Multi-Tenant Office Building
Business Activity: Real Estate
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Project: LEED for Existing Buildings
The property manager of a 553,000 square-foot multi-tenant office building sought LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. LEED for existing buildings (EB), a program of the U.S. Green Building Council, recognizes the achievement of efficient and sustainable operations and maintenance practices in older buildings. Additionally, the manager requested a report of no-cost and low-cost energy reduction opportunities for evaluation and possible implementation. Sieben Energy Associates (SEA) was commissioned to provide LEED EB consulting services and to conduct an ASHRAE Level I energy audit.
SEA’s team of LEED consultants and engineers assessed the building during an initial site visit. Using data logs, systems observation, and interviews with building staff, the engineers developed an energy audit report that delivered clear, comprehensive analysis of building operation functions and identified areas for improvement. SEA established protocols to reduce energy costs, promote efficient building management, and ultimately earn credits toward LEED EB certification.
Working carefully and continuously with the building’s own management and engineering staff, SEA’s LEED experts guided the client through the consideration of each and every credit, identifying which credits could realistically be achieved and noting what was needed to meet the requirements. SEA provided recommendations on sustainability measures that would help the owner achieve their goal of LEED EB Gold Certification. SEA prepared and compiled the necessary documentation for the building’s LEED submittal, ensuring that the information was accurate and complete.
SEA followed up with the client to review the energy audit report and identify the best application of limited funds for energy efficiency improvements throughout the building. For example, SEA recommended the installation of efficient lighting and carbon dioxide detection systems as well as an adjustable temperature set-point mechanism. Seven of the energy cost savings measures that SEA discovered were ultimately adopted, achieving an immediate reduction in the building’s energy usage and costs.
Through the hard work of Sieben Energy Associates and the client’s active partnership, the building was awarded LEED EB Gold Certification by the Green Building Certification Institute. SEA achieved the client’s twofold objective—a more valuable LEED-certified building, and a permanent reduction in average monthly energy usage and expenditures. Encouraged by these results, the property manager is committed to improving the energy efficiency and sustainability of its portfolio and has continued to turn to SEA with other building projects.