AE Services for LEED Building Certification
While AE employees spend a lot of time in buildings that are well past their service life for hazardous materials surveys, the situation is completely different for our clients with construction projects seeking Leadership in Engineering and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. We offer the air testing portion of this certification and therefore find ourselves in beautifully renovated or newly constructed “green” buildings often.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a building certification system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and now internationally recognized. The LEED certification program provides verification that a building was designed and constructed using approaches aimed at improving the building’s performance and overall impact on the environment. This is what is known as sustainable or “green” building design. LEED provides a framework for sustainable design and construction based on a point system. The system has five categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. Buildings are awarded points based on the extent these strategies are achieved. The more points awarded the higher the level of certification achieved including levels of Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. For more information on the LEED rating system, go to the following link: https://www.usgbc.org/leed#certification.
Air testing in newly constructed buildings is challenging to say the least. As anyone who has ever been involved in a construction project can attest, there is almost always a crunch to complete the project on time. This is especially true for school projects because of the hard deadline of the first day of school and the overall academic schedule. All LEED air testing must be done prior to occupancy, but the renovation/construction should be finished and final cleaned if at all possible. AE provides our clients with information for optimum conditions before and during LEED air testing and advice on what to do in the event of failed tests.
Some of our most recent projects include:
John Ruhrah Elementary and Middle School
LEED BD+C Schools V3 (2009)
Baltimore, Maryland
Photos include salvage of an archway from the original building and a new classroom.
Kimball Elementary School
LEED BD+C Schools V4
Washington, DC
Photos include a courtyard and media center.
W. Harris Elementary School
LEED BD+C Schools V4
Washington, DC
Photos include a new kindergarten classroom and a corridor
Butterfly Ridge Elementary School
LEED BD+C Schools V3 (2009)
Frederick, MD
Photos include a corridor and the new gym.
