PALADIN’S SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTING SERVICES
Sustainability Consulting Services
Paladin offers a full suite of Sustainability Consulting Services that provide organizations and building owners with guidance on how to reduce their environmental impact in a cost-effective way. There’s no one way to achieve sustainability, and our team is mindful of this fact. Whatever your goals are, Paladin’s team is there to help you identify and implement the right strategy for your business and improve your building’s sustainability performance.
We tailor each project to reflect the owner’s businesses and priorities while meeting every sustainability performance. While not a guarantee, our commitment to meeting your certification goals is our number one focus.
Certification Consulting
Our clients tell us we are experts at simplifying the complex. During Certification Consulting, we help owners create custom sustainability solutions by engaging them at the start of a project through brainstorming sessions, empowering them with strategies that fit their goals and budgets, and rooting out extraneous details.
Paladin also has intimate knowledge of every level of the project from the ground up, which positions us well to support successful projects. At the top, we focus on building owners’ mission statements to guide sustainability initiatives and provide them with a sounding board throughout the project. On the architecture side, we help design teams achieve their vision while keeping environmental considerations at the forefront. And at the ground level, we support contractors to help them through obstacles in the construction process. The key to a project’s success is providing thoughtful consulting through incremental steps and continuous improvement. We can guide you through the following building certifications:
Green Globes is a green building certification program that provides an online assessment and rating system for commercial and institutional buildings. It is designed to help building owners and operators assess and improve the environmental performance of their buildings. The program is administered by the Green Building Initiative (GBI), a non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating the adoption of green building practices.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification is a globally recognized green building certification system. Paladin can help you navigate the certification process and ensure that your project meets the certification goals. We provide technical expertise to understand a project at all levels and will provide a sounding board throughout the design process.
WELL is a performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of the built environment that impact human health and well-being. It is the first building standard to focus exclusively on the health and wellness of building occupants. WELL is administered by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), a public benefit corporation dedicated to advancing human health and well-being through the built environment.
Energy Star Building Certification is a voluntary program that helps building owners and operators save money and reduce their environmental impact by improving the energy efficiency of their buildings. The program is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and provides a rating system for buildings based on their energy performance. Buildings that meet the program’s criteria can earn the Energy Star label, which is recognized as a symbol of energy efficiency.
LEED for Existing Buildings is a green building certification program that provides a framework for improving the environmental performance of existing buildings. The program is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and provides a rating system for buildings based on their energy and water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and other sustainability criteria. Paladin has led the design and construction of multiple projects that meet the rigorous LEED certification criteria.
Construction Administration for Green Building Rating
Paladin is a commissioning first organization, which means that we are accustomed to revising plans and making them more efficient. During construction, even the best-laid plans are susceptible to revisions. For us, that’s just part of the process. Our business is all about improving systems and making them work better. We do so by setting incremental targets and developing alternatives to give ourselves and our clients the best possible outcomes. We help drive accountability on all levels of a project and have even been called in to rescue projects that have gone off course. We can provide administrative assistance on the following:
- Building Product Documentation
- Sustainability Action Plans
- Construction Waste Diversions Plans
- Low Emitting Materials Documentation
Energy Modeling
During the Energy Modeling process, Paladin creates a computer simulation of a building or system to analyze its energy performance. We use this simulation to predict energy consumption, identify energy-efficiency opportunities, and evaluate the effectiveness of energy conservation measures. When Paladin conducts this kind of analysis, it informs our sustainability team of opportunities to implement energy-efficient changes that align with your goals.
Whole Building Life Cycle Assessments
One of Paladin’s core beliefs is that a project isn’t done when the ribbon is cut. The finish line of a project is the entire lifespan of the building. When you work with us, you know that every design choice is made with that in mind. We put extra care and thought into our Whole Building Life Cycle Assessments (WBLA) so our clients have the peace of mind knowing that their building has gone through a series of comprehensive evaluations of its environmental, economic, and social impacts throughout its construction, operation, and eventual demolition.
Assembly Assessments are a type of assessment used to measure the effectiveness of a product design or assembly process. They involve measuring the speed and accuracy of the assembly process, as well as the quality of the components used. The results are then used to identify areas of improvement or suggest changes to the process.
Massing Assessments are a type of assessment used to measure the efficiency of a product design or assembly process. Paladin will measure the amount of time and resources needed to complete the assembly process and identify areas of inefficiency. These assessments can be used to optimize the process and reduce waste.
Structural Assessments involve analyzing the structure to identify potential weaknesses or flaws, as well as assessing its ability to withstand the forces it will be subjected to.
During Whole Building Embodied Carbon Assessments, Paladin will calculate the amount of carbon released during the construction and operation of a building, as well as the energy efficiency of the building. We then use the results to help identify areas of improvement or suggest changes to reduce the building’s carbon footprint.
Sustainability Analysis
When someone hears the word “Sustainability,” they imagine energy-efficient appliances and renewable energy sources, but it is so much more than that. The sustainability of a building should also take into account the mental well-being of its occupants and the economic and social impacts of the surrounding area. In our Sustainability Analysis practice, we evaluate the environmental, economic, and social impacts of processes, systems, and buildings over their entire life cycle. We use this information to identify potential risks and opportunities, and to inform decisions about how to improve sustainability performance.
Daylighting literally measures the quality and amount of daylight a building receives, and this type of analysis can be used to reduce energy consumption and – believe it or not – improve the mental health of a building’s occupants. It’s been documented that employers see an increase in attendance, quality of life, and reduced stress levels in their employees when daylighting is taken into account. On top of the health benefits, optimal daylighting design can earn a building LEED credits and reduce your heating and cooling loads.
Quality View Analysis is a method of assessing the visual quality of a building or space. It is used to identify opportunities to improve the aesthetics of a building and to ensure that it meets the needs of its occupants. This is another approach that emphasizes wellness. Having better views of the sky and nature will enhance the occupant’s satisfaction and improve their quality of life.
Operational Policy Development
Paladin’s focus on continuous improvement and maintenance of sustainable and energy-efficient practices pairs nicely with our Operational Policy Development service offering. When we hand the keys over to you, we make sure that you also have policies and procedures in place to operate your building and systems in a safe and efficient manner and remain in compliance with LEED and WELL programs. These policies include safety protocols, energy-efficiency guidelines, and maintenance schedules, among other guidelines. Other examples include:
- Sustainable Purchasing Policies
- Integrated Pest Management Policies
- Green Cleaning Plans
- Energy Reporting Plans
- Facility and Renovation Guidelines
Carbon Neutral Design Consulting
Paladin’s Carbon Neutral Design Consulting services help organizations design and construct buildings that are carbon neutral. This includes providing guidance on energy-efficiency measures, renewable energy sources, and consideration of the embodied carbon of building materials used during construction.
We advise teams on how they can reduce their energy consumption in a facility after conducting Scope 1 Emissions Calculations. Once that energy consumption is reduced, we look into renewables or purchasing carbon emission offsets.
Building Embodied Carbon is the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions associated with the production, transportation, and installation of building materials. It is used to identify opportunities to reduce the carbon footprint of a building and to inform decisions about the selection of materials.
Common parts of a carbon-neutral building strategy include using renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, selecting low-carbon building materials, and incorporating green infrastructure.
Game-Changing Sustainability Consulting Services from Paladin
Paladin has been a steward of the environment since our founding. You might say that we prioritized sustainability before it was cool. Our team of engineers cares deeply about the environment and wants to leave this planet better than they found it. We are committed to responsible and sustainable design and love working with like-minded partners to drive projects that will change the world for the better. If you’re interested in hitting your sustainability targets in a budget-conscious manner, contact us today.