« Back to Facilities Management News Home
Houston — Oct. 28, 2014 – Transwestern has announced that the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) approved its proposed LEED v4 Volume Program for its managed office buildings that saves owners a significant amount of time and money in obtaining LEED certification.
The program is the first prototype in the world to be certified under the v4 rating systems.
Transwestern’s building prototype was pre-certified LEED Platinum under the LEED v4 Operations and Maintenance: Existing Buildings rating system, achieving a total of 86 points out of a possible 110 points.
“As a pioneer in the sustainability field, Transwestern is honored to have created the world’s first LEED v4 Volume Program,” said Transwestern’s Al Skodowski, the managing senior vice president and director of LEED and sustainability services.
"We are dedicated to providing best-in-class service to our clients, and this includes finding innovative ways to cut operating costs and achieve the distinction of LEED certification for our clients’ properties. The LEED v4 Volume Program will allow our team to certify more properties at a faster rate and earn higher LEED certification levels under the more stringent v4 rating systems.”
The LEED v4 Volume Program allows organizations to streamline the LEED documentation and certification process for like properties, regardless of building ownership. To launch the program, Transwestern developed a theoretical building prototype that encompasses typical characteristics of office buildings in Transwestern’s managed portfolio. Transwestern’s in-house sustainability team then analyzed each of the possible 110 credits and developed a plan for how the building prototype would achieve that credit. The USGBC reviewed Transwestern’s prototype and proposed plan, awarding the prototype a total of 86 points for a Platinum-level LEED precertification.
“Transwestern embodies the best of what it means to be an industry leader,” said Rick Fedrizzi, USGBC CEO and founding chair. “As a Platinum-level member of USGBC, Transwestern’s willingness to step out in front of challenges, to methodically and strategically engage with the LEED green building rating system, and to develop a LEED v4 Volume prototype is proof of the level of excellence we have come to expect from this company.”
With the LEED v4 Volume Program in place, all Transwestern-managed office buildings that meet the prototype’s criteria can take advantage of a streamlined and cost-effective certification process. Specifically, the review period is significantly shorter, as the USGBC no longer has to review each credit a building pursues, since the Transwestern methodology for that credit has already been approved in the LEED v4 Volume precertification.
Additionally, Transwestern’s LEED v4 Volume Program accommodates buildings pursuing LEED for the first time, as well as those seeking recertification. The LEED v4 Volume Program standardizes internal quality control processes and methodologies for credit achievement, as well as provides in-depth education and hands-on experience for on-site management teams, enabling them to better manage their property through sustainable principles.
Transwestern’s in-house sustainability team has hands-on experience in many areas of sustainability and provides a variety of services, including energy audits, commissioning, ENERGY STAR benchmarking, LEED certification services and sustainability education.
