Since the launch of the LEED® Green Building Rating System, the growth and interest in green building projects has spread rapidly. Owners are quickly realizing the benefits of constructing environmentally conscious buildings coupled with cost-effective design and systems that ultimately result in cost savings. Farnsworth Group is a recognized leader in the development of LEED® and is helping clients achieve certification and all the benefits it has to offer.
When it comes to the successful design of “Green Buildings,” Farnsworth Group’s professional staff literally helped write the book on LEED® certification standards. The firm is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED®) 2.0 Energy Subcommittee, which helped establish LEED® guidelines.
Farnsworth Group is a strong advocate of better building design through Commissioning and LEED® certification. The Company has some of the industry’s most experienced and recognized experts in Commissioning and LEED® certification. Internally, Farnsworth Group has established a “Green Team” made up of the Company’s most experienced Architects, Engineers, Commissioning experts and LEED® Accredited Professionals. Together, they work with clients, developers and contractors to successfully complete Commissioning, LEED® certification and green building design. The “Green Team” is led by the Company’s Chairman of the Board. That leadership represents Farnsworth Group’s serious commitment and approach to green building services.
LEED® certification is achieved by accumulating credits in six categories that address different areas of a building's environmental performance: Site Selection, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovation and Design Process. At a minimum, a project must achieve 26 credits to earn an award from the USGBC. Clients who contract with Farnsworth Group earn a LEED® credit immediately by utilizing our LEED® Accredited Professionals.
Because the LEED® system offers flexibility to accommodate an owner’s objectives, Farnsworth Group works closely with owners to identify their specific goals. From there, the team identifies, develops and implements the various requirements needed to achieve the level of certification desired. LEED® offers building owners four different levels of award, ranging from the challenging Certified to the renowned and rare Platinum level. As an owner incorporates additional green features into a project, it qualifies for these gradually higher levels of recognition.
To learn more about LEED® and
its rating requirements, please contact Tim
Kiefer, PE, via email at tkiefer@f-w.com.
