Achieving LEED® Certification

LEED is a nationally-accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. The rating system assigns points in six main categories: Site Selection, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovation & Design Process. Buildings can earn Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum level certification, depending on the quantity and quality of measures pursued.

SWA has offered LEED services since 2000, when the U.S. Green Building Council first began to certify projects under this green building rating system. As the program matures, the U.S. Green Building Council continues to release more sophisticated rating systems for various building types, accounting for the needs, limitations, and potential of different spaces.

LEED® for New Construction (and Major Renovations)™

The LEED for New Construction rating system is aimed at guiding new or majorly renovated commercial and institutional buildings toward high performance building choices.

As a leading practitioner of LEED support for commercial and institutional projects, SWA has participated in the successful certification of some of the highest profile LEED certified office, government, educational, cultural, and high-rise residential buildings in the U.S.

SWA customizes each client’s LEED support package with complementary energy consulting work. Our goal is to maximize the time, effort, and money that our clients put into developing their sustainable projects while minimizing complications, distractions, and waste.

For qualifying buildings, SWA also provides concurrent support for earning the ENERGY STAR®.

LEED® for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance™

LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance promotes higher building performance while cutting operating costs and improving indoor environmental quality for tenants and building staff. Owners and managers of existing building LEED projects recognize that new construction only represents 1% of the U.S. building stock, and that the average commercial building has a life of about 40 years. Rather than waiting around for the right moment to build a high performance building from the ground up, LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M clients choose to take action without delay—pursuing lower energy bills, longer building life, and the peace of mind that comes with high performance—in the buildings they already own and operate.

SWA guides our clients throughout the entire process of achieving LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M, including initial O&M review meetings, technical auditing, retro-commissioning, O&M policy implementation, and documentation. We also provide documentable training in all sectors (waste management, health and safety, policies, and engineering) for building owners, managers, project teams, and tenants.

For qualifying buildings, SWA also provides concurrent support for earning the ENERGY STAR.  

LEED® for Homes: Multifamily Midrise™

The LEED for Homes rating system was originally designed for single-family and low-rise multifamily residential development. As LEED’s popularity and influence has grown, demand from residential projects in the 4-6 story market led the U.S. Green Building Council to develop an adaptation specifically for multifamily mid-rise buildings. Developers across the spectrum from affordable housing to luxury condos have used SWA’s expertise to provide residents with high-performing, durable, and comfortable homes, while also owners and managers benefit from reduced operation and maintenance costs.

SWA’s multifamily teams lead the vanguard in mechanical systems and building envelope expertise. Clients who pursue LEED for Homes: Multifamily Midrise with SWA are often rewarded with both certification and impressive customized innovations developed by our building science professionals.

For qualifying buildings, SWA also provides concurrent support for earning the ENERGY STAR.

SWA President Steven Winter served as the Chair of the U.S. Green Building Council during the launch of the original LEED for New Construction rating system. Since that time, SWA staff have chaired committees resulting in the development of LEED for Homes, the LEED for Homes Multifamily Midrise adaptation, and revisions to LEED for New Construction. SWA served as a lead technical consultant on the development of the ENERGY STAR® Multifamily High Rise program and is actively involved with creating and maintaining a variety of utility-based incentive programs throughout the Northeast.