LEED® Certification
With more than 13 years of experience coordinating LEED projects, Vertima assists clients, professionals, construction managers and general contractors in the certification process.
LEED certification is awarded using strategies to achieve high performance in key areas related to human health and the environment, including environmental site development, water efficiency, energy efficiency, material selection and environmental quality.
LEED certification applies to all types of new or existing buildings. The LEED v4 version is the most robust version to date.
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WELL and WELL Health-Safety Certification
The WELL assessment system, which promotes the well-being of building occupants, estimates that we spend 90% of our time indoors and that the buildings where we live and work have a profound impact on our health, well-being and productivity. The WELL certification has defined criteria that focus on occupant health and well-being.
The WELL Health-Safety certification was created in July 2020, in part to address the challenges of the health crisis. The majority of these requirements come from the WELL assessment system, which aims to foster occupant well-being. The WELL Health-Safety certification also contributes to obtaining the WELL v2 certification.
In addition to managing the certification process with IWBI, Vertima collaborates with your team to determine the WELL criteria to be integrated into your activities, and establish and implement an action plan.
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Fitwel Certification
This evaluation system includes more than 55 evidence-based design strategies and operations that improve buildings by addressing a wide range of health behaviours and risks. Each strategy is associated with unique one-off attributions, based on the strength of the associated evidence and the demonstrated impact on the health of the building occupants. This means that strategies with greater impacts and multi-faceted health issues receive more points.
Fitwel approaches health as an interconnected system, with no dominant category or predominant area of interest. As such, all strategies are voluntary, with no specific requirements.
Fitwel strategies are categorized into 12 categories: location; building access, outdoor spaces; entrances and ground floor; stairs; indoor environment; workspaces; shared spaces; water supply; cafeterias and prepared foods; vending machines and canteens; and emergency procedures.
In addition to managing the certification process, Vertima collaborates with you and your team to determine the Fitwel criteria to be integrated into your activities and establish and implement an action plan.
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Envision
THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE
The ENVISION Sustainable Rating System is a certification that specifically covers urban infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and train stations. Its operations resemble those of LEED. Managed by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructures (ISI), ENVISION is divided into five themes broken down into 14 criteria.
The Vertima team has an ENVISION certified professional to guide the certification process.
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Zero Carbon
The Zero Carbon Building Standard (ZCB) is the new standard for sustainable building innovation.
Attaining ZCB certification means reaching the zero-carbon target for new and existing buildings, bringing recognition to industry leaders.
Carbon emissions represent the real climate impact of buildings. By focusing on emissions at the design stage and assessing emissions once the building is in operation, we can achieve the net results that Canada needs.
The ZCB standard focuses on a building’s carbon footprint over its life cycle, including construction and operation. It applies to all buildings, with the exception of residences and small multi-family residential buildings.
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Carbon and Net-Zero Energy Projects
A net-zero energy building is a residential or commercial building whose energy needs are greatly reduced through increased energy efficiency, so the shortfall in these energy needs can be made up with new technologies. In other words, buildings with net-zero energy produce as much energy as they consume.
The development of modern zero-energy buildings has become possible not only through advances in new energy technologies and construction techniques—such as solar panels, heat pumps, and low-emission triple glazing (Low E)—but also through academic research and the collection of accurate data on the energy performance of traditional and experimental buildings. This data provides parameters for advanced computer models to predict the efficiency of technical designs.
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BOMA BEST
BOMA BEST is the largest assessment and certification program in Canada with more than 7,000 certified or re-certified buildings in Canada since the program’s inception in 2005. It is a unique, voluntary online program designed by the industry for the industry, providing building owners and administrators with a consistent framework for assessing the environmental performance and management of existing buildings, regardless of their size.
The BOMA BEST certification for eco-responsible buildings recognizes excellence in energy performance and environmental management in commercial real estate. The program is managed by the Building Owners and Management Association (BOMA Canada).
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Green Globes
Green Globes is an online evaluation protocol, rating system and set of guidelines for the design, operation and management of green buildings. Interactive, flexible and affordable, it provides information on the environmental attributes of a building on the market through a third-party assessment.
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Other Certifications (True, Parksmart, etc.)
Vertima provides expert services and recommendations to its clients to streamline and accelerate the delivery of GBCI’s sustainability programs, including GRESB, ICP, Parksmart, SITES and TRUE. These various certifications offer new ways to validate building performance, further reduce emissions, achieve operational savings and promote human health.
Depending on the client’s objectives, these various certifications can be used as a reference and inspiration for your environmental targets without necessarily aiming for certification.
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Building Life Cycle Analysis
Life cycle analysis (LCA) applied to buildings is a tool of choice for measuring the intrinsic energy of the materials selected during the design phase.
Vertima’s team of experts is able to analyze your building’s life cycle to iterate and influence design choices and target a potential percentage for impact reduction according to a reference building.
The parameters for a building life cycle analysis are based on the methodology EN 15978: 2011 Sustainability of construction works - ISO 14040: Environmental management - Life cycle assessment - Requirements and guidelines.
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Integrated Collaboration Process (ICP) Workshops
We organize integrated collaboration workshops with your team, your clients and the various stakeholders in your business projects, to promote reflection and guide your sustainability goals by placing people at the heart of decision-making. These workshops encourage innovation and exemplary practices, so that today’s good decisions make a difference tomorrow.
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Quantify and Reduce GHG emissions
Our team of experts manages your GHG quantification and reduction projects in accordance with current standards, such as ISO 14064-2 or measure 50643 for schools.
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Training and Communication
Vertima raises awareness, informs and mobilizes different stakeholders through trainings tailored to your company’s objectives. Communication is essential to integrating and improving your results.
*Trainer accredited by Quebec’s Commission des partenaires du marché du travail [Labour Market Partners Commission].
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Strategic Support
Whether you are a company, builder or real estate developer, or a contractor, municipality, general contractor, manufacturer or professional, Vertima is a partner of choice to develop a sustainable vision that aligns with your environmental goals and priorities.
To address current environmental, social, economic and climate challenges, our approach has four pillars :
ENVIRONMENT – Reducing carbon footprints and reaching carbon reduction targets!
OCCUPANT HEALTH AND WELL-BEING – Creating a safe and healthy living environment!
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING – Reducing environmental impacts based on a regenerative approach!
PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION – Establishing goals, action plans and a continuous improvement process!
Your environmental strategies today demonstrate your commitment to tomorrow.
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