Setting a measurable energy performance goal is the first step in designing sustainable buildings that reduce operating costs and greenhouse gas pollution.
Commerical Services for New Buildings
ComfortHome can help you protect our environment and reduce unnecessary energy usage through sustainable, energy efficient design.
ComfortHome supports the American Institute of Architects (AIA) national call-to-action to reduce fossil fuel energy associated with CO2 emissions when designing, constructing and operating buildings.
ComfortHome commercial building guidelines encourage best practices for efficient design as part of the overall design process, and can help translate design intent to top energy performing buildings.
By contracting with ComfortHome from the start you can be assured of achieving maximum efficiency at the minimum cost.
ComfortHome commercial approaches include:
Set a Performance Goal
Pre-Design
The conventional design process usually introduces energy-efficient technologies during design development. However, our experience has shown that the greatest opportunity for cost-effective energy measures occurs before the design process. Contracting with ComfortHome in the beginning phases can ensure that energy-related design concepts are considered to maximize the building's performance and minimize its environmental impact for years to come.
Schematic Design
As the team's ideas take form during the schematic design phase, ComfortHome can perform preliminary simulations of various energy options and technologies. By comparing the results to your energy target, you will better be able to know which strategies meet your goal. By contracting with an energy expert like ComfortHome you can review the selected energy strategies and provide preliminary costs-and-benefit ratios for various design options.
Design Development
Refine the project in the Design Development stage with ComfortHome's mechanical engineers to confirm that your energy performance target can be achieved.
Construction and Bid Documents
It is important to select a qualified construction team that is able to execute the specified energy efficiency strategies that meet your design target. Seek a contractor who has a reputable track record for constructing buildings that achieve superior energy performance.
Commissioning
Commissioning is the process of verifying that a new building functions as intended and communicating the intended performance to the building management team. Contracting with ComfortHome insures that the building will be commissioned to perform as intended by equipment manufacturers. In practice, commissioning costs aren't included in design fees and often compete with other activities. Hire an expert like ComfortHome that specializes in building commissioning. Include the commissioning firm as part of the design team early in the project.
Evaluation, Measurement, and Verification
Building automation systems in commercial buildings allow users to track actual energy consumption over time. ComfortHome's building evaluation, measurement and verification throughout the building process will ensure that all systems are performing properly and the building is at maximum efficiency.
Our Programs
The ENERGY STAR for Commercial Buildings
Certifying your light commercial building through ENERGY STAR not only reduces the building's operating cost, it also adds to the buildings value by providing brand-name recognition.
New buildings created using our guidelines will be strong candidates to meet the necessary threshold of 75 or better and qualify for the ENERGY STAR certification.
Architects can follow up with the building owners and encourage them to measure the building's energy performance and gain EPA recognition for superior energy performance.
As soon as a building has one year of utility data, its energy performance can be compared to an industry benchmark of similar space types.