercial and residential energy code
training and compliance documentation
- Lighting, daylighting, renewable energy
and passive solar consultations
- Case study development and promotion
- Development of educational and outreach
materials
- Event planning and program development
for sustainable conferences, workshops and special
events
Eco
Charrettes and Facilitation
Achieving
an environmentally responsible building requires an
integrated approach, that involves the building owner,
design team, construction professionals, financial
community, and building officials. Southface is skilled
in facilitating this charrette process by providing
a bridge from theoretical concepts to practical guidelines.
Southface has a comprehensive knowledge of current
trends in environmental design and an extensive network
of local and national experts, manufacturers and vendors.
Related topics | Southface Online Training |
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LEED Administration
Southface Commercial Green Building Services staff can provide full LEED Administration services for your project, from initial planning to final USGBC award of a LEED rating and plaque. We can:
- Register your LEED project with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
- Help your team establish environmental goals and identify LEED credits to target
- Track the project’s progress toward goals and keep the team on course
- Train your team in how to use LEED Online and how to prepare submittals
- Facilitate integrated design meetings on specific topics such as energy or water efficiency and suggest credit synergies and strategies
- Research specific questions, materials or strategies to determine viable options for LEED credit compliance
- Manage timelines, gather documentation and review the team’s work for completeness before sending in the final submission to the USGBC
- Assist in the selection of a commissioning agent
- Train general contractors and sub-contractors on compliance with LEED credit requirements
- Write and submit any needed Credit Interpretation Requests to the USGBC to answer specific project questions
- Educate your team about how to take advantage of tax incentives
- Coordinate the team to answer any USGBC audit questions and any follow up on credits that are appealed
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Training
and Publication
Southface
has conducted over 150 workshops on high performance
commercial buildings, the ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1 energy
code, and other standards. Southface has authored many
design and technical publications and CD-ROMs, including
Sustainable Design, Construction and Land Development:
Guidelines for the Southeast, Walkable Community Design
Guidelines, and a series of fact sheets on sustainable
operations and practices for commercial facilities.
Related topics | Publications | Toolkits |
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Design
Review and Building Evaluation
Southface
has conducted over 250 reviews of building designs
to ensure that energy and environmental features are
considered. Our services include the calculation of
heating and cooling loads, energy simulation modeling,
and economic analyses of efficiency and renewable energy
measures.
Energy
Audit Services
Southface
has conducted over 600 energy audits on single-family,
multi-family and commercial buildings. These audits
often feature use of diagnostic equipment including
blower doors, duct testers, moisture meters, and combustion
analysis equipment. The audit service provides recommendations
for improving the quality of the structure, maximizing
the efficiency of existing equipment, and other means
for reducing energy, water and resource use and enhancing
indoor environmental quality.
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Energy Modeling
Southface Commercial Green Building Services staff can provide energy modeling of your planned or existing commercial building. We use DOE-2 based computer software that does an hour by hour simulation to model the building envelope, HVAC equipment, lighting, and building schedules. Using this information we can:
- Predict energy savings resulting from design alternatives that may include day lighting, building orientation, window or shading improvements, more efficient lighting or HVAC equipment.
- Analyze energy upgrades to your building to help predict energy savings.
- Provide the documentation needed to qualify for the energy credits when seeking LEED certification.
- Provide design and upgrade alternatives to achieve energy savings needed to qualify for the Federal commercial energy tax deduction.
- Help you predict whether your building design will meet Energy Star standards.
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Commercial Energy Star
Top performing ENERGY STAR labeled schools cost forty cents per square foot less to operate than the average performers. Many school districts are taking note of the ENERGY STAR program due to increasing fuel and electricity costs as well as reduced operating budgets. Southface has been awarded a grant from the Department of Energy to work with school districts in Georgia to learn about the ENERGY STAR program so that they may start saving energy in their schools. Top of Page
Energy
Research
Southface
conducts field research of renewable energy systems
and building performance. Southface has contracted
with government agencies, utilities and private clients
to perform research on a variety of topics ranging
from low-cost solar thermal systems to air leakage
pathways in buildings.
Southface
Contact Information
Southface
Energy Institute
241 Pine Street
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
404/872-3549
www.southface.org
email:info [at] southface.org
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