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 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 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.

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.

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.