There has been a lot of talk about LEED Certification and the requirements that are needed to achieve it, but very little about what should be known after reaching this endorsement.
by Duván Chaverra Agudelo
As we have already detailed in previous articles, the LEED Certification of the Green Building Council of the United States (USGBC) is an endorsement granted by this private entity to constructions (buildings or residences) that meet various requirements that make the property a sustainable and high-efficiency building.
This Certification has different categories from Certificate, Silver, Gold and Platinum, according to the type of construction and its technologies or installed resources. Obviously, this class of buildings or residences needed a significant investment to enter the list, which means that a responsible maintenance must also be taken into account to verify the correct functioning of the property.
It is for that reason that this time we have inquired about a topic that has not had the relevance it deserves: it is about knowing what happens in a building after having obtained some type of Certification (regardless of its category)? Can I miss the LEED Certification? How is the follow-up that the USGBC does?
To talk about these and other related topics, we invited José Luis Correa, director of the Colombian company KW Ingeniería, who is also a Senior Consultant in Sustainable Construction: Energy & Comfort, LEED AP O+M, and member of the Colombia Chapter of ASHRAE.
To introduce ourselves to the subject, it is important to talk about the basic requirements necessary to maintain the LLED Certification; In this regard, our guest commented: "It is necessary to meet the minimum requirements of the program, all the prerequisites and obtain at least 40 points in the credits. These three topics vary according to the LEED certification to which the project aspires, for example: BD+C (Design and Construction of Buildings), O+M (Operation and Maintenance), etc. It is also important to always consult the corresponding LEED reference guide."
With regard to the type of monitoring that the certifying body does to LEED buildings or residences, according to José Luis, this is an action that is rarely executed. However, during the 18 months following certification, usGBC may request any documentation related to the construction. Also, during this period, the council may schedule an observation visit.
Another aspect that generates concern among builders and building managers is to know if a LEED construction should notify some type of renovation that is made to the property after certification. On this matter, the expert engineer explained that "no notification is required; however, if the building is Certified in Design and Construction (BD+C) and makes modifications greater than 50% of the total area or that cause the relocation of at least 50% of the occupants, then it will already be considered a new project." That is to say that this project would enter to qualify in another category.
Consultancy
In what aspects should a building be advised after obtaining LEED Certification? According to our guest, the administrators and technicians in charge of the operation and modernization of a property must analyze different issues of utmost importance.
"Buildings must be advised on measurement and verification, to ensure that the project continues, and even improves, the performance levels achieved. They must also do it in advanced commissioning, which reviews, 10 months after the completion of the project, and resolves if necessary, that the operation of the building is maintained as designed, "explained the director of KW Engineering.
This correct advice will also allow us to understand that the maintenance of the technologies and designs that made the building certified has some specific requirements. "Each PREREQUISITE and credit of LEED certification has a section that deals with considerations to consider for operation and maintenance."
Can I lose certification?
According to José Luis Correa, this kind of guarantee can be lost, for this it is enough that in a property the established rules are not followed or the subsequent follow-up process is hindered; however, there are no known related cases. "You can lose it: if you are denied access to the project for the performance of the audit or visit to the site, or if the review of the information related to the certification is not allowed, it will be revoked; I know of no cases either in Colombia or internationally."
However, LEED can recover or not, depending on the following circumstances: yes, if you were LEED certified in Operation and Maintenance (O+M) and let more than 5 years pass without renewal. No, if your certification was revoked.
LEED Overview
Finally, our guest shares his opinion on the current panorama of LEED Certification in Latin America, highlighting its growth and emphasizing that greater government support is needed to sustain and increase the current pace of constructions that comply with this endorsement.
"Latin American countries have been growing significantly in the sustainable construction sector, thus achieving large reductions in energy consumption, water use, carbon dioxide emissions and solid waste generation. To sustain this pace, it is imperative that better policies, economic support and government support be generated for organizations focused on sustainable construction issues; that efficiency in construction continues to be improved, and that certification schemes such as LEED, and building codes such as the NTC in Colombia and ASHRAE continue to be applied internationally."
