Our Services

Third-party certification is important because it creates accountability within the green building community. It provides a sense of trust between consumer and developer that the building is up to the sustainability standards being marketed. Each third-party seal has a set of values associated with it. We’ll help you determine which certification program is best for your project.

• LEED for Homes

• GreenPoint Rated

• Energy Star

• California Utility Allowance Calculations

• Title-24 Energy Analysis for Above code programs

• Energy Use Intensity studies (EUI), Comfort studies

• Specialty programs including DOE Zero Energy Ready Home, 45 L Tax Credit, Enterprise Green Communities, Living Building Challenge

• HERS Verification for Rebates, Tax Credits and other Incentive Programs

Our energy modeling provides detailed forecasts of building energy use, CO2 emissions and renewable energy production, crucial for adhering to California’s stringent energy regulations. We recognize the cost challenges our clients face in meeting the state’s ambitious climate goals. By offering early-stage energy modeling and optimization, we empower project teams with the necessary data for making effective decisions. Our extensive experience allows us to guide you through the compliance process, helping you avoid common setbacks and achieve your energy efficiency objectives in a cost-efficient way. We use the following software for energy modeling:

EnergyPro and CBECC are both approved softwares used to show compliance with California’s Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title-24). They can also be used for above energy code programs.

IES software covers a wide range of assessment types. We use it for comfort studies and Energy Use Intensity (EUI) studies. Since it is not only a compliance tool, we can more accurately model real world conditions.

Building performance testing provides verified third party assurance to the owner that their building will perform as designed. As part of the verification process, we’ll provide you with the most cost-effective options to meet your energy saving goals. If your building doesn’t meet the requirements necessary, we’ll diagnose the problem and recommend which improvements need to be made to meet your goals.

• Duct Leakage testing

• Air Infiltration testing (blower door)

• Ventilation testing for Indoor Air Quality

• HVAC Airflow verification, fan watt draw, refrigerant charge

• Mechanical System verification for indoor air quality

California’s green building regulations are advanced and dynamic, updating every three years at the most. Yesterday’s advanced green building is today’s standard grade. On top of this, many locals have layered custom bespoke local regulations on top of this. Our team has long experience with reconciling all this, and identifying what exactly is required, and how to achieve that with a minimum of cost. Saving cost not only allows buildings to get built, but allows the owner to spend their sustainability where they want to, on effective measures, rather than jumping through costly hoops just to meet code.

• CalGreen Code Compliance

• Title 24 Energy Compliance

• Local Green Building Regulation Compliance

A LEED for Homes Provider is the liaison between USGBC and the project team, coordinating with the LEED Green Rater from design to the end of construction. We provide oversight of the LEED certification process. We were selected by the USGBC because we have a proven record of supporting builders and Green Raters in the construction of high performance and sustainable homes. As your LEED for Homes Provider, we provide quality assurance of our LEED Green raters through technical assistance, continuing education and a QA/QC process for each LEED Green Rater in our network.

As part of the oversight of the LEED certification process, we will review their certification submission materials and submit them to USGBC for final review. By working with the project team and Green raters directly, you have a personal connection to your Quality Assurance Designee (QAD) reviewer. This helps ensure success during the final certification phase.

We work directly with construction teams to educate them on the project’s sustainability goals and construction standards. Our focus is on meeting folks where they are, and providing them the tools to get the job done right. Having it in the plans is one thing, getting it done is another. We distill complicated requirements into simple checklists so that expectations are clear. Our services typically last throughout construction to make sure sustainability goals are met.

If you’re interested in working with us, send us an email at info@brightgreenstrategies.com or give us a call at 510-863-1109.

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