A green building certification budget should show the project team what work will be undertaken and within which scope. A useful proposal distinguishes consulting, fees payable to the certification body and the necessary technical studies. This makes it easier for investors to compare proposals, allocate responsibilities and discuss needs at later project stages. A sound starting point is to consider the certification objective alongside the current design and documentation status.
Clarify the project scope first
Building use, project stage and the certification objective are essential information for an initial discussion. The same preparation approach should not be assumed for new construction, a major renovation and an occupied building. Systems not yet selected or areas not yet confirmed should also be identified clearly.
It helps investors explain which decisions they need support with. Is the requirement application coordination, the examination of design options or a particular technical analysis? The answers make the proposal easier to understand. Sharing available architectural and engineering information also helps teams discuss the same project revision.
Identify certification-body fees separately
LEED registration and certification review fees are separate items. Certification fees depend on programme-defined factors such as the rating system and project size. The current schedule should be checked with the relevant body. USGBC — LEED fees.
Other systems likewise follow the relevant programme’s and certification body’s pricing. EDGE provides separate links to certifiers’ pricing information. EDGE — Certifiers and pricing.
The project budget should clearly identify which fees are included in the consulting proposal and which are covered separately. Agreeing payment and application responsibilities helps avoid overlooking or counting an item twice. Rather than comparing different programmes as though they shared one fee schedule, it is more meaningful to examine the application pathway relevant to the project.
Establish the need for technical studies
Energy modelling, daylight simulation, water calculations or necessary tests may be relevant depending on project scope. The purpose, information needed and expected output should be discussed for each study. The proposal can then explain which decision an analysis supports, going beyond a list of study names.
Timing should be connected with the design and construction programme. Commissioning is also a process extending from predesign into operation; it should not be reduced to test documents prepared at the end of construction. ASHRAE — The commissioning process.
The team can discuss who will provide analysis inputs and at which meeting results will be considered. This preparation connects consulting responsibilities with those of architectural, mechanical and electrical teams.
Compare proposals on the same basis
Before comparing two proposal totals, it is useful to read their contents alongside each other. The scope of application coordination, technical analyses, site visits and preparation for review responses should be clear. If another team will undertake a particular task, that allocation should also be stated.
The form of deliverables and the stage at which they will be used are part of the comparison. Investors should be able to understand whether a proposal covers design decisions, document preparation or their coordination together. Clarifying an ambiguous item during discussions helps parties proceed with shared expectations. The purpose of the comparison is to make the work needed for the project and its responsible parties visible.
Review changes alongside the budget
Changes to area, use or system selection may require analysis and documentation needs to be reviewed. Recording which study is affected makes the team’s assessment easier to understand. Discussing the revision scope and how changes will be handled in the proposal is useful.
An initial discussion of AECO’s LEED consulting and EDGE consulting can consider the project stage, objectives and available documents together. Share the building use and decisions you need support with to discuss scope, necessary analyses and responsibilities between teams.