Frequently Asked Questions

To achieve LEED certification there are registration and certification review fees paid directly to GBCI, the certification body. Achieving certification requires some services that may be in addition to the architectural and engineering services you are planning, including energy modeling and commissioning for major renovation and new construction, or energy auditing and air balancing for existing buildings. Emerald can provide you with a price for additional services including certification management with a few details about the project including SF, building type, schedule, and certification goal. We may also recommend an assessment, a short engagement that helps you clarify your certification strategy and fully understand potential added costs and benefits of pursuing certification.

Emerald is an approved verifier for Cleveland’s residential tax abatement program. Our portfolio includes hundreds of multi-family and mixed-use projects across Cleveland that achieved tax abatement.

Emerald provides the require energy-savings documentation required for 179D through our energy modeling services and is able to provide the required site visit confirmation needed for the formal application.

Emerald provides the require energy-savings documentation required for 45L through our energy modeling services and is able to provide the required site visit confirmation needed for the formal application.

Emerald helps companies achieve an EcoVadis score and take steps to improve it. EcoVadis is a global provider of business sustainability ratings, assessing companies on their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance. It helps businesses manage sustainability risks, meet goals, and drive positive impact across their value chain.

Emerald helps companies achieve a score through CDP and to Take steps to improve it. The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) is a global, non-profit organization that encourages businesses and governments to report on their environmental impact, particularly related to climate change, water, and deforestation. It provides a platform for companies, cities, and other organizations to measure, disclose, manage, and share environmental information. CDP aims to foster transparency and accountability in environmental performance, helping businesses and governments make informed decisions about environmental risks and opportunities.

Emerald’s energy modeling services allow us to provide the Comcheck required for the AHJ.

Emerald is led by a female CEO. It does not currently hold WBE or Ohio EDGE certification.

Emerald’s certification assessment service will help you answer that question.

Each project’s path to certification is unique. We recommend starting with an assessment engagement. In our assessment engagements, we are able to help you evaluate your project against the certification rating system, set a preliminary strategy, and understand the hard and soft costs that may be required to achieve certification.

Energy modeling is one of Emerald’s core services. We use DOE approved software to develop whole building energy models. Our energy models serve as the foundation for energy savings documentation needed for financial incentives or building certifications.

Emerald performs building services commissioning in compliance with local code, corporate facility standards, and all major sustainable building certifications. We conduct fundamental and enhanced commissioning for new systems, and also retro-commission systems in operation.

Emerald partners with owners and architects to design energy efficient MEP systems. Our design engineering is often paired with other services that support corporate goals to reduce environmental impact and improve the human experience.

Emerald works with all major sustainable building certifications including LEED, WELL, Fitwel, Green Globes, Energy Star, NGBS, SITES and Enterprise Green Communities.

Emerald recommends buildings conduct energy audits every five years. If you have not had an audit in five years, you likely will benefit from having an audit. Energy audits are often required for financial incentives that require documentation of energy savings and as documentation for sustainable building certifications.

Emerald was incorporated in 2012.

Emerald supports clients across the globe from our offices in Cleveland, Ohio.

Emerald supports all members of the AEC team. The support we provide depends on the project’s scope and sustainability goals. Let’s discuss how we can help your team succeed.

We assist contractors in preparing submittals aligned with the requirements of green building certification systems. Let’s talk about your project needs and how we can support you.

• LEED ID+C: For interior fit-outs.

• LEED BD+C: For new buildings and major renovations.

• LEED O+M: For existing buildings with 12+ months of operational data.
  We can help determine the right certification for your project.

Yes. Multiple certifications, including LEED and Fitwel, can be pursued at the same time.

LEED and WELL share goals related to sustainability and human health. Let’s explore how they can work together on your project.

LEED and Fitwel are complementary. LEED focuses on sustainability, while Fitwel emphasizes health and wellness. We’ll help you align both.

Let’s schedule a call to determine where you are in the GRESB process and how we can support your submission.

Please refer to our video on greenhouse gas scopes available on our website.

GHG reporting is the process of creating an annual report that outlines your organization's greenhouse gas impact. Let’s talk about how we can support your reporting efforts.

More jurisdictions are requiring organizations to report emissions as part of understanding and reducing environmental impact. Emerald can help clarify and fulfill these requirements.

Carbon reporting is another term for greenhouse gas reporting. It involves calculating emissions from your organization’s operations.

Yes. Emerald supports organizations in preparing GHG reports and developing strategies to reduce their emissions.

A sustainability roadmap is a tailored plan to help an organization set and achieve sustainability goals. We create custom strategies based on your needs.

We’re a sustainability consulting firm working at the intersection of business and buildings. We help clients improve their environmental impact and achieve their goals.

Yes. We analyze utility bills to help you understand your energy use and identify opportunities to reduce cost and impact.

Commissioning ensures building systems like HVAC, lighting, and plumbing are designed and operating as intended.

Commissioning supports system performance, energy efficiency, and ensures your building meets its operational goals.

Envelope commissioning verifies that a building’s enclosure is not leaking air or water, helping to protect the structure and improve efficiency.

Energy models help evaluate system design choices and performance, leading to smarter, more efficient decisions during design.

It enables teams to test different design options and assess performance impacts—without having to redesign the entire project.

An energy model is a software-based simulation of a building’s energy use, including its envelope and systems.

Energy models are often required for certifications and incentives and are useful tools during the design phase.

You can use the results to document energy efficiency, qualify for incentives, and optimize system design.

Typically, it takes about four weeks after we receive all required design documentation.

Energy audits also take approximately four weeks and include a review of utility data, building systems, and site inspections.

Yes. We frequently support contractors in developing submittals for building certifications like LEED.

Yes. LEED O+M is designed for existing buildings. LEED Zero certifications are also available for buildings achieving net-zero performance.

Yes. We assist project teams with daylight modeling to support certification and design goals.

We offer LEED certification management, energy modeling, fundamental/enhanced commissioning, daylight calculations, life cycle assessments, and more.

LEED is a globally recognized green building certification focused on environmental performance.

WELL focuses on the health and wellness of building occupants through evidence-based design and operation.

Fitwel is a certification system promoting health and wellness in buildings and communities.

We’ve worked on several hundred LEED projects across sectors—from residential to large-scale industrial. Let’s talk about how we can help with yours.

Emerald has certified several hundred LEED projects. You can explore our portfolio for examples.

Our headquarters is in Cleveland, Ohio, and we support projects across the U.S. and internationally.

Yes. We work with project teams globally to help them meet sustainability and certification goals.

Yes. We are certified Green Verifiers for Cleveland’s Green Building Standards, supporting residential tax abatement applications.

As early as possible. Let’s talk now to assess your timeline and how we can support your project.