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Many new buildings that are constructed have a LEED-certified label attached to them. Generally speaking, this means that these buildings were constructed with a green building mentality. To be able to do this, the architects and engineers who design these buildings usually carry a LEED Accreditation. Below, let's take a closer look at what goes into a LEED Accreditation and how it can be beneficial.

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Optimizing your building site is a great way to save money and keep your property sustainable. By considering building orientation, landscaping, and rehabilitating existing structures, you could help maximize your building's sustainable potential. 

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Chances are, you see the words, "LEED Certified" fairly often. It can be plastered on the wall of a building or listed as a benefit for a new structure. But what exactly does a LEED certification mean, and how does a building become LEED Certified? Below we will take an in-depth look at what exactly it takes to qualify as a LEED-Certified building and the benefits associated with LEED.

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The most significant component of sustainable building design is having a renewable energy source. Simply being able to create electricity from a renewable source is not only more energy efficient, but can save money over time. Plus, renewable energy sources are environmentally friendly and do not leave a big carbon footprint, if any at all. Below we will examine some of the more popular renewable energy sources.

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At the heart of Gausman & Moore we live and breathe sustainable design. Our team of engineers is dedicated to creating sustainable concepts and utilizing renewable energy as often as possible. While it may seem to be the new, trendy approach to building, we must still look at why sustainable engineering is important. Let's take a closer look as to why green design is both a practical option and necessary for a better future.

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One of our best renewable resources is available to us just outside our windows. Using natural sunlight in your building is a great way to stay green while using sustainable design concepts. Natural sunlight not only improves the mood and morale of the people residing within the building, but it can lower energy costs and reduce carbon emissions.

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Solar water heaters rely on the sun to heat the water provided to your home or building. These systems are reliable and relatively straightforward. At the core, a solar water heater is reliant on the solar collector and storage tank. The collector is an insulated box, usually with a dark interior, that contains tubes that allow for water flow. The solar collector catches the sun's rays and transforms them into heat. The storage tank simply holds the heated water. From here, the functionality of the solar water heater depends on the type.

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Are you considering the possibility of incorporating a sustainable design into your business’s new building? Do you wonder what impact going green may have on the success of your business in the future? A sustainable design that uses renewable energy and other resources does have quite a few advantages.

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Constructing a building is a massive undertaking with months and even sometimes years of planning, design, and construction. There are many moving parts and integral pieces so if there is a single misstep or miscommunication, the building project can experience costly delays or redesigns. Having clear and open communication is key. At Gausman and Moore, our professional engineers work together with the various disciplines needed to successfully complete a building. Outlined below is a list of the many ways our engineers encourage a cohesive team to reach the final goal.

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Sustainable technology buildings and localized business parks are taking advantage of smart microgrid technology. Large power plant systems can be costly and unreliable. A smart microgrid system takes the same concepts of a large power grid design and scales everything down to accommodate a small, local business park or campus. There are many applications for a smart microgrid installation, which come with sustainable benefits. Below, we will examine how smart microgrids work and their several benefits they can bring to your next building project.

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The testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB) of a building’s HVAC system is one of the more critical phases when preparing the system for operation. This process involves various testing, adjusting, and balancing procedures to ensure all HVAC equipment and systems are operating correctly. With each of our building projects, our goal is to provide our customers with quality solutions to their TAB needs for their HVAC systems. Our process includes balancing air and water flow through the system, performance testing for all mechanical parts, and making adjustments to the system to verify all automatic controls function as required.

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When first developing design ideas for a building, it’s important to understand that everything has a financial value. And conducting a building performance analysis beforehand can help designers understand what decisions can yield a more valuable economic return. Because some building owners have more strict construction budgets, it’s important the design and building process remains within a firm financial budget throughout the project. But how, exactly, is this budget calculated? We’ll give you an inside look at the different cost analyses designers take into consideration when developing building plans.

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Energy efficiency in buildings is almost always a top priority for building owners and contractors alike. However, it is not fully effective when occupants are uncomfortable with the indoor environment. If an occupant is too warm or too cold in a space, he or she will take alternative routes of heating or cooling their area, such as with space heaters, fans, or window-mounted air conditioners. And those could be substantially worse for the building’s efficiency than typical heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

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On Nov. 2 Mark Leutgeb (Partner, Business Development) was honored by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) Minnesota chapter. Mark was recognized for his “Leadership in elevating the stakeholder experience at IMPACT and his long history of supporting the Minnesota community through volunteer service.”

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