What is a LEED Assessment Tool?
- Both our LEED EBO&M and CI assessment tools allow you to discover within minutes how close a project is to being LEED certified.
- Based in an excel format, each tool is comprised of two tabs: an Information Input and Results tab that guide you through a short series of questions while simultaneously showing a project’s point breakdown and total number of accumulated credits.
How does it work?
- Each assessment tool begins with an Information Input tab that asks you a few simple questions ranging from the square footage of a building to where that building is located.
- The Information Input tab also gives users a summary of the total points the building initially qualifies for, the predicted level of LEED certification, and percentage of the way to LEED certification.
- The Results tab shows your progress through a series of graphs that depict not only the level of certification your project has achieved, but also the annual gallons of water saved resulting from efficiency.
- This page also runs a Discounted Cash Flow Analysis (DCF) model predicting the Net Present Value (NPV) of the energy conservation measures inputed into the tool.
Why use one?
- Consultants can be expensive, so why hire a consultant for even an hour of his or her time when $50 gets you the answer in a matter of minutes.
- For some projects, such as Urban dense ones that use water and energy efficiently, basic LEED 2009 certification is relatively easy and an assessment tool allows you to complete a LEED assessment on your own.
- The Assessment Tool will tell you and show you the financial impact of your efficient lighting and HVAC actions, allowing you to see whether 179D EPAct Tax Deductions are triggered.
- Finally, an assessment tool allows you to avoid paying USGBC registration fees while still giving you an idea if your project will qualify for a LEED Certification
