Services

Not all square feet are created equal. From design through operations, we optimize buildings for:

✓ High-performance

✓ Compliance & Resiliency

✓ Human & Planetary Health

Building Certifications

Rating systems (as they’re also known as) are available for both new construction and existing buildings, with their popularity varying region by region. Our team has earned accreditation and experience with:

LEED

GAIA is recognized by USGBC as a LEED Proven Provider. This allows us to streamline our clients’ certification process with reduced fees.

LEED Volume pricing is available for portfolios→

BREEAM

Learn about BREEAM USA In-Use for existing buildings →

Portfolio pricing is available.

WELL

Advances occupant health, wellbeing, and equity.

Portfolios benefit from the WELL At Scale program.

Fitwel

Design strategies to optimize health and wellness.

Energy Star

Buildings must meet energy performance standards set by the EPA.

Living Building
Challenge

A regenerative design certification for projects to move beyond merely being less bad and to become truly sustainable.

Learn all about green building certifications →

Solar Consulting

Does solar pencil out? Is your building required to install solar panels and have battery storage? GAIA supports owners in assessing their solar needs at every step of the process, from design review to managing vendors' bid packages through installation and operations.

GAIA, Your Solar Owner’s Rep:

We standardized bid questions to ensure an equal comparison of all vendors
We provide unbiased 3rd-party review and feedback
We continue working together beyond bid selection
We provide 3rd-party commissioning after installation
We help owners navigate community solar programs

The Value of a Solar Owner's Rep →

Solar Analysis

GAIA analyzes buildings to determine their solar potential.

Solar supports net-zero certifications:

LEED Zero by USGBC
Zero Energy Certification by The International Living Future Institute
RE 100 by The Climate Group in partnership with CDP

solar layout model on industrial warehouse building

(Left) By reviewing the solar radiance, actual or expected energy loads, roof area, utility requirements, and rebates/incentives, GAIA helps projects maximize their reliance on renewables. (Right) Example of a solar layout and solar exposure.

Energy & Daylight Modeling

Early-stage energy modeling in the design process is crucial in optimizing building performance. Projects gain energy and cost savings by carefully assessing the energy efficiency of various design alternatives.

There are 3 types of energy modeling:

Basic
Enhanced
Predictive

Example industrial warehouse and its energy consumption performed through energy modeling software.

Life Cycle Assessments for Embodied Carbon Reduction

LCAs are conducted to meet building codes (such as CALGreen’s new embodied carbon regulation) and to guide lower carbon design alternatives.

GAIA has experience conducting over 300 life cycle assessments.

A life cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool for quantifying environmental impacts associated with a building's entire life cycle.

Understand life cycle assessments →

Commissioning & Energy Audits

Commissioning providers represent the owner’s needs and should be brought in, ideally, early in the design process.

GAIA performs commissioning services on new buildings and on existing ones due for check-ups, or ones that have never been commissioned before.

We perform on-site energy assessments to ensure systems are installed and functioning as designed, as well as energy audits that comply with ASHRAE Levels 1, 2, and 3.