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TerraVert Sustainability Services, LLC is a green building consulting firm harnessing the power of integrative design, problem solving, and storytelling to help owners, architects, and users extract the greatest value from their investments and spaces.
Services
RightStart - Plan, Support, and Audit
We all understand that the right time to influence the project is at its conception and as time passes, the ability to influence the project decreases and the cost of design changes increases (MacLeamy Curve). Right requirements in RFPs, an integrative kickoff, and periodic checking of progress against initial goals can all help maximize influence. We use the ten measures of the AIA Framework for Design Excellence as a starting point for this.
RightStart Plan: We help owners formulate the right sustainability criteria in their request for proposals. These can be heavily influenced by the owner’s own ESG disclosures and goals. Here are some example goals we have help set in the past:
Site design in harmony with the ecoregion of the project
Energy Performance that is 25% better than regional energy code
Embodied carbon footprint that is 20% better than business as usual
RightStart Support: We work with owners, architects, and design teams to help research a project’s context and set the right sustainability goals. This has resulted in the following example outcomes.
A 4-8 hour kickoff where the entire design team and the owner walk out with the same set of project goals and strategies
Agreement on strategies such as electrification, heat pump hot water, and variable refrigerant HVAC.
A common understanding of incentives available, including the Inflation Reduction Act tax credits.
RightStart Audit: We audit finished concept or schematic design packages and provide feedback to fill gaps. We look for indicators of an overarching vision, an integrative process, and goals and strategies such as the above-listed.
ProblemSolve - Quant and Cert
The Architecture 2030 Challenge/AIA 2030 Commitment are ratcheting energy performance goals for buildings so as to achieve net zero fossil fuel use by the year 2030. Commitments and targets need a concerted process and pointed action.
ProblemSolve Quant: We would love to understand your building performance needs and provide tailored simulation modeling services.
Design energy modeling
Design daylight modeling
Embodied carbon analysis
Code compliance energy modeling
LEED energy modeling
Building Energy Audits
ProblemSolve Cert: We advise owners and design teams to choose the right certification systems and tailor the project process to maximize problem solving and streamline documentation.
LEED Certification
ILFI CORE Certification
ILFI Petal Living Building Challenge Certification
ILFI Full Living Building Challenge Certification
Green Globes Certification
Austin Energy Green Building Certification
Fitwel, WELL, etc.
If you’re working on a certification system not listed above, contact us to inquire if we can help.
StoryTell
Give us some facts about your organization, process, or projects and we will turn them into meaningful blog posts, white papers, and articles for you.
Some examples: