Green Design Services

RetroCom's staff has a long history in and commitment to sustainable design. We're proud to offer our expertise in:
LEED^tm Certification and Commissioning and RetroCommissioning for LEED Certified Projects
Sustainable Site Design
Climate-Responsive Site Design
High-Performance HVAC and Control System Design
Daylighting Design

LEED
RetroCom's LEED-accredited engineers and project managers guide your project through the certification process. We participate at every stage, ensuring that the necessary steps are taken and documented and providing feedback and guidance in the design process to help you obtain the maximum LEED credits at the lowest possible cost. We handle project registration, facilitate design charettes, and coordinate submission of materials required for certification. We provide logistical support and information to ensure compliance with credit criteria. RetroCom is highly qualified to provide commissioning services for our clients' LEED projects, including:

• Fundamental Commissioning services to fulfill LEED-NC 2.2 prerequisites and Additional Commissioning to achieve credit under EA-3.
• Retrocommissioning services to fulfill LEED-EB 2.0 prerequisites that are also relevant to achieving credits under EA-1,3 and 5 and IEQ-6.

Sustainable Site Design
RetroCom assists your design team in optimally allocating land use based on environmental resources, such as:

• Working with pre-existing site drainage and geology to reduce erosion and sedimentation and protect habitats.
• Taking advantage of climatic, topographic, and vegetative features to maximize opportunities for climate-responsive design.
• Integrating buildings and hardscape with natural features and habitats.
• Developing Neighborhood Development plans to satisfy LEED-ND.

Climate-Responsive Design
RetroCom contributes a unique perspective and approach to designing buildings that truly take advantage of local conditions. Strategies include:

• Building orientation and massing to take advantage of seasonal variations in sun angle and exposure, wind, and daily temperature swings.
• Tuning of glazing materials, glazing area, and solar control devices by orientation for optimal thermal performance.
• Use of natural ventilation and stack effect for passive cooling and fresh air.
• Positioning and sizing of thermal mass to mitigate temperature swings.

During the conceptual design stage, RetroCom works with the design team to develop a basis of design that integrates climate-responsive principles into the overall architectural objectives.

High-Performance HVAC and Control System Design
RetroCom selects systems that minimize energy use and are appropriate to the use, style, and budget of the facility. Systems, equipment, and controls are selected to integrate with climate and choice of materials. Whether we're working with central plants, all-air systems, hydronic systems, or ground-source heat pumps, RetroCom compares the relative performance of each system and the advantages and disadvantages of each. Mixed mode (natural and mechanical) ventilation poses unique challenges that require evaluation in each operating mode.

Daylighting Design
RetroCom helps achieve the benefits of daylighting through:

• Selection of glazing materials for optimal lighting distribution and glare control.
• Sizing of glazing areas for optimal illumination.
• Integration of luminaires for complementary lighting under changing conditions.
• Automatic daylighting controls to ensure energy savings are achieved.