Green building programs can help owners and developers establish measurable sustainability goals, meet local requirements, qualify for incentives, and create better-performing buildings. But every program comes with different criteria, documentation requirements, costs, and opportunities.
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Jordan & Skala helps you evaluate those options and determine which path makes sense for your project. Our sustainability team works alongside our in-house MEP engineers to connect program requirements with the systems, design decisions, and operational goals that ultimately shape building performance.
We help translate program requirements into actionable decisions.
Certification programs can add requirements across design, documentation, construction, and verification. We help teams identify the right pathway early, understand what each credit or requirement involves, and keep the process coordinated as the project moves forward.
Local requirements can affect energy, water, materials, commissioning, documentation, and permitting. We help teams understand what applies to the project early so compliance can be addressed without creating unnecessary redesign or approval delays.
Utility programs, financing opportunities, and other incentives can help offset the cost of qualifying building improvements. We help clients identify applicable opportunities, understand the technical requirements, and coordinate what is needed to pursue them.
For owners with broader environmental, social, and governance goals, building performance can support long-term portfolio priorities and reporting. We help connect sustainability decisions with energy use, operational performance, certifications, and measurable project outcomes.
We design and coordinate the physical infrastructure that supports reliable wired data connectivity throughout a property. From telecommunications rooms and backbone pathways to horizontal cabling and equipment locations, we develop systems around the building’s operational requirements and anticipated technology needs.
We evaluate your project goals, location, building type, and priorities to help identify the programs and strategies that make the most sense.
For larger developments, sustainability decisions can have implications across multiple buildings and phases. Our team can establish a sustainability framework at the master planning level to help owners and developers make consistent, informed decisions as projects develop.
Our sustainability and MEP teams work together to evaluate building systems and identify practical opportunities to reduce resource consumption while supporting project goals.
Sustainability extends beyond energy use. We can help address indoor air quality, occupant comfort, and other building conditions that contribute to healthier, more usable spaces.
JSE helps clients understand applicable requirements and opportunities so sustainability strategies can be incorporated at the right point in the project.
Jordan & Skala works with a range of local, regional, national, and international green building programs and sustainability standards. Depending on the project, our experience includes:
LEED Building Design + Construction, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, provides guidelines for developing a holistic green building, allowing the Owner/Developer to maximize return on efforts and investment.
This LEED rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, is intended for residential properties with criteria that ensure a healthy space, provide clean indoor air, utilize fewer resources, and incorporate safe building materials in the design and construction.
The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) is the world’s first method of assessing, rating, and certifying the sustainability of buildings, providing whole lifecycle assessment and certification across all project types within the built environment.
This program consists of an online assessment protocol, rating system, and guidance for green building design, operation, and management for a wide range of commercial, institutional, and multi-residential building types.
The National Green Building Standard (NGBS) is an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)–approved, third-party certified buildings standard that provides a flexible and affordable way to verify green construction practices for residential developments.
This program, developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), was designed to signify that a home has met stringent energy efficiency requirements, including a high-efficiency thermal enclosure system, heating and cooling system, water management system, as well as lighting and appliances. Homes that earn the ENERGY STAR rating are 10% more efficient than those built to code, as well as achieve a 20% improvement on average.
This program is a people-centric green building certification system that focuses on improving, enhancing, and safeguarding the holistic health and well-being of occupants in retail, office, and multi-family residential buildings.
EarthCraft is a multi-family specific building program that certifies energy, water, and resource-efficient buildings throughout the Southeast United States. EarthCraft–certified developments, on average, save a projected 30% on energy bills as compared to buildings that use similar construction methods.
The Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB) program was the first rating system in the United States for evaluating the sustainability of buildings within the Austin area of Texas and is considered to be the catalyst for many cities to follow with similar regional programs.
The Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) is the leading green building program in Florida, designed with climate-specific criteria to address issues caused by Florida’s hot-humid environment, unique topography, geology, and natural disasters.
The California Green Building Standards Code (CalGreen) sets the mandatory minimum requirements for sustainable practices for residential and commercial construction projects throughout the state of California.
The 2021 International Green Construction Code (IgCC) provides the minimum energy savings and green building initiatives required during building design and construction. This program is intended to reduce the negative impacts of the built environment and improve the lives of building occupants.
The Indoor airPLUS program — developed by the EPA — focuses specifically on assisting new home builders in improving Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) by verifying that construction practices and product specifications utilized minimize exposure to airborne pollutants and contaminants.
This program was adopted by the City of Dallas and requires all new construction and finish-outs (both residential and commercial) within the Dallas, Texas, region to comply with specific sustainability requirements. It was one of the first major cities in the United States to pass a comprehensive green building standard.
The Denver Green Building Ordinance utilizes the Denver Green Code to prioritize lower carbon impact throughout new buildings in the City of Denver with the intention of lowering contributions to climate change.
This program provides businesses with financial incentives for implementing high-efficiency mechanical equipment, water heaters, insulation, and other energy efficiency upgrades.
Fannie Mae is the primary source of mortgage financing throughout the United States, making affordable housing more accessible to everyone. Specifically, this program provides multi-family developments with additional financial incentives for implementing energy and water efficiency property improvements.
The Freddie Mac Multifamily Green Advantage is a federal government program that provides multi-family residential investors and developers financial incentives to make projects as resource-efficient and green as possible.
GRESB’s ESG benchmarking program requires collecting information about a particular development while utilizing specific reporting methodology. The performance is then analyzed and assessed against indicators and specific sector or regional benchmarks, resulting in an individual score and ranking.
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We focus on strategies that can realistically be implemented within the project’s budget, schedule, and design. The goal is to make sustainability decisions more straightforward.
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JSE’s Sustainability team works closely with our in-house mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineers. That connection gives our team a direct understanding of how sustainability goals translate into engineered building systems.
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With sustainability experience across project types and regions, JSE understands that green building requirements are not one-size-fits-all. We bring a national perspective while accounting for local codes, programs, climate, and project priorities.
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Green building decisions are most effective when they begin early. We can support sustainability planning from initial project discussions through design, construction, certification, and building operation.
Combined MEP Experience
National Licensing Capability
Recognized as an MEP Giant
You don’t need to navigate green building programs on your own. Jordan & Skala can help you understand your options, prioritize the strategies that matter, and coordinate sustainability goals with the rest of the building design.
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Talk with our Sustainability team about your next project.
