The Cadmus Group LLC (Cadmus), a leading consultancy in energy, climate, homeland security, the natural and built environments, public health, and international development, has earned a spot on the 2017 Hot Firm Award list, a Zweig Group ranking of the top 100 fastest-growing architecture, engineering, planning, and environmental consulting firms in the United States. Placement on the list is based on revenue growth over the past three years. Cadmus has ranked five times since 2011.
Recently Sara Greenwood, a consultant on Cadmus’ high performance building team, has earned the WELL Accredited Professional (WELL APTM) credential through the International WELL Building InstituteTM. This credential places Ms. Greenwood among a group of leading professionals dedicated to supporting human health and well-being in the built environment.
WELL AP is the only credential dedicated to signifying advanced knowledge of health and well-being in the built environment and specialization in the WELL Building StandardTM . Cadmus’ high performance building services harness the principles and metrics of sustainability for clients worldwide who want to ensure their buildings operate at peak efficiency, use energy and water as effectively as possible, and are as healthful and comfortable as they can be.
Cadmus gets a lot of questions about how the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC’s) new Arc program works. We have worked in depth with the USGBC to fully understand the program intent and the specific differences between this program and EB O&M recertification. In short, Arc—formerly called Dynamic Plaque—is where the USGBC would like to eventually redirect market focus for tracking current and ongoing performance.
If you are familiar with ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®, think of Arc as the LEED equivalent of that program. Building performance data is entered online on a monthly and annual basis, the LEED score will shift with each data update, and at the end of the year, the annual dataset is submitted to the USGBC for review. In essence, it is like recertifying every year.
Unlike the current LEED ratings systems, only performance-based data is entered into Arc. This includes utility bills, water bills, waste diversion reports, occupant survey data, occupant transportation data, waste audit data, and indoor air quality readings. There are no prescriptive tasks required, like commissioning or energy auditing: the USBGC is only interested in the resulting energy performance.
The intended path through this program is for the building to pursue one of the traditional LEED certification rating systems, then enter into the Arc program. For example, a new construction project might pursue LEED BD+C, then start the Arc program and begin tracking these performance metrics once the building has been operating for at least one year. Similarly, a building can pursue a LEED EB O&M certification, then enter the Arc program instead of following the recertification path. While originally intended only for LEED certified projects, Arc is now open to all buildings, regardless of certification status.
How it Works
There are five Arc categories (Energy, Water, Waste, Transportation and Human Experience) and one static category, which is based on the credits earned in the initial certification and is worth 10 total points.
As shown in Figure 1, each Arc category is worth varying points, with Energy being the most impactful category at 33 total points and Waste Management the least impactful at 8 points. Like the other rating systems, the score will be between 0 and 100 points, with the same thresholds for levels of certification as the other rating systems. Each category has essentially only one metric.
Figure 1: Arc score breakdown
Energy and Water
For both the Energy and Water categories, you can either enter utility bills manually or just set up Arc to link directly to your ENERGY STAR portfolio. Much like ENERGY STAR, the utility data is compared to a dataset of buildings to determine how many of the total possible points the building’s performance earns (33 for Energy, 15 for Water). The graphic within each category will show how the current month’s data compares to the prior month and the prior year data (see Figure 2).
Figure 2: Example of energy use visualization
Waste
There are two metrics for the Waste category: the ongoing waste and recycling values, and the results of an annual waste audit. Again, the ongoing diversion data is compared to a dataset of buildings to evaluate the diversion rate as well as the total amount of waste material you are generating. A compliant waste audit needs to be conducted annually, with that report submitted for annual USGBC review.
Transportation
For the Transportation category, much like the LEED EB O&M rating system, a survey needs to be sent to all occupants annually to collect data on how they typically travel to the building. Arc has integrated this survey into its online platform, so you can provide occupants with a link and the data will be automatically collected and analyzed within the Arc platform, which is very handy.
Human Experience
There are a couple of different metrics for the Human Experience category. Again, much like the LEED EB O&M rating system, a survey must to be sent to all occupants annually to collect data on their satisfaction with the thermal environment. This is part of the same survey used for the Transportation category.
The other metric for this category is building-wide testing for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and CO2 concentrations, which must be conducted at least once annually.
Both metrics are reported within the Arc platform, and a final report is required for the annual USGBC review. There are very specific requirements as to how many readings are needed, the timeframe between readings, and the equipment used to take the readings.
Base Score
The static category is the base score, which is derived from your initial certification. The base score is not shown on the graphic. There are specific credits and points for each rating system and version. The base credits for LEED EB O&M v2009 are outlined below:
SSc2 Building Exterior and Hardscape Management (1 point)
SSc3 Integrated Pest Management, Erosion Control, and Landscape Management (1 point)
SSc5 Site Development—Protect and Restore Open Space (1 point)
SSc6 Stormwater Quantity Control (1 point)
1 Heat Island Reduction—Non Roof (1 point)
2 Heat Island Reduction—Roof (1 point)
SSc8 Light Pollution Reduction (1 point)
EAc5 Enhanced Refrigerant Management (1 point)
6 Green Cleaning—Indoor Integrated Pest Management (1 point)
If the building earned any of these credits in the initial LEED EB O&M certification, it earns one point in Arc for each, up to a maximum of 10 points. If the building did not earn some of these credits, but you would like to achieve them to increase the base score, you can submit documentation at any point to demonstrate that you are currently meeting the requirements of the base credit. Much like a Credit Interpretation Ruling (CIR) (in process and cost), you can submit all of the required documentation and credit from the EB O&M rating system for USGBC review. For example, if you did not attempt SSc8 in the original certification because the building’s exterior lighting configuration was not compliant, but you have redesigned it to be compliant in the interim, you can submit documentation for that individual credit to confirm compliance. Note that this isn’t currently an automated feature in the platforms for already certified projects, but likely will be in the future.
For non-certified projects, the project will need to submit all prerequisite documentation applicable to their project type (NC, EB, etc.), and can submit any base credit documentation for USGBC review within the Arc platform. This extra step for non-certified buildings ensure all buildings that become certified under Arc meet the same prerequisites for the program, whether the project used LEED online or Arc. For single-building non-certified projects, at this time Cadmus recommends going through the traditional LEED program to earn certification rather than using the Arc program right away. There are significant benefits to developing standardized documentation for many of the LEED strategies, which are largely bypassed in the Arc platform. Exceptions might include large groupings or portfolios of buildings where the relative ease of scalability of Arc is an asset.
Costs
In the past, this program was subscription based, requiring annual payment for access to the platform. However, with the change from Dynamic Plaque to Arc, the subscription format was replaced by a certification cost—similar to LEED EB—built on a five-year time horizon. The full certification cost is due at the time of the first submittal for USGBC review. The certification cost buys you access to the platform functionality to provide a dynamic score, as well as an annual USGBC review for the five-year duration. Certification costs vary based on the size of the building, and the pricing structure was updated by the USGBC on December 1, 2016.
While the Dynamic Plaque name has been retired, Arc retains the physical plaque that formed its predecessor’s centerpiece. The plaque itself is an interactive display showing the current score and allowing occupants, guests, or any other passersby a view of the metrics behind the score. This plaque is an optional purchase of $6,000, and the platform is accessible without purchasing the plaque, much like ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.
Depending on your comfort level with this material and your access to equipment, both options will likely require some assistance from consultants, adding associated services and fees.
For EB certified buildings seeking recertification, the traditional EB recertification option requires more documentation and significant time dedicated to the effort once every five years, but little effort between recertifications. The Arc certification option advocates monthly or quarterly check-ins with some annual efforts, but overall requires significantly less documentation. Based on Cadmus’ assessment, the building team will spend equal or less time to maintain Arc over a five-year period compared to a recertification. Similarly, if you engage consultants, they will spend time on the site annually in several performance areas for Arc certification, rather than conducting a large on-site documentation effort every five years; Cadmus has assessed that consulting fees for both options will end up being roughly equal over the five-year duration.
Benefits of Arc Over Recertification
There is a more even and predictable internal time commitment and consultant costs because these items occur each year rather than being consolidated once every five years.
The score is primarily performance based, so increased performance translates quickly to an increased score (of course, the opposite is true as well!).
It is easier to enter data into the online platform, much like ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, which most building teams are already familiar with.
This program represents the direction the USGBC would like to take recertification efforts, so early adoption will likely be beneficial.
Only performance data is needed, and you no longer need to provide documents for several documentation-heavy credits already earned in the initial LEED EB O&M certification.
The base credits are from the certification that was already earned, so there is no need to relearn each new version of the EB O&M rating system (such as v4).
You will receive more regular attention from your consultant to discuss your current and goal sustainability efforts.
Benefits of Recertification Over Arc
It does not require an annual effort, which helps when budgets are variable or if the team loses track of this effort.
Falling short of the base credits will not hurt you, as they would under Arc. If your base credits are less than you desired, you may want to pursue another recertification and target those credits before pursuing Arc.
The base credits are largely static and based on the version of the EB O&M rating system used. To earn more base credits, you will need to submit individual credit documentation, likely at CIR prices. If you want to apply a newer rating system, Cadmus recommends pursuing an EB O&M recertification in the newer rating system instead of submitting all 10 base credits individually through Arc.
The certification earned is easily recognized, while the certification within Arc just becomes a “LEED certification,” no longer a “LEED EB O&M certification.” It is unclear how this will be recognized by various states and cities that have legislation referencing specific rating systems; however, this will likely be resolved once governments become more familiar with this new program.
The certification will show up in the LEED Project Directory, unlike LEED certifications earned through Arc. Recertified projects are, therefore, currently easier for the public to verify than Arc projects (though this will also likely be resolved in time).
For buildings that were certified under BD+C, C+S or ID+C, the Arc platform can help you to understand how the building is actively performing in operational mode. While recertification is not required for these rating systems, often the building tenants and ownership entities are interested in understanding how well the operation of the building aligns with what the design expectations were, and Arc is a great platform to visually demonstrate that performance data in real time. Since the design and construction rating systems are centered around the event of the development of the building, the Arc platform helps to bridge the gap between the performance during construction versus the performance during operation.
If your buildings already have a certification, you can activate your existing LEED certified project within Arc to figure out what score your building might currently receive before you commit to it completely. Note that you should activate your most recently certified project, not your registered-but-uncertified projects (in the case of registrations prepared for future recertification). Any projects that do not currently have a certification can create a new project in Arc by registering a new project and paying the registration fee.
Cadmus is excited about Arc, which feels like a natural extension of all the rating systems, and is focused on performance and optimization over time rather than the documentation of static strategies. Feel free to visit the Arc website for more information. Contact Cadmus today to discuss the specifics of your project and how it might best fit into this platform.
The lower costs and increased acceptance of distributed generation, storage, and energy efficiency are changing the hundred-year-old relationship between utilities and their customers. Throughout the last century, utilities generated and distributed power to their customers. The utility was granted a franchise area and an authorized return on any investments in exchange for the obligation to provide power to each customer within the franchise area.
Rapid changes in technology are turning that arrangement on its head. Customers now have the ability to generate and store their own power, often at a lower cost than purchasing power from the utility. Customers are also becoming more efficient in their use of power and may actually sell excess power back to the utility. This has led utility regulators to question whether the regulations of the last hundred years are still appropriate, or whether a new approach is required that allows utilities to generate revenues and profits from services other than traditional investments in generation, transmission, and distribution facilities. The New York Public Service Commission’s Reforming the Energy Vision proceeding is showing how it can be done.
