Sustainable Building Consultants.
GAIA partners with design and construction teams to create high-performing buildings, decarbonize real estate portfolios, and improve environmental and social well-being.
What We Do
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At GAIA, we understand that real estate developers want to create buildings that benefit the environment, society, and their bottom line. Building certifications help achieve those goals. We've successfully managed the certification process for over 500 buildings covering 80M SF with third-party accreditation programs.
Certifying buildings has many benefits, from reducing energy, water, and waste consumption to complying with mandatory city codes and requirements. It also demonstrates a commitment to sustainability and helps avoid accusations of greenwashing.
With our expertise, we take care of the process, ensuring your building is recognized as a leader in sustainable development and operations.
Rating systems we use for new construction and existing buildings:
• LEED and LEED Volume for portfolios
• BREEAM and BREEAM Volume for portfolios
• Fitwel
• WELL
• Living Building Challenge
• LEED Zero Energy/Water/Carbon
• ILFI Zero Energy/Carbon
• Energy Star -
Energy and daylight modeling used as a design tool helps to forecast energy consumption, make informed design decisions, and increase cost savings.
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Life cycle assessments (LCAs) are performed to measure and reduce the embodied carbon of buildings in construction.
GAIA has completed over 100 life cycle assessments to date – and currently working on 150 active projects – which include baseline/proposed and optimized models.
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In-person verification assures systems are installed and functioning as designed. With ongoing commissioning, property owners prevent future risks and costly expenses
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Electricity generation from renewables is a key strategy on the pathway to net-zero. With new solar codes and incentives rolling out nationwide, solar installation and battery storage is becoming mandatory for certain building types and, with utility cost savings, solar becomes a no-brainer.
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GAIA supports clients’ ESG journey at the asset, fund, and portfolio level. Our scope of services includes:
Planning: Develop ESG and sustainability initiatives
Project Management: Be an extension of the design and construction teams
Marketing: Support communications and data-driven visual content for effective stakeholder engagement
We support clients’ annual ESG reporting process with quantitative and qualitative ESG metrics, calculating impact equivalencies and creating visual and written content for stakeholder communications.
Since 2005, GAIA has been at the forefront of sustainability and ESG initiatives in the real estate industry.
Our track record consulting on over 100,000,000 square feet of buildings and LEED Proven Provider status, helps our clients to make data-driven decisions that create high-performing, market-leading properties.
Across diverse sectors, GAIA leads in decarbonization strategies, driving both environmental impact and long-term financial value.
We work with clients every step of the way, from design and construction to ongoing operations, ensuring buildings are energy and water efficient, promote health, minimize negative environmental impact, and are resilient to climate risk.
