Every building that is constructed has an impact on the environment surrounding it. In a conscious effort to minimize the environmental impact and to reduce the carbon footprint that a building has on it's surroundings, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)© developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)™ program. The LEED™ Program establishes design standards and maintains the rating system for construction of buildings using methods of sustainable design and materials that minimize the impact of the construction process on the environment. The ultimate goal is a structure that during construction, and over the course of its lifespan, continues to minimally impact the environment - a "Green Building." This goal is obtained through reduction in energy usage and recycling of building materials.

There are four levels of certification that can be applied to a building design: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Each level is dependent upon a point system, the highest level being Platinum. To meet the stringent demands of sustainable design, Delta has LEED™ certified personnel on staff to assist our clients with the certification process.

Sustainable design doesn't have to result in certification, though. Many clients have their buildings designed with sustainable elements to reduce energy and operating costs. In addition, sustainable design takes into consideration the quality of living within the spaces as well as lessening the impact on the environment.

Among some of the sustainable design elements that Delta has used on previous projects includes: day-lighting, geothermal heat pumps, rain water collection systems, low usage lavatories, dual flush valves, occupancy sensors, measurement and verification, building measurements, energy modeling, commissioning, among many other design components. With the diverse group of disciplines that we offer, Delta can provide environmentally sustainable solutions for each aspect of your project.