Fifth Street is fully committed to a company-wide initiative to implement sustainable operations at every property we manage. Through these initiatives, our goal is to achieve Green practices that are financially feasible and practical at each property. Additionally, each initiative pursued must meet the property’s goals for return on investment and yield near-term and long-term expense reduction benefits to the tenants and owners.
Combining extensive experience in real estate development, ownership, and property management with in-depth knowledge of sustainable practices, the Fifth Street team is uniquely qualified to assist clients with improving the sustainable profile of their facilities, operations, and policies. From baseline energy usage calculations through full-scale LEED project administration, Fifth Street offers a full suite of sustainability services to fulfill the strategic goals of clients while making sure that all such initiatives are “bottom line” oriented.
LEED in Existing Buildings
Fifth Street has a proven track record of achieving LEED Certification in existing buildings with little or no capital investment. Because Fifth Street excels in the development and implementation of “active energy reduction programs” and procedures, we are able to significantly reduce energy consumption and the related cost at our properties. Additionally, Fifth Street has developed the requisite knowledge of the LEED Certification process and has demonstrated its ability to achieve certification, in most instances, without the requirement for outside consultants and their related cost. Achieving LEED Certification through the implementation of sustainable practices and reducing operating expenses is one of our core competencies.
Energy Management
Energy costs represent one of the highest single components of operating expense in commercial facilities. Fifth Street has developed specific energy reduction strategies for each property we manage. Our strategies include the re-commissioning of the building’s major systems, the development of a “continuous commissioning” strategy and the identification of key technologies that can be deployed to achieve the energy reduction objectives. Fifth Street has demonstrated these capabilities in the properties we manage.
Energy Audits
Fifth Street performs detailed energy audits at all properties to identify opportunities for energy consumption reductions. Fifth Street has in-depth experience in assessing a property’s operating efficiency and implements a comprehensive “re-commissioning” program of all major property operating systems. This process ensures that all mechanical components are performing to their optimal levels. Once the building systems have been reset, continual measurement of performance is implemented to ensure that program is sustainable.
Water Management
Conservation
Fifth Street has had success in its operating properties and reducing water consumption through low or no cost measures. The most straightforward and economically viable process of reduction in potable water use is direct operating reductions. Fifth Street designs programs for financially efficient fixture upgrades and helps clients prepare procedures for reducing water use from areas such a cleaning and landscaping.
Collection / Reclamation
Fifth Street has identified, designed and implemented water collection and reclamation projects at facilities we manage. Several of our facilities have benefited from the design and installation of an HVAC condensation collection/ recycling program that has recycled over 500,000 gallons of water annually. graywater capture, for use in landscape irrigation as well as toilet flushing, is a proven process for water reuse and avoiding water waste. Often a challenge to incorporate into existing facilities, Fifth Street analyzes its potential in all major water saving projects.
Indoor Air Quality
Common indoor air quality problems that can cause Sick Building Syndrome and building related illnesses are lack of fresh air, poorly maintained or inappropriately operated ventilation systems, disruption of air circulation and poorly regulated temperature and humidity levels. Common symptoms of poorly maintained ventilation systems are clogged or dirty filters, water standing in condensate drain pans, mold or mildew growing within the building envelope or HVAC systems, abnormally high or low space temperatures, and odors. Fifth Street -maintains air quality in accordance with ASHRAE 62-6.2 in order to prevent these common problems. The Fifth Street IAQ Operations and Maintenance protocol includes O&M procedures, schedules for maintenance, design drawings with control schematics, and sequence of operation.
Existing Building Commissioning
Existing building commissioning is a systematic process of investigating, analyzing, and optimizing the performance of building systems through the identification and implementation of low, or no cost, and capital intensive facility improvement measures and ensuring their continued performance. The existing building commissioning process assists in making the building systems perform interactively to meet the current facility requirements and provides the tools to support the continuous improvement of system performance over time. The majority of existing buildings have not undergone any type of commissioning or quality assurance process. Over time the facility requirements change and the operational efficiencies of buildings tend to degrade. Because of these factors many buildings are performing well below their potential, use more energy than necessary and cost more to operate than they should. Existing building commissioning responds to an owner’s desire to improve building performance, solve comfort and operational problems, and reduce operating cost.