Energy & Sustainability
SOCOTEC optimizes the energy and environmental performance of new and existing buildings. Our team integrates, evaluates, and analyzes energy efficiency measures to promote financial transparency so decision-makers can be better informed about potential energy efficiency improvements and returns. Additionally, we offer green building rating system consulting, including programs like LEED, Energy Star, BREEAM, Passive House, WELL & others.
SOCOTEC is an integrated company with expertise in building sciences (envelope, HVAC, lighting, comfort), diagnostics of building failures, envelopes, energy, and sustainability. We have worked on energy efficiency and sustainable design on over 350 buildings and over 150 million square feet, but just as importantly, we are a resource to the design and construction team on issues related to walls, roofs, air and moisture migration, visual, and thermal comfort.
We provide consulting services in the fields of:
- sustainability,
- environmental health & safety,
- energy efficiency,
- renewable energy, and
- carbon footprint reduction
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Energy & Sustainability
Our contributions are both conceptual and strategic, based on experience that spans from design and construction to commissioning and to post-occupancy evaluation. For existing buildings, we also perform audits, continuous commissioning, IAQ/toxicology assessments, troubleshooting and forensics. As appropriate, we integrate Code compliance, regulatory health & safety compliance, and financial incentives. Throughout, we assist the team in evaluating significant issues: options, pros, cons, cost-effectiveness, and next steps. We have in-depth experience with sustainable design, renovations, and operations for all building types, from 5,000 SF to 5,000,000 SF. We also offer expert advice on critical areas such as water, air quality and visual/thermal comfort.
SOCOTEC’s expertise with quantitative analysis is matched by extensive real-life experience, based on years of testing, monitoring, and commissioning. For projects with very high goals, we have a solid track record of innovation, as evidenced by projects ranging from Net Zero Energy (NZE) to distinctive architectural and technological solutions.
We know how buildings fail and how buildings succeed in their goals. Our senior personnel have deep experience with testing and monitoring of both facades and HVAC, and of IAQ – both to prevent problems, but also on forensics.
Our approach is simple: the building must meet the functional and budgetary goals of the owner – including long term operations. The rest (sustainability, energy use, moisture, comfort) falls into place. It falls into place because the SOCOTEC professionals have deep expertise in the areas that concern design and operations.
We perform:
- LEED consulting
- Energy modeling
- Optimization of design
- LEED
- Local Law 86
- Energy Code compliance
- Thermal analyses of envelope components to reduce the possibility of moisture condensation
- Computational fluid dynamics analyses for
- Air movement and heat temperature distribution in atriums and planetariums
- Temperature distribution in exhibit spaces and in art storage spaces
- Temperature and moisture flow in walls and roofs
- Envelope consulting – design and construction inspections
- Existing building audits and forensics (HVAC and sustainability)
Our work has withstood the test of time: The first US Net-Zero building (Oberlin College) is still one of the best in terms of how much energy it exports/square feet of built area.
The energy use projections we made for signal buildings (e.g., Bank of America Headquarters) were close to reality. Solutions for thermal bridging in humidified space that we delivered for Armstrong Headquarters and NY Times Headquarters, among others, have been in place for years and have worked.
Solutions that were innovative at the time, such as using magnesium silicate as in-board insulation for masonry walls (placed on the winter-warm surface, where other insulation would have created moisture condensation problems) have been proven right – in the case of the administration for the landmark building of the Administration for Children’s Services, for over 15 years.
IAQ solutions for both residential and workplace areas have been proven correct, time and again.
On over 350 LEED projects, we have delivered on every single LEED rating we worked on – as long as the owner was willing to pursue it – at the level aimed for, and often at a greater certification level.
