Choosing a path to green certification

When it comes to building sustainably, it appears as if everyone has their own opinion on the best route to take. Clients often debate which certification is preferable, varying greatly in their motivation for pursuing one over another. In order to provide the best guidance to help the client follow the path that is best suited for them, it is important that they understand the difference in the certifications and requirements. A common debate amongst clients is over LEED certification vs. Energy Star Rating, two of the most widely used labels in commercial development. Both of these are a good choice, but there are notable differences in the requirements and the methods of certification. LEED certification is a third party certification from the USGBC, a non-profit organization, and is focused on the building design and performance holistically. Certification required compliance in six different categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy & atmosphere, materials & resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation in design & operations. It can be a complex and costly process, but is widely used and has a recognition with both industry and non-industry people alike. LEED certification is awarded upon completion of a project, except for LEED for Existing Building: Operation & Maintenance (EBOM), which works to improve a pre-existing building. Energy Star is a government program created in 1992 and managed by the EPA that focuses on improving the energy efficiency of buildings and reducing the GHG emissions that are associated with them. It is a tool designed to measure a buildings energy performance through benchmarking, goal setting, and monitoring. The tools and resources, such as portfolio manager, are available for free. Properties that perform in the top 25% of comparable properties in the U.S., scoring a 75 or higher (out of 100) are awarded an Energy Star label, signifying exceptional energy performance. A score is awarded only after the building has been in operation and reported a minimum of one year's energy data for all active meters and fuel types. However, LEED and Energy Star do not have to be mutually exclusive. The two programs often complement each other, both serving as a platform to aid and encourage the built environment to develop more sustainably. In fact, in order to achieve the LEED certification for EBOM the building must have a minimum Energy Star score of 69 (increasing to 75 with LEED v4, which will be rolled out at the end of 2013). Energy efficiency and sustainable design are the key elements to an environmentally conscious future. There are many routes to achieving the common goal of sustainable development, and it is difficult to say one is far superior to another. When deciding what approach to take, it is important to discuss the overall objectives of the project and the best way to achieve them. Zoe Reich is an environmental specialist at Edwards & Zuck, P.C., New York, N.Y.