Certification Management
LEED is the most recognized third-party green building certification program in the world. WELL is a newer building standard that harnesses the built environment as a vehicle to support human health, wellbeing, and comfort. And the Living Building Challenge is the world’s most stringent sustainable building certification. Gaia provides consulting on all these green building systems and more, and leads your project through every step of the certification process—including an initial design charrette, documentation tracking and completion, and final submission of the application.
Energy Modeling
Energy modeling uses software simulation to estimate a building’s energy consumption. As a design tool, energy modeling can guide project teams in prioritizing investment in equipment and strategies that truly enhance building energy performance. We perform energy modeling to inform stakeholders about the predicted operational costs and energy cost savings of a project, which can help optimize building design.
Commissioning
Commissioning is a third-party verification process that ensures that a building’s energy-consuming systems are installed, calibrated, and operating as intended by the Owner’s Project Requirements. We perform commissioning in accordance with LEED and California’s Title 24 requirements.
Energy Solutions
Several programs are available to benchmark and improve existing building performance. An energy audit assesses existing conditions and identifies opportunities for energy efficiency improvements. Energy Star benchmarks energy consumption data against other similar building types, with higher-performing facilities eligible for the Energy Star label. LEED for Existing Buildings is a certification available for buildings that implement best practices in operations. We conduct energy audits, manage Energy Star applications, and provide LEED consulting for existing buildings nationwide.
Education
We provide workshops as a resource for organizations to enhance their understanding of sustainable development. As an approved Education Provider for AIA and the USGBC, Gaia team members regularly speak in education sessions at local and national green building conferences.
SUPERSTAR PROJECTS
Google Irvine
Irvine, CA105,566 SF
Google's Irvine office is a superstar facility. Under Gaia's direction, it earned LEED Platinum under both the Core & Shell and Commercial Interiors v2009 rating systems. The project pursued two LEED Pilot Credits (Sustainable Wastewater Management and Design for Active Occupants), and prohibited materials with ingredients on the EPA Red List from being included in the construction. The facility achieved high levels of indoor water use reduction, HVAC energy reduction, and lighting power reduction. In addition, Google Irvine uses 100% reclaimed water for landscape irrigation as well as for use in facility cooling towers, and utilizes a very strong Measurement & Verification program for monitoring system energy use.
UCLA Saxon Suites
Los Angeles, CA86,620 SF
The Saxon Suites student housing project at the University of California, Los Angeles provides residents with areas to live, work, relax, and eat while upholding the university's ambitious sustainability goals. Saxon Suites was awarded LEED Platinum under the v2009 New Construction rating system, in large part because of its energy performance. Gaia simulated and analyzed energy models thoughout the design process to guide and inform important decisions. Based on information provided by the energy modeling process, Saxon suites was able to cut energy consumption by over 40% with the use of highly efficient mechanical and lighting systems.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
- Net zero energy and water consulting
- Living Building Challenge consulting
- Passive House consulting
- Life Cycle Analysis
- Rebate and incentive process management
- Daylight modeling
- Waste audits
- Sustainable Water Consulting
- Green specification writing
- Corporate sustainability planning
- Greenhouse gas emissions reporting
- CALGreen compliance