The certification process helps building owners and managers measure operational improvements and maintenance with the goal of maximizing operational efficiency and minimizing the environmental impact.

The rating system, addresses energy/water/ solid waste reduction, cleaning, outdoor site management,  purchasing, transportation and operational procedures for building systems. It can be applied both to existing buildings seeking LEED certification for the first time and to projects previously certified under LEED for New Construction, Schools, or Core & Shell.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, LEED®, is the United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) third party green building certification program. The USGBC, a national 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, serves to accelerate the implementation of green building policies, programs, technologies, standards and design practices. ecoPreserve’s green building services offer technical assistance in attaining the United States Green Building Council’s LEED® green building certification.

The Existing Buildings Operations & Maintenance component of the LEED (LEED-EBOM) rating system is aimed at managers and others who wish to drive down operating costs while increasing the occupants’ productivity in an environmentally responsible manner.

Facts About LEED EBOM…

• Specifically, 60 percent of the buildings certified under LEED EBOM achieved lower operating costs when compared to the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) average.
• The New Building Institute’s March 2008 study reports savings ranging from 25 to 30 percent on LEED certified projects.
  In respect to LEED-EB, the study shows that LEED-EBOM projects reduce energy demand by 37 percent compared to the baseline ENERGY STAR 60 score used by LEED.
• According to the newly released Green Building Impact Report, released by Greener Buildings, LEED saves energy on several different levels, including energy related to operations, commuting, water treatment, and the lower energy embodied within materials. In operational energy terms, LEED buildings consume approximately 25 percent less on average than comparable commercial buildings.
• The Real Estate Services Division branches are working to attain LEED EBOM certification for facilities owned and managed by DGS. More importantly, facility managers will continue to have the opportunity to use a system that evaluates efficient building operation, thereby highlighting opportunities that reduce operational costs and the environmental impact of a building’s operation.

To learn more about LEED and USGBC, please visit www.usgbc.org