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.