Emerald Built Environments

Get coordinated MEP designs that balance cost, comfort, and carbon while supporting efficient construction and lasting building performance.

Identify energy-saving opportunities and receive a prioritized plan to reduce operating costs, support funding applications, and guide building investments.

Use building performance insights to make informed design decisions, manage costs, reduce compliance surprises, and advance energy and sustainability goals.

Helps clients choose and achieve building certifications with tailored guidance, coordinated project support, and a clearer understanding of requirements and costs.

Verify building systems perform as intended to reduce energy waste, improve comfort, and make operations more predictable.

Helps organizations measure and report emissions, understand their baseline, and plan progress toward emissions-reduction goals.

Turns complex sustainability goals into a measurable, stakeholder-informed plan that helps organizations prioritize improvements, reduce risk, and advance corporate objectives.

Prepare for EcoVadis and CDP assessments, improve scores, and build sustainability practices that support ongoing reporting and customer expectations.

Understand building impacts across the lifecycle and use actionable insights to reduce embodied carbon, guide material choices, and support certification.

Understand current environmental performance and get guidance on steps toward sustainability goals.

Helps organizations turn sustainability and ESG goals into coordinated strategies, implementation plans, communications, reporting, and stakeholder engagement.

Engineering for High-Performance Buildings

Emerald Built Environments provides mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) design for new construction, renovations, and system upgrades. Services cover HVAC, ventilation, power distribution, lighting, water supply, drainage, and water conservation. Designs integrate energy modeling, energy code requirements, and lifecycle assessment, and are shaped by commissioning experience, operational realities, and constructability. Emerald works with architects, contractors, and owners from early concepts through final documentation to develop coordinated, buildable designs that balance cost, comfort, carbon, budgets, timelines, and long-term performance.

• Design Coordinated Building Systems
  Develop mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems for new buildings and existing-building projects, spanning HVAC, ventilation, electrical distribution, lighting, and plumbing.
• Inform Decisions With Integrated Analysis
  Use energy analysis, code requirements, and lifecycle considerations to inform design choices and coordinate systems for installation and operation.
• Reduce Revisions With Buildable Designs
  Clear, coordinated designs informed by constructability help align engineering decisions with field conditions and support installation while reducing the risk of revisions and surprises.
• Support Performance Beyond Construction
  Commissioning and operational experience informs designs with long-term building performance in mind, rather than focusing only on code compliance or construction.
• Balance Cost, Comfort, And Carbon
  Align system design with project budgets and performance priorities, including energy goals, operating efficiency, occupant comfort, and carbon considerations.
• Align Teams From Concept To Documentation
  Collaborate with project partners throughout design to align system decisions with wider project needs and provide engineering input through final documentation.
• Prepare Infrastructure For What’s Next
  Design infrastructure with decarbonization and electrification goals in view, supporting clients modernizing systems for future performance needs.

Energy audits

Emerald Built Environments provides detailed, financial-grade energy audits for commercial buildings. The process reviews utility bills, equipment specifications and operating schedules, surveys HVAC, lighting, controls and the building envelope, and analyzes energy performance and potential savings. Clients receive a prioritized, data-backed action plan with recommended energy conservation measures, costs, savings and payback periods. Audit findings can inform operational improvements and capital planning, support eligibility for grants, rebates and energy financing, and help address energy-code, refrigerant and emissions requirements.

• Prioritize Upgrades By Return On Investment
  Ranking measures by return on investment, with costs, estimated savings and paybacks, helps building teams compare options and decide which upgrades to pursue.
• Identify Inefficiencies In Building Systems
  Documenting system and envelope conditions helps reveal where a building uses or loses energy and informs practical improvement recommendations.
• Support Funding And Financing Applications
  Documented energy savings and audit findings can help clients meet program requirements and prepare for grants, rebates and energy financing.
• Establish A Reliable Performance Baseline
  A baseline gives building teams data about energy use and operating conditions to support informed evaluation of performance and potential improvements.
• Compare Performance And Model Savings
  Benchmarking and savings analysis provide data-backed insight into building performance and potential energy conservation opportunities.
• Align Upgrades With Budgets And Asset Plans
  Using audit findings in capital and maintenance planning helps owners consider equipment upgrades alongside lifecycle needs and budget timing.
• Prepare For Energy And Refrigerant Requirements
  Assessing building equipment and improvement needs helps owners plan for refrigerant phase-down and local energy-code requirements.
• Track Emissions And Demonstrate Progress
  Building energy findings can support efforts to measure and reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions and communicate progress to stakeholders.
• Improve Lighting Ventilation And Temperature Control
  Recommendations for lighting, ventilation and temperature control can help enhance indoor environmental quality and occupant comfort.

Building energy modeling

Emerald develops whole-building energy models using DOE-approved software to predict building energy use, costs, and performance. Models account for factors such as orientation, climate, HVAC systems, lighting, insulation, glazing, and operating assumptions. The analysis supports early design and renovation decisions, performance-based energy code compliance, cost and system optimization, carbon projections, and renewable energy planning. Model outputs can also provide energy-savings documentation for financial incentives and building certifications, and help validate projected performance for funding and reporting requirements.

• Forecast Building Energy Use
  Estimate how a building is expected to use energy and perform before construction or renovation, giving owners and design teams data to inform decisions.
• Inform Decisions Earlier
  Bring performance analysis into early project stages to help teams evaluate design choices and reduce the risk of costly inefficiencies or missed targets later.
• Evaluate Code Compliance Paths
  Assess performance-based routes to energy code compliance and support clear documentation of compliance decisions, helping teams identify requirements early and avoid unnecessary redesign.
• Optimize Systems And Costs
  Compare design choices to support energy performance while managing upfront and operational costs and reducing the risk of unnecessary system changes.
• Assess Carbon And Renewables
  Understand projected emissions and evaluate renewable energy options to inform building design and long-term sustainability planning.
• Support Incentives And Certifications
  Use modeled energy savings and related documentation to support funding applications, tax-credit requirements, and building certification processes.
• Validate Projected Performance
  Provide documented analysis of expected energy, cost, and emissions outcomes to support funding requirements and stakeholder confidence in building performance goals.

Building certifications

Emerald provides strategic consulting and project-management support to help clients choose and achieve sustainable building certifications. Support can include assessing projects against rating systems, developing a preliminary strategy, clarifying potential costs and benefits, coordinating certification requirements, and preparing documentation and submittals. Services are tailored to project goals and can support new construction, major renovations, interior fit-outs, and existing building operations. Programs include LEED, WELL, Fitwel, ENERGY STAR, Green Globes, Enterprise Green Communities, Arc, NGBS, and others.

• Choose A Goal-Aligned Certification Path
  Clients can compare certification programs and focus areas to identify options that align with their project goals rather than treating one certification as right for every building.
• Clarify Requirements, Strategy, And Costs
  An initial assessment helps clients understand whether and how a project can pursue certification, what strategy to consider, and what costs and benefits may be involved.
• Coordinate Certification From Start To Finish
  Project-management support helps teams organize certification requirements and coordinate work across the project, from initial planning through certification delivery.
• Prepare Required Certification Documentation
  Support with documentation, submittals, and submission coordination helps project teams address certification requirements and provide the information needed for review.
• Pursue Relevant Building Certification Programs
  Clients can consider a range of certification programs, and compatible certifications such as LEED and Fitwel may be pursued at the same time.
• Address Certification Needs At Every Stage
  Clients can seek certification support for new and existing buildings, renovations, and interior projects, with program options suited to different building types and stages of operation.
• Connect Certification With Building Expertise
  Technical consulting related to design, energy modeling, commissioning, and performance verification helps teams address building performance requirements alongside certification planning.

Building commissioning, testing, and verification

Emerald’s building commissioning service reviews design, checks installation, conducts functional testing, and helps operations teams understand how building systems should work. It verifies that HVAC, lighting, controls, electrical, plumbing, and envelope systems work together as intended. Services support new construction, existing buildings, and ongoing operations, including code-compliance and certification testing and documentation.

• Verify Systems Work As Intended
  Confirm that building systems are installed correctly, integrated properly, and operating to meet design intent, performance goals, and day-to-day operational needs.
• Find And Address Issues Early
  Testing helps uncover system issues before they lead to larger problems, expensive callbacks, or disruption after occupancy.
• Support Code-Compliant Closeout
  Help project teams understand applicable commissioning requirements, define responsibilities, and complete testing and documentation needed to keep projects moving toward closeout and occupancy.
• Coordinate Building Systems
  Verify that key building systems function as a coordinated whole, helping prevent overlooked issues between systems.
• Prepare Systems Before Occupancy
  Verify installation and system integration before occupancy so the building is ready to perform as intended from the start.
• Maintain Performance Over Time
  Identify issues that have developed in existing buildings and help keep systems operating consistently as building conditions and operations change.
• Reduce Waste And Improve Comfort
  Help systems run as intended to reduce energy waste, improve comfort, and avoid surprise repair bills and recurring troubleshooting.
• Support Certification Requirements
  Help project teams meet building certification requirements with commissioning documentation, verification, and performance testing.
• Prepare Teams To Operate Systems
  Give the operations team an understanding of how systems should function, supporting informed day-to-day building operation.

GHG emissions reporting

Emerald helps organizations develop greenhouse gas emissions reports and understand their emissions baseline. Its process includes defining the reporting scope, planning data collection, building an emissions profile with calculators, and issuing a report after collecting 12 months of data. The service can also support third-party report verification, ongoing year-over-year tracking, and recommendations for reducing or offsetting emissions based on the organization’s profile. Emerald helps businesses clarify and fulfill reporting requirements and can support Scope 3 reporting through a materiality assessment. The materiality assessment helps identify emissions categories associated with operations and inform carbon reduction strategies and Scope 3 reporting preparation.

• Calculate And Report Emissions
  Turn organizational data into an emissions profile and annual report that describes greenhouse gas impact.
• Plan Emissions Data Collection
  Clarify the information needed for an emissions inventory and plan data collection for both current and future reporting.
• Define Reporting Scope
  Establish the boundaries and relevant emissions scopes for the report before collecting data.
• Plan Emissions Reductions
  Use the organization’s emissions profile and assessment insights to identify recommended actions for reducing or offsetting emissions.
• Track Emissions Year Over Year
  Continue tracking and reporting emissions data to measure performance over time.
• Address Reporting Requirements
  Get support understanding and fulfilling applicable emissions reporting requirements, including Scope 3 disclosure requirements.
• Assess Scope 3 Categories
  Identify relevant emissions categories to support Scope 3 reporting and the development of emissions-reduction strategies.
• Secure Third-Party Verification
  Obtain support in securing third-party verification for an emissions report.

Sustainability Roadmap

Emerald’s Sustainability Roadmap is a tailored consulting engagement that helps organizations understand current performance, engage stakeholders, and identify opportunities to improve environmental performance. The engagement can include facility audits and utility analysis, reviews of operations and maintenance practices, sustainability communications and metrics, and peer comparisons. It culminates in a written action plan with clear recommendations and short- and long-term activities aligned with corporate goals. Visual aids help teams track progress, and the plan can connect goals with performance metrics, capital budgets, and milestones. Roadmaps are traditionally completed in 30–90 days.

• Turn Goals Into Action
  Gives teams a practical, visual guide with clear recommendations and activities for progressing toward corporate sustainability goals.
• Reveal Performance Opportunities
  Provides visibility into building performance and utility use, helping organizations identify opportunities to improve performance and focus future investment.
• Engage Teams And Stakeholders
  Helps organizations understand what matters to employees and other stakeholders and involve them in shaping sustainability priorities and a shared vision.
• Strengthen Facility Practices
  Helps organizations identify gaps in facility practices and consider improvements to operations, maintenance, and risk mitigation.
• Align Metrics And Communications
  Helps organizations assess whether their sustainability metrics and communications support their corporate goals and provide useful information about performance.
• Compare Industry Performance
  Offers a peer perspective to help organizations understand their opportunities to lead their industry forward.
• Plan Within 30–90 Days
  Provides a defined timeframe for developing a sustainability plan, with the process tailored to the organization’s needs.

EcoVadis and CDP support

Emerald provides practical sustainability consulting for companies preparing for EcoVadis assessments, improving existing scores, and strengthening the sustainability programs behind their results. Support includes readiness reviews, documentation and evidence organization, questionnaire assistance, scorecard and Corrective Action Plan reviews, benchmarking, and guidance on ongoing improvement. Emerald also helps companies pursue a CDP score and identify steps to improve it. As an Approved EcoVadis Training Partner and Platinum Medal recipient, Emerald brings firsthand experience with EcoVadis ratings.

• Prepare Confidently For First-Time Submissions
  Get practical guidance on what is being requested, which existing materials to gather, and how to prepare a first EcoVadis submission.
• Identify Priorities To Improve Future Scores
  Use previous results and Corrective Action Plans to identify improvement opportunities and strengthen evidence for future EcoVadis assessments.
• Leverage Firsthand EcoVadis Experience
  Work with an Approved EcoVadis Training Partner and Platinum Medal recipient that brings firsthand experience earning and improving EcoVadis ratings.
• Assess Current Sustainability Readiness
  Understand the organization’s starting point through a review of its sustainability policies, documentation, operational practices, and available data.
• Organize Evidence For Stronger Submissions
  Gather and organize relevant documentation, address evidence gaps, and present the organization’s existing sustainability work clearly in its submission.
• Build Processes For Ongoing Improvement
  Turn assessment results into prioritized next steps and practical processes that support future reporting requests and sustainability goals.
• Pursue And Improve CDP Scores
  Receive support in pursuing a CDP score and identifying steps to improve it.
• Navigate The Methodology And Questionnaire
  Understand the EcoVadis scoring process and receive assistance completing the assessment questionnaire.
• Compare Performance With Industry Peers
  Use industry peer benchmarking to inform the organization’s assessment and sustainability improvement efforts.

Building life cycle assessment

Emerald Built Environments’ Building Life Cycle Assessment (BLCA) evaluates a building’s environmental impact across its lifespan, from raw material extraction and manufacturing through construction, operation, and end-of-life. It quantifies embodied carbon and other impact categories to show where emissions come from and where they can be reduced. Emerald helps clients interpret the results and turn them into practical design and material strategies for new construction, renovations, certification projects, and existing or in-progress projects. The assessment can also provide data to document measurable progress in reducing embodied carbon and improving a project’s environmental footprint.

• Quantify Whole-Building Lifecycle Impacts
  See the environmental impact of a building across its full lifespan, including embodied carbon and other impact categories, to identify where reductions may be possible.
• Inform Early Design Decisions
  Use assessment results before materials are selected or construction begins to inform choices about building structure, systems, and specifications.
• Identify Embodied Carbon Reduction Opportunities
  Identify high-impact materials and use the results to develop practical strategies for reducing embodied carbon in a project.
• Guide Sustainable Material Selection
  Compare material choices using lifecycle insights and consider recycled, bio-based, or low-emission options.
• Evaluate Renovation And Material Options
  Apply lifecycle data to renovation decisions and material substitutions, or use it to support carbon reduction and offset strategies.
• Support Green Building Certifications
  Use lifecycle assessment results to support project certification efforts for LEED, WELL, and other green building standards.
• Reduce Project Environmental Impacts
  Use assessment findings to address transportation, energy, and waste impacts as part of efforts to minimize total emissions.
• Document Measurable Environmental Progress
  Use assessment data to document progress and communicate how design and material strategies contribute to reducing embodied carbon.

Sustainability gap analysis

Emerald assesses an organization’s current environmental performance and provides guidance toward its sustainability goals. The service helps businesses measure and report on their environmental performance in response to growing stakeholder interest and forthcoming climate transparency requirements.

• Clarify Current Performance
  Understand where the organization stands by assessing its current environmental performance.
• Guide Progress Toward Goals
  Use guidance tailored to the organization’s sustainability goals to identify a path forward.

Fractional sustainability officer services

Fractional sustainability officer services support companies formalizing sustainability and ESG initiatives. Emerald’s offering addresses the work of creating and implementing strategy, ongoing communications and reporting, and stakeholder engagement. The service draws on a team with sustainability, engineering, and building-performance expertise to help organizations connect sustainability goals with practical plans and measurable outcomes.

• Turn Goals Into Action
  Helps organizations create a sustainability strategy and move it into implementation, connecting broader goals with practical actions.
• Coordinate Communications And Reporting
  Supports ongoing communication and reporting about sustainability initiatives, helping organizations share progress with relevant audiences.
• Engage Stakeholders In Sustainability
  Helps organizations involve stakeholders in sustainability efforts and understand their priorities as plans and initiatives are developed.
• Create A Practical Action Plan
  Turns sustainability goals into a written plan with clear recommendations and short- and long-term activities to guide implementation.