Understanding LEED

white paper | July 2010 | Understanding LEED® | 1

® Understanding LEED pioneering environmental stewardship


“Eco‐friendly” is no longer enough

The time for soft statements has passed. An age of action is upon us.

As responsible citizens and collectives we can no longer afford to sit

on the sidelines while ecological decay continues.

One day soon governments in Canada will follow the lead of many

European nations, where green building mandates are already part of

municipal and national building codes and planning. There will come

a time when green design standards will be part of legislatively-

mandated life safety measures. Sustainable building design will no

longer be an option; it will be a directive.

LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification

is crucial to achieving genuinely sustainable development goals. For

companies seeking to be among the vanguard of the green

construction investing in LEED is publically demonstrating corporate

environmental vision.

It’s not a question of “is LEED for me?” It is a question of “How do I

make LEED work for me?” And Shikatani Lacroix, with three LEED

Accredited Professionals on staff, is prepared to help answer that

question. SLD is poised to be a strategic partner in the most

important corporate undertaking of our time: pioneering

environmental stewardship.


Reading beyond the rhetoric

As consumers become more invested in the ideals of environmental

sustainability the market races to meet that demand with supply.

Unfortunately, this has given rise to a prolific use of “greenwashing”;

the process of misleading the public with environmental buzzwords

and imagery that have little to no basis in concrete ecological benefit.

Amongst this deluge of information it can be difficult to determine

which products or services are actually quantifiably environmentally

beneficial.

The advantage of LEED is it’s transparency; LEED rating systems are

composed of publically available quantifiable criteria that are created

by independent stakeholders from a broad range of Canadian

industries. LEED certification is awarded after an extensive third-

party review process. Information on the registration and

certification of projects is publicly available. The concept of

accountability is inherent to the very process of LEED certification.

As increasingly eco-savvy customers place more importance on the

concept of corporate ecological responsibility companies are forced to

react accordingly and rethink how their brand is perceived. After all,

establishing trust with the consumer is one of the touchstones of

modern corporate philosophy. By aligning with a widely recognized

eco-standard, organizations can quantifiably prove their commitment

to environmental responsibility.

Within the design and construction industry, and even the discerning

end-user, LEED is an established elite brand representing dedicated

ecological stewardship. To achieve LEED certification is to place

oneself and one’s company at the forefront of the sustainability

movement.


Green Value

When considering investing in LEED and green building technology

the concept of higher initial investment costs can be daunting. For

many investors this the prohibitive factor in their decision not to

pursue green buildings. However, if one were to examine all costs

(both outlay and income) associated with green buildings, the

findings are surprising. As identified in A Business Case for Green

Buildings (CaGBC, 2005) there are seven factors to consider in terms

of green building economics:

1. Direct capital costs

2. Direct operating costs

3. Lifecycle costing

4. Productivity benefits

5. Property values

6. External economic savings

7. Other intangible benefits


Direct Capital Costs

Going green involves spending green. However, contrary to most

investor’s expectations, and according to industry estimates, the

additional cost of green building design (above conventional

construction costs) is not monumental. There have been many

reports that have found that the cost of a LEED construction project

above a conventional project can be as little as 2%.

Furthermore, some studies have shown that the cost of LEED

construction costs can actually be less than conventional buildings

costs. The below chart, taken from a paper analyzing green

development in New York illustrates the savings. It is important to

note how the median differs from the average in some cases;

according to the study this is due to a few large budget projects that

drove up the average project expenditures. Given this reality the

more accurate indicator of cost is the median.

CONSTRUCTION COST: COMMERCIAL INTERIORS

ALL LEED NON-LEED CERT. SILVER GOLD PLATINUM

AVERAGE $197/ft2 $191/ft2 $204/ft2 N/A $156/ft2 $330/ft2 $100/ft2

MEDIAN $160/ft2 $158/ft2 $163/ft2 N/A $158/ft2 $244/ft2 $100/ft2 Figures courtesy of Cost of Green in NYC

There are three key factors that contribute to the lower cost of LEED

projects.

1. Budget Allocation

According to industry research, design teams focused on attaining

LEED certification are more likely to use money wisely. Their overall


budget may be the same as for regular projects but the funds are

allocated in such a way as to serve LEED directives.

2. Materials Cost

As the demand for sustainable building materials rises the quantity of

available green resources grows. With more options available the

‘green premium’ that was once attached to sustainable materials is

getting lower.

3. Integrated green strategies

LEED-mandated design encourages a holistic approach to design. By

planning ahead and incorporating green systems and technologies

there is a reduction in the need for unnecessary infrastructure or

future (and costly) retro-fits. An example of eliminating unnecessary

infrastructure is the use of waterless urinals. Designing a men’s

washroom with waterless urinals in lieu of conventional flush urinals

reduces the number of plumbing lines required, thereby reducing

construction costs.


Direct Operating Costs

Operating costs involve everything necessary to maintain a building;

these can include heating, cooling, repairs, retrofits and renovations.

The operational savings in a green building are obvious and simple to

determine since they often involve metering, measuring and other

quantifiable data. The below table outlines the estimated project cost

and annual savings of a typical LEED certified project.

LEED Rating Certified Silver Gold Platinum

LEED Points 26 to 32 33 to 38 39 to 51 52 to 69

Energy Savings 25 to 35% 35 to 50% 50 to 60% >60%

Annual Utility Savings $0.75/ft2 $1.00/ft2 $1.25/ft2 $1.50/ft2

Typical Payback Under 3 yrs 3-5 yrs 5-10 yrs 10+ years Figures courtesy of Enermodal Engineering

However, there are other and less obvious operational costs that are

affected by green building design such as insurance and churn.

LEED mandated design addresses many risk factors related to typical

building operating systems as covered by insurance. The below table

outlines those aspects of building operations and the effect they can

have on typical insurance liability factors.

Fir

e &

Win

d

Dam

age

Ice

&

Wate

r

Dam

age

Pow

er

Failu

res

Pro

fess

i-

onal

Lia

bilit

y

Hea

lth

&

Safe

ty

(Lig

hti

ng

) Hea

lth

&

Safe

ty

(In

doo

r)

Building & commissioning

Daylighting

Demand controlled systems

Efficient duct systems

Efficient windows

Energy audits & diagnosis


Health recovery ventilation

Insulated water pipes

LED exit signs

Natural ventilation

Radiant barriers

Radiant hydronic cooling

Radon resistant designs

Reduced indoor pollutants

Roof attic insullation

Table courtesy of A Business Case for Green Buildings, Table 1: Risk Mitigation of Green Buildings

A BOMA study entitled “What Office Tenants Want” found the

following: building tenants rate comfortable air temperature and

indoor air quality as the most important factors in overall property

quality (read: occupant satisfaction). The study also determined that

the primary reason occupants will leave a building is related to

heating and cooling problems.

Churn (defined as the frequency of relocation of building occupants,

both internally and externally) contributes to annual operating costs

for a property owner. There are two ways that churn is reduced in

green buildings.

1. Higher occupant satisfaction leads to more lease renewals and

reduced empty space

2. Green buildings are often designed with flexibility. Spaces can be

reconfigured to suit existing tenant renovations or internal staff

relocations, thereby reducing the need to seek new facilities


Lifecycle Costing

It is critical, when looking to invest in green initiatives, to review the

entire lifecycle of a project. Too often investors, or at a smaller scale

consumers, are put off by the initial high investment cost. However,

the real savings are to be found over the entire lifecycle of a project.

If one were to calculate the lifecycle cost (the combination of direct

capital and direct operating costs), the figures would show the

eventual savings can greatly exceed the additional initial investment

cost.

A simple example is a light bulb (lamp). Energy efficient lighting is a

high operational investment with a long payoff. For example, the

below table calculates the projected savings over the lifespan of a

single lamp as compared to a less efficient model.

LAMPS

Standard PAR38 PAR38/CDMi

ANNUAL ENERGY COST

Watts per lamp 90 25

Annual Hours of Operation 5000 5000

Average annual value of 1 watt* $0.50 $0.50

Annual energy cost (watts x average watt value) $45.00 $12.50

Energy cost over 3 years (15,000 hours) $135.00 $37.50

ANNUAL LAMP COST

Listed lamp lifespan (in hours) 2,500 15,000

Cost per lamp $5.00 $70.00

Quantity of lamps to reach 3 years (15,000 hours)** 6 1

Cost of lamps over 3 years (15,000 hours) $30.00 $70.00

TOTAL LAMP & ENERGY COST (OVER 3 YEARS) $165.00 $107.50


*Value calculated using Toronto Hydro standard rate of $0.10 per KWh

**Fewer lamp replacements also mean additional savings due to reduced maintenance-related costs

Productivity Benefits

Green buildings are usually measured in terms of profit gains as

related to energy and utility savings. This is due in large part to the

fact that those figures are easily measured and simple to calculate.

However, what this approach fails to capture are gains in productivity

and associated value-generating ramifications due to green building

design.

In actual fact, energy costs account for approximately 1% of annual

operating costs. Total annual real estate related costs comprise 9%.

The largest portion, by far, of annual operating costs are staff-related

at up to 88% (refer to adjacent chart taken from A Business Case for

Green Buildings).

Therefore, the most significant return on green building investments

should be measured in terms of increases in occupant productivity.

Studies have shown that an increase of only 1% in productivity can

yield approximately $2/ft2 per year (or $21.50/m2 per year).

Many LEED initiatives aimed at improving occupant well-being, such

as individually controlled heat and lighting systems, have been found

to contribute to overall employee satisfaction, which is a contributing

factor to increased productivity. In fact, studies demonstrated that

improvements to indoor air quality have been shown to increase

worker productivity between 5% and 34%.


Property Values

The property value of green buildings relative to conventional

buildings is of particular interest to developers, who stand to gain no

direct profit from improved operational efficiency or increased

productivity. There are encouraging figures to underscore the

hypothesis that developers can see profit in developing and selling or

leasing green buildings. According to a recent study by US

commercial real estate information company CoStar Group, LEED

certified buildings were found to yield the following results:

• Units in LEED buildings can ask rent premiums up to $11.33

(USD) per square foot above non-LEED certified units and have a

4.1% higher occupancy rate

• LEED certified institutional-use buildings are selling for an

average of $171 (USD) per square foot more than their non-LEED

counterparts

Following the fundamental economic theory of supply and demand, it

stands to reason that as the green buildings become more in demand

the supply (and therefore the value) of LEED certified projects would

rise.

External economic savings

External economic savings are usually those generated by the

developer, building owner or tenants, which are then passed on to the

public at large. For example, the installation of on-site waste water

management systems means less input into local water treatment

facilities. While this creates no financial profit for the property owner,

there are larger societal benefits.


Another aspect to external economic ramifications of green buildings

is the availability of incentive programs; developers or consumers are

rewarded for green actions and activities. As an example, installing a

green roof reduces the heat island effect and benefits local wildlife

and ecosystems, but beyond the environmental benefit there is no

way to determine if such an action has any financial benefit. Thusly,

there are cost incentives aimed at rewarding such environmental

efforts.

For example, in January 2010 the City of Toronto instituted a Green

Roof Bylaw requiring all new commercial, institutional and residential

developments with a minimum gross floor area of 2,000m2 to have a

portion of the roof vegetated. As an incentive the city’s Environment

Office offers a funding program to encourage developers to install eco-

roofs that comply with the bylaw. Under the incentive program

eligible projects can receive funding for the installation of green roofs

of $50/m2 up to a maximum of $100,000.

There are many other municipal, provincial, federal or corporate

sponsored incentive programs offering rewards for green initiatives. A

few examples include:

• The Great Exchange, Toronto Hydro

• Pepsi Refresh Project, Pepsico

• MicroFIT, Ontario Power Authority

Another external benefit of green buildings is local economic

stimulation. The promotion of locally sourced materials integral to all

LEED rating systems encourages the use of regional labour and

supplies, thereby creating demand for regionally located resources.

Also, green construction tends to be labour-intensive, rather than

reliant on technology or materials, which translates into job creation.


Other intangible benefits

The achievement of LEED accreditation sends a broad message to the

public. Due to the relatively few number of LEED projects in Canada,

when a building attains certification it is a major public relations

coup. For example, recently the Deutsche Bank in Germany made

international headlines when their head office in Frankfurt became

the world’s first high-rise office project to be awarded platinum LEED

status. That type of exposure can instantly establish a green

corporate image within the public consciousness.

Registration of LEED applications in Canada grows higher and faster

every year. As of May 2010 there were over 2,000 projects applying

for LEED status in Canada. In the US, where LEED rating systems

have been in place much longer, there are over 19,000 currently

registered projects. The difficult and exacting standards embedded in

LEED directives, and indeed in the process of qualification itself,

heightens the environmental achievement that is LEED certification.

To earn LEED accreditation is to lay claim to the most recognizable

and highly respected industry standard for environmental

responsibility.


There are six different

Canadian LEED rating

systems addressing

various categories of

design & construction

projects:

• New Construction &

Major Renovations

(NC)

• Core and Shell (CS)

• Commercial Interiors

(CI)

• Existing Buildings:

Operations and

Maintenance (EB:

O&M)

• Homes

• Neighbourhood

Development (ND)

What is LEED®?

LEED® was originally created by the US Green Building Council

(USGBC) and later adapted for use in Canada by the Canadian Green

Building Council (CaGBC). It is a point-based rating process that

classifies design and construction projects as environmentally

sustainable; credits are awarded based on compliance with a set of

standardized and measurable criteria. Design teams submit

applications for LEED status and credits are awarded following an

independent third party audit administered by the CaGBC. Based on

the number of credits achieved a project is awarded a LEED rating of

Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum.

The number of points necessary to achieve a LEED rating varies

according to each rating system. As an example, for LEED® Canada

Commercial Interiors a total of 70 credits are available and certification

levels are as follows:

26-32 credits – Certified

33-38 credits – Silver

39-51 credits – Gold

52 or more credits – Platinum


Who uses LEED®?

LEED projects vary widely in context. Corporate offices, schools,

government facilities, retail stores, housing developments, industrial

plants and major sports arenas are just a few of the examples of

possible LEED projects. The six LEED rating systems are intended

to provide options to certify a broad range of design and construction

projects.

It is possible for a project to fall under the scope of more than one

rating system. Project teams are encouraged to review potential

credit achievements under each system prior to application to

determine which system best suits their application.

New Construction & Major Renovations

The LEED® Canada-New Construction and Major Renovations (NC)

rating system covers new construction projects and major

renovations. It governs commercial, institutional, retail, mid and

high-rise and multi-use residential, public assembly, manufacturing

plants and many other building forms.

LEED® Canada-NC is intended for projects wherein 50% or more of

the building area will be finished (read: ready to be leased) to NC

requirements prior to application for certification. If a project is not

going to be over 50% fit-up then the project team should apply for

certification under the Core and Shell Rating System.

Core and Shell

The LEED® Canada for Core and Shell (CS) is a derivative of LEED®

Canada NC and is applicable in situations where less than 50% of

the building area will be completed to LEED® Canada NC

requirements prior to certification. Tenants in a building that has

Recent Canadian LEED

projects:

• Spring Creek

Firehall, Whistler,

BC: LEED®-NC,

Silver

• Crowfoot Library,

Calgary, AB: LEED®-

NC, Certified

• Thomas L. Wells

Public School,

Toronto, ON: LEED®-

NC, Silver

• HOK Canada Offices,

Toronto, ON: LEED®-

CI, Gold

• Steelcare Plant 19,

Hamilton, ON:

LEED®-NC, Gold

• Winnipeg Mountain

Equipment Co-op,

Winnipeg, MB:

LEED®-NC, Gold


been certified under CS may apply for LEED® Canada-NC

certification.

It should be noted that the CaGBC is currently working to integrate

the documentation for LEED® Canada-NC with LEED® Canada-CS.

This is due to the recognition that a project may begin as a CS

project but end up as a NC project or vice versa depending on the

successful leasing of tenant spaces. Registration for the newly

combined rating systems is expected to begin in June 2010.

Commercial Interiors

The LEED® Canada for Commercial Interiors (CI) is used for tenant

improvements of new or existing office space. It can be applied to

both tenants and building owners’ improvement work. LEED®

Canada-CI can apply to tenant spaces in government and private

sectors for offices, retail units, restaurants, healthcare facilities,

hotel/resorts and educational buildings.

Despite the title the LEED® Canada-CI rating system does not apply

to interior work alone, it also includes many exterior design

considerations as outlined below in the section on Site Selection

credit requirements.

Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance

The LEED® Canada Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance

(EB: O&M) rating system assists building owners and operators in

the assessment of building operations, improvements and

maintenance on a quantifiable level. The aim of LEED® Canada-EB:

O&M is to maximize a building’s operational efficiency while

minimizing detrimental environmental effects. LEED® Canada-EB:

O&M focuses on all aspects of the building’s cleaning and


maintenance issues (including chemical use), recycling programs,

exterior maintenance programs, and systems upgrades.

LEED® Canada EB: O&M is unlike other rating systems in that it

does not rate design or construction activities. Rather it measures

the efficiency of buildings systems over the lifecycle of the building.

To maintain LEED® Canada EB: O&M certification the project must

file for recertification at least every five years. Since the project

must demonstrate compliance with LEED mandated operating

guidelines for the entire period between recertification, LEED®

Canada-EB: O&M represents a substantial and on-going

commitment to environmental standards.

Homes

The LEED® Canada for Homes rating system is intended to promote

the design and construction of green homes. Launched in 2009 by

the CaGBC, LEED® Canada for Homes provides a national standard

for builders and renovators of residential projects. Due to the long-

term nature of occupation in homes, LEED® Canada for Homes

contains extra credit categories not present in other ratings

systems:

• Location and Linkages - to highlight the importance of placing

housing in a larger community context.

• Awareness and Education – teaching home owners and builders

about the green features of LEED certified homes


Neighbourhood Developments

The LEED® for Neighbourhood Developments (ND) rating system is

currently under development by the CaGBC and is intended for

implementation in Canada in 2010. There are a few developments in

Canada taking part in a pilot testing by the USGBC. Results from

those tests will likely inform the content of the LEED® ND rating

system.


How does LEED® work?

Process

Achieving accreditation begins with the registration of the project with

the CaGBC and is complete upon the final review, after which a

rating is awarded. Refer to the adjacent chart to see a typical

breakdown of the entire procedure for an application to LEED-CI

certification.

Participants

Applying for LEED certification is a group effort. Isolation of any one

aspect of project management or execution is not possible due the

holistic methodology of LEED mandated design.

The process begins with the client and project manager determining

which LEED rating system best suits the design project. Once a

direction has been decided upon then a comprehensive design and

construction plan must be created. The following parties should be

included in the creation and/or execution of this plan:

• Client

• LEED AP project manager

• Designers

• Commissioning agents (engineering consultants)

• Consultants (i.e. landscape designers, architects, engineers, etc)

• Contractors and sub trades

• Suppliers

• Landlord

The level of involvement in the LEED process varies among team

members and even fluctuates during the different stages of the

process. Therefore, it is very important to have one overseer on the


project; the LEED project manager. Ideally that person would be a

LEED Accredited Professional (AP) in order to be best suited to

understanding the ecological intentions behind each aspect of the

design and construction.

The CaGBC is currently in the process of establishing three tiers of

LEED AP credentials. The path to securing LEED AP status will be

through exams and ongoing Credential Maintenance Programs

(CMPs) to ensure the knowledge of a LEED AP remains current and

relevant to current green building design and practices. The three

types of AP credentials will be as follows:

• LEED Green Associate (demonstrating basic knowledge of green

design, construction and operation)

• LEED AP with specialty:

• LEED AP Building Design & Construction (BD&C)

• LEED AP Homes

• LEED AP Interior Design & Construction (ID&C)

• LEED AP Operations & Maintenance (O&M)

• LEED AP Neighborhood Development (ND)

• LEED Fellow (signifying an extraordinary level of professional

knowledge and contribution to the green building field)

Points Within each rating system there are six categories in which a project

can earn points:

• Site Selection

• Water Efficiency

• Energy Efficiency

• Material Selection

• Indoor Environmental Quality


• Innovation in Design

For the purposes of this paper most of the below examples regarding

credit achievement have been taken from LEED® Canada-Commercial

Interiors.

Site Selection This section focuses on minimizing the impact of buildings and

construction on the surrounding ecosystems. This includes

addressing such site design issues as stormwater management, heat

island and light pollution reduction, efficient water systems

management and, on-site renewable energy production. Credits are

also awarded for project site selection that takes into account the

following; local development density, community connectivity and

alternative transportation availability. Examples of earning credits

under this category would include:

• Installing vegetated roofing systems

• Installing irrigation systems that utilize stormwater in lieu of

potable water

• Reducing potable water consumption by a fixed percentage with

the installation of high efficiency plumbing fixtures.

• Selecting to locate the project on a brownfield redevelopment site

• Providing bicycle storage and change room facilities for occupants

• Locating projects close to alternative means of transportation or

in a densely developed neighbourhoods

• Limiting parking availability to minimum amounts as required by

local zoning by-laws


Water Efficiency The aim of this section is to reduce the water usage of a given project.

Water conservation benefits local ecosystems by reducing the demand

on regional water bodies. In addition there is lower input into local

waste water treatment facilities. To achieve points in this category a

project must demonstrate water savings by comparing a projected

savings case study against a baseline water use case study. Methods

for achieving water conservation include:

• Installing high efficiency plumbing fixtures and equipment

• Collecting grey water for reuse in on-site building operations

• Installing occupancy sensors on applicable fixtures (i.e. faucets)

Energy Efficiency Commercial and institutional buildings are responsible for

approximately 37% of Canada’s energy use. This section is aimed at

reducing energy consumption levels, thereby lowering the demand on

local energy generation facilities and associatively reducing

operational costs. In this category credits can be earned by:

Toilets account for the largest portion of water

consumption in residential and commercial buildings -

approximately 4.8 billion litres per day. Older toilets

use 15-30 litres of water per flush. New high-efficiency

toilets use a maximum of 6 litres per flush.


• Conducting commissioning tests to ensure building systems are

installed, calibrated and operating at optimal levels

• Engage in a contract committed to obtaining at least a portion of

the project’s energy supply from renewable energy providers (i.e.

Bullfrog Power®)

• Optimizing energy performance of HVAC systems

• Installing Energy Star® appliances that would account for a

percentage of the overall energy costs

• Installing lighting controls (i.e. daylight responsive fixtures or

individually operated light fixtures)

Material Selection The ecological footprint of materials in a project reaches beyond their

immediate environmental influences on an interior space. Design

teams are encouraged to consider the full lifecycle of a material, from

manufacturing, transportation and installation, to the on-site

performance and eventual disposal of an item. Credits can be

awarded for material selections that take into account the above

factors in the following ways:

• Employing conscientious waste management practices to divert

unnecessary waste from landfills

• Reusing existing base building elements (doors, windows, walls,

etc.)

• Sourcing products created with a percentage of recycled content

• Sourcing products manufactured locally

• Sourcing products with a component of rapidly renewing

materials or FSC®-certified wood

• Engaging in a contract committing to remain in place for a

number of years, thereby reducing the need for new materials in

the immediate future

“As a commercial

customer of

Bullfrog Power,

can I use the

bullfrog powered

logo on my

organization's

website?

Yes…becoming a

bullfrog powered

organization is a

great way to

build your brand

and reach key

audiences such as

customers and

employees with a

positive message

about your

environmental

good citizenship

and green power

purchase.”

- Bullfrog Power website,

FAQ section


Indoor Environmental Quality Indoor air quality affects occupant’s health and well-being. Off-

gassing from materials and finishes can have significant impact on

air quality. Initiatives aimed at improving air quality could include:

• Specifying low-emitting materials, coatings, paints, carpets,

adhesives and sealants

• Conducting indoor air quality testing to ensure optimal system

performance

• Installing individually controlled temperature, lighting and

ventilation systems

• Developing and utilizing an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Management

Plan designed to minimize impact of construction or renovation

activities on air quality both during and after the construction

phase


Innovation in Design Credits earned under this category recognize achievement in design

or construction that went beyond the requirements of LEED rating

systems. Or conversely, to award points for the creation and

implementation of environmental strategies not specifically addressed

in other sections. Methods for achieving credits in this category are

wide-ranging and can be qualitative in nature. Examples include:

• Substantially exceeding the energy or water use reduction

requirements of the Water Efficiency or Energy Efficiency

sections, or any other percentage-based credit requirement

• Conducting on-going education programs for building occupants

on environmental issues

• Contributing to community development sustainability

• Including a LEED® Accredited Professional (AP) on the project

management team


How to realize your LEED potential

SLD currently has three LEED certified Accredited Professionals (APs)

on staff. Under LEED guidelines and with our own qualifications as

designers we can manage the following aspects of a LEED project.

• Project management

• Interior design services including;

Creation of demolition, construction, lighting, equipment,

electrical and plumbing plans

Furniture, finishes and fixture selection

• Alterative transportation assessment

• Water use calculations

• Signage and wayfinding

Some credits require the participation of engineering consultants.

For example, earning credits in the Energy & Atmosphere section

requires proof of compliance with energy standards as demonstrated

by an engineer’s calculations. For that and other credit-related

reasons an engineer can be employed on the project to provide the

following services:

• Creating energy modeling and daylight simulations for the

proposed design

• Reviewing and testing existing building systems

• Designing mechanical and electrical systems

• Conducting building commissioning to monitor and optimize

performance


Being a LEED Leader

Environmental stewardship is the ethical framework in which

communities and organizations combine efforts to prevent and repair

ecological damage. It is a fine ideal but in a sea of companies

scrambling to position themselves as eco-conscious it can be difficult

to prove that actual environmental restitution is being achieved.

LEED is a rare example of an internationally recognized quantifiable

environmental standard. To a public body eager to hear news of

genuine green initiatives, LEED certification is a concrete statement

of ecological accountability.

For more information regarding LEED and to set up a consultation, contact:

Jean‐Pierre Lacroix, President Shikatani Lacroix

387 Richmond Street East

Toronto, Ontario

M5A 1P6

Telephone: 416‐367‐1999 Email: [email protected]


Shikatani Lacroix is a leading branding and design firm located in

Toronto, Canada. Partnering with companies from around the world

SL commissions assignments across CPG, retail and service

industries; helping clients achieve success within their operating

markets. SL offers a wide variety of core services including corporate

identity and communication, brand experience design, packaging,

naming and product design; all with the aim of enabling clients’

brands to better connect with targeted consumers.

About the Author Rebecca Caven, Designer, LEED AP, B.E.S.

Rebecca Caven is a designer in the Environmental Design

Department at SL. She began her career as an urban planner after

completing a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies at the

University of Waterloo. Rebecca went on to further her education

and graduated from the International Academy of Design and

Technology with a diploma in Interior Design.

Rebecca has been with SL as an environmental designer for over

three years, serving a wide range of clients including Second Cup,

Blue Jays Care Foundation and Petro Canada. She also managed

the award-winning Grand & Toy retail store redesign.

Becoming a certified LEED® Accredited Professional in 2008,

Rebecca seeks to infuse interior design projects with ecologically-

focused construction standards.

Picture to come


Reference Materials LEED® Canada for Commercial Interiors | CaGBC

Version 1.0, Copyright © 2007

LEED® Explained | Enermodal Engineering

http://www.enermodal.com/Canadian/leed_explained.html

CaGBC website | Canadian Green Building Council

http://www.cagbc.org/

USGBC website | U.S. Green Building Council

http://www.usgbc.org/

LEED® Projects Grow Rapidly Outside the U.S.

By Alex Palmer, Nielsen Business Media (August 12, 2009)

http://www.usgbc.org/News/USGBCInTheNewsDetails.aspx?ID=416

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Demand in Marketplace for Sustainability Creates Higher Occupancy Rates, Stronger Rents and Sale Prices in 'Green' Buildings

By Andrew C Burr, CoStar Group (May 26, 2008)

http://www.costar.com/News/Article.aspx?id=D968F1E0DCF73712

B03A099E0E99C67

Consumers go for green products, Mintel

By Annie Launois, Food and Drink Europe.com, (April 10, 2008)

http://www.foodanddrinkeurope.com/Consumer-

Trends/Consumers-go-for-green-products-Mintel

Bullfrog Power Inc.

https://www.bullfrogpower.com/index.cfm


Hume: Green and iconic, German bank towers soar

By Christopher Hume, The Toronto Star, (May 7, 2009)

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/805450--hume-

green-and-iconic-german-bank-towers-soar

Commercial Solutions

Green power informational pamphlet published by Bullfrog Power Inc.

https://www.bullfrogpower.com/

A Business Case for Green Buildings

Lead author: Mark Lucuik, Contributing authors: Wayne Trusty, Nils

Larsson and Robert Charette, Morrison Hershfield (March, 2005)

http://www.cagbc.org/uploads/A%20Business%20Case%20for%20G

reen%20Bldgs%20in%20Canada_sept_12.pdf

Green Value: Green buildings, growing assets By Chris Corps, The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (2005)

http://www.bluewildernessgroup.com/index.php?action=display&cat

=43&doc=greenvaluesreport_1.pdf

Marketing Green Buildings to Tenants of Leased Properties

By Sonja Persram, Mark Lucuik and, Nils Larsson, Morrison

Hershfield (August 23, 2007)

http://www.cagbc.org/database/rte/Marketing%20Green%20Buildin

gs%20to%20Tenants.pdf

What Office Tenants Want: 1999 BOMA/ULI Office Tenant Survey Report

Referenced in: A Business Case for Green Buildings (see above)


Toronto Eco‐Roof Incentive Program

http://www.toronto.ca/livegreen/greenbusiness_greenroofs_eco-

roof.htm

Toronto Green Roof Bylaw

http://www.toronto.ca/greenroofs/overview.htm