The LEED® rating system was developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) for use as a measurable benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of “Green” buildings. LEED® is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

LEED® not only includes building commissioning as a way to earn a credit, but also requires it. Under the current LEED® version, commissioning is required or can earn additional credit in all of its rating systems. LEED® for New Construction, LEED® for Core & Shell, and LEED® for Schools address building commissioning in two places, EA Prerequisite 1, Fundamental Commissioning of Building Energy Systems, and EA Credit 3, Enhanced Commissioning. LEED® for Commercial Interiors addresses building commissioning in two places also, EA Prerequisite 1, Fundamental Commissioning of Building Energy Systems, and EA Credit 2, Enhanced Commissioning. LEED® for Existing Buildings addresses building commissioning in three places, EA Credit 2.1, Existing Building Commissioning – Investigation and Analysis, EA Credit 2.2, Existing Building Commissioning – Implementation, and EA Credit 2.3, Existing Building Commissioning – Ongoing Commissioning.

Building EnergetiCx’s commissioning team has experience working with all of the LEED® rating systems and typically provides and encourages both fundamental and enhanced commissioning services for building owners.

Fundamental Commissioning involves a review of the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) and Basis of Design (BOD) documents, the creation of a commissioning plan, installation verification site visits, ensures pre-functional testing is completed, functional performance testing, a review of the Test & Balance report, and the creation of a final commissioning report.

Enhanced Commissioning, in addition to the activities described in Fundamental Commissioning, includes a design review, creation of commissioning specifications, commissioned equipment submittal reviews, a review of the Operation & Maintenance Manuals for commissioned systems, a review of the owner training agenda and attendance at that training, the development of a systems manual, and a 10-month warranty walkthrough site visit to review the building’s operation.