LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system,  providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO₂ emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

LEED is flexible enough to apply to all building types – commercial as well as residential. It works throughout the building lifecycle – design and construction, operations and maintenance, tenant fitout, and significant retrofit. And LEED for Neighborhood Development extends the benefits of LEED beyond the building footprint into the neighborhood it serves.

Energy Audits

A energy audit is the first step to assess how much energy your home consumes and to evaluate what measures you can take to make your home more energy efficient. An audit will show you problems that may, when corrected, save you significant amounts of money over time. During the audit, you can pinpoint where your house is losing energy. Audits also determine the efficiency of your home's heating and cooling systems. An audit may also show you ways to conserve hot water and electricity. We will provide the professional energy audit for Residential, Industrial and commercial facilities, State and local governments, not-for-profit and private institutions, colleges and universities, K-12 schools facilities.

If you are interested in getting specific recommendations for improving the efficiency of your home or business,  A Catersolar professional auditor can use a variety of techniques and equipment to determine the energy efficiency of your home. Thorough audits often use equipment such as blower doors, which measure the extent of leaks in the building envelope, and infrared cameras, which reveal hard-to-detect areas of air infiltration and missing insulation.

Your first step should be to contact our energy professional, to evaluate your home's energy efficiency.

Why Should a Building Owner or Manager Go Green?

Green Building cost less to operate and less to operate and return on income.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated in 2001 that a 30 percent reduction in energy use equates to a five percent increase in net operating income — roughly generating a $25,000 annual have an increased bottom-line improvement for every 50,000 square feet of occupied office space.
 • The practical savings were highlighted in a report by GreenOrder and Thomas Properties outlining how the Joe Serna Jr. California EPA Headquarters Building, a platinum-designated Leadership in
 Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) building, realized a savings of $1.50 per square foot annually or $1.425 million.
 . Bottom line: Green buildings reduce costs, provide higher return on income, and are therefore more attractive to lenders and investors.

Green building command higher rents and occupancy rates.

In 2006, the National Multi-Housing Council reported that green multi-family buildings realized a 5 to 10 percent increase in rents over traditional buildings within the same area with similar amenities.

• A McGraw-Hill Construction Smart Market Report from 2006 also showed green buildings deliver 3.5 percent higher occupancy rates, and an average increase of 7.5 percent in building values. That means green buildings may provide a 6.6 percent or better return on your investment.

Green building have reduced absenteeism.

According to the 2006 report from The Engineering Economist, "The Economic Benefits of Green Buildings: A Comprehensive Study," business operations in green spaces experience a 15 percent reduction in absenteeism.

A 2003 study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that improving indoor air quality could save U.S. businesses up to $58 billion in time lost due to illness each year, with another $200
 billion earned in increased worker performance. Less sick time means more productivity.

Green buildings increase employee productivity.

Four attributes of green design — increased ventilation and daylight and improved temperature, and lighting controls — have been positively and significantly connected with increased productivity.

• A West Bend Mutual study on productivity indicates gains of 16 percent for employees in green buildings. A positive work environment can also enhance recruitment and improved morale.

Green building are more attractive to tenants.

The 1999 "Skylighting and Retail Sales" study by the Heschong Mahone Group indicates that retail sales can increase by as much as 40 percent in buildings with natural lighting.

• Tenants will pay more for buildings where their employees will be more productive and their sales will be higher.

Green building have fewer risks.

the top causes of property loss in commercial buildings are electrical fires, malfunctioning HVAC ;ystems, and plumbing problems.
The certification process for a green building ensures that the electrical, HVAC, and plumbing systems are all working at the highest levels of efficiency, reducing the possibility of a loss.