Sustainable Project Certifications

SOCOTEC has been an industry leader in sustainability consulting for over 20 years with a proven track record on hundreds of projects spanning the globe.

We are proudly seated at the cutting edge of sustainability. We’ve helped develop some of the most widely used codes and rating systems, applied them extensively and provided related training for industry professionals. We bring this knowledge and a wide range of industry relationships to every project, working along-side project teams, certification bodies and code officials to proactively identify and address potentially complex issues.

We assess projects early with an aim to determine the most cost-effective sustainable strategies using an integrated approach to building systems and site elements. Our professionals bring a wealth of ideas and experience to project teams by providing critical technical and managerial support throughout all phases of our projects.

We help by engaging project teams to provide:

Goal Setting and Feasibility Analysis
Calculations Related to 3rd Party Certifications
Cost Assessments and Return on Investments
Review of Drawings with Assigned Action Items
Advanced Materials Research and Specifications
Management of 3rd party Certifications and Benchmarking
Creation of Sustainability Guidelines
Training and Workshops
Carbon Emissions and Footprint Analysis
Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Assistance with Code and Incentive Programs
Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship Reporting

SOCOTEC’ breadth of experience allows us to communicate key criteria to the project team when it’s most needed. This ensures sustainable strategies affecting the project design, construction and budget are understood, incorporated and implemented seamlessly.

Regardless of the scope of your project, our unique approach strives to deliver exceptional service.

LEED (Proven Provider)
ASHRAE
Green Globes
PHIUS
NAHB
HPDC
GRI
Fitwel
BREEAM
Energy Star
Enterprise Green Communities
WELL

LEED

Over 350 LEED projects successfully certified, often exceeding targeted levels

SOCOTEC has been an industry leader since the inception of LEED. SOCOTEC has worked on numerous complex LEED projects involving campuses, multiple buildings, and phased construction. Our approach is to assess complex projects early in the design process to determine the most cost-effective means to certification, while also ensuring that an appropriate level of consistency is applied to the various project buildings and site elements.

SOCOTEC’ experience with LEED allows us to communicate key criteria to the design team at the right time. This ensures that LEED requirements that may affect design (e.g., natural ventilation requirements to meet ASHRAE 62.1, sizing of detention/retention systems to meet LEED stormwater credits, wall and window performance values to meet the targeted energy efficiency goals) are understood by the designers and incorporated seamlessly as part of their regular design development. This saves the team time and also allows for integrated design solutions that save money.

Finally, SOCOTEC assists teams in obtaining answers to project-specific issues that may arise. SOCOTEC has an excellent track record working with the USGBC on Credit Interpretation Requests, and on questions or comments that arise during the LEED certification process.

Because of our track record, SOCOTEC has also obtained the status of Proven Provider with the USGBC. This status, which has only been awarded to a small number of firms throughout the US, means we have an assigned USGBC Program Manager to help expedite project questions, and that our Certification submissions to are subject to an expedited review process.

All of this translates into faster, more efficient and more knowledgeable services to our Clients.

Green Building Cost Analysis

SOCOTEC compares current building practices with comparable green building measures, and estimates their first cost and life-cycle cost impacts.

Materials Research and Life Cycle Assessments

SOCOTEC reviews material options for toxicity and life cycle-environmental impacts. We provide product and or whole building assessments using software tools such as the ATHENA Impact Estimator Materials which calculate embodied energy and life-cycle impacts related to waste and pollution.

_{WELL and Fitwel}

SOCOTEC provides project teams with ideas and technical support from early design through construction. The WELL and Fitwel systems include both design measures and operational practices, and SOCOTEC provides professional assistance in both areas.

Tasks we typically perform include:

Feasibility Analyses
Cost Assessments
Reviews of In-Progress Drawings
Product Vetting
WELL or Fitwel Specifications
Development of WELL/Fitwel operational plans
Reviews of key Human Resources policies
Reviews of Contractor Submittals
Management of the WELL or Fitwel documentation submissions
Oversight during the WELL on-site Performance Verification review

Project examples include:

The Discovery Channel Headquarters, New York, NY
- WELL Platinum
1 Vanderbilt Office Tower, New York, NY
- WELL Core Platinum
WarnerMedia Headquarters, New York, NY
- WELL Gold + Health-Safety
Major Financial Institution Headquarters, New York, NY
- WELL Gold + Health-Safety, Fitwel
760 Madison Avenue “Armani” Residences, New York, NY
- WELL Gold
One Madison Avenue, New York, NY
- WELL Core Gold
Brookfield Properties Offices, New York, NY
- WELL Gold
341 9th Avenue Office Building Renovation, New York, NY
- Fitwel Core and Shell

BREEAM

SOCOTEC USA has one of only 17 BREEAM assessors in the US on staff, who is dual-licensed for both New Construction and In-Use (Existing Buildings), one of only two who can claim this accreditation!

BREEAM is the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for master planning projects, infrastructure and buildings. It recognizes and reflects the value in higher performing assets across the built environment lifecycle, from new construction to in-use and refurbishment. It does this through third-party certification of the assessment of an asset’s environmental, social and economic sustainability performance, using standards developed by BRE. This means BREEAM rated developments are more sustainable environments that enhance the well-being of the people who live and work in them, help protect natural resources and make for more attractive property investments.

BREEAM is widely used in European countries but is amplifying its presence in the U.S. by expanding the capabilities of its Assessors and equipping a growing number of accredited professionals with the necessary tools to help the national real estate industry improve its ESG profile. The number of total points that can be achieved varies depending on basic project inputs but is normally close to 100.

Differences from LEED: BREEAM addresses the same IAQ concepts as LEED. The primary variations in BREEAM have to do with the referenced standards (European vs. American) and with BREEAM’s emphasis on material emissions testing and (in some cases) product content reporting. BREEAM has had an influence on the development of some of LEED v4’s revised materials credits.