Frequently asked questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is VCA Green and what do you do?

VCA Green is a consulting firm specializing in green building and energy-code services. We provide expert consulting and technical services for sustainable certifications, energy modeling, commissioning, code compliance and more — from project conception through building operations.

We work with residential, multi-family, commercial and non-profit projects. We support new buildings, major renovations and existing building operations. vcagreen.org

What geographic areas do you serve?

We currently have offices in California, Colorado and Hawaii:

  • Orange, CA

  • Denver, CO

  • Honolulu, HI

If you have a project outside these areas, please contact us — we may still be able to assist or direct you to a partner.

What certifications and services do you offer?

We offer a broad suite of services, including:

  • Certification support for programs like LEED, GreenPoint Rated.

  • Commissioning (Cx and Retro-Cx) and third-party quality assurance.

  • Energy modeling (including zero-energy / passive house strategies) using certified modelers.

  • HERS verifications and Title 24 code compliance (in California).

  • Training & education on CALGreen, LEED, GreenPoint Rated, etc.

  • Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) consulting.

  • Tax-incentive consulting (e.g., 45L Energy Efficient Home Tax Credit, 179D Tax Deduction).

Why choose VCA Green over another consulting firm?

  • We combine code compliance expertise (drawing on 45+ years of experience from our parent organization) with green building consulting.

  • We emphasize return-on-investment (ROI): sustainable strategies that make business sense, not just “green for green’s sake.”

  • We offer turn-key services through the project lifecycle (from concept to operations).

  • We have regional presence and know local codes and incentives.

How does the process work when I engage you for a project?

Typical steps:

  1. Initial consultation: understand your project scope, goals (sustainability, certification, code compliance), budget and timeline.

  2. Proposal: we’ll provide a clear scope of services, deliverables and cost.

  3. Kick-off: we assemble the team, coordinate with your architects/engineers/owners.

  4. Execution: services such as energy modeling, code review, commissioning, documentation, submission to certification bodies or code agencies.

  5. Follow-through/Ongoing support: we assist through construction, commissioning, certification submittals, and even operations or verification beyond completion.

What are common timelines for certification, modeling or commissioning?

Timelines vary based on project size, complexity, and goals. For example:

  • Energy modeling early in design phase is ideal so findings can impact design decisions.

  • Commissioning typically occurs during construction and pre-occupancy phases.

  • Certification (e.g., LEED) can span design, construction and post-occupancy phases.
    We’ll provide guidance once we know your project details.

How much does consulting like this cost?

Costs depend heavily on project size, scope, required services, complexity, certification level and geographic region. We’ll provide a customised proposal once we understand your needs. That said, because our emphasis is on ROI, many of our services aim to pay for themselves via energy savings, incentives or better asset performance.

What incentives or savings might be available for sustainable building?

There are a variety of incentives and federal or state tax credits, for example:

  • The 45L Energy Efficient Home Tax Credit (for new or substantially renovated homes)

  • The 179D Tax Deduction for energy-efficient design in commercial buildings

  • Local rebates, utility incentives, municipal programs, certification-driven market advantages.

We can help identify applicable incentives for your region.

Do you offer training or education programs?

Yes — we provide education on topics such as CALGreen (California’s green building standards), LEED, GreenPoint Rated and other sustainable building practices. vca-green.com

What happens after my project is completed? Do you provide support in building operations?

Yes — we can support ongoing operations, monitoring, post-occupancy verification, retro-commissioning (RCx) and help ensure that the sustainable design intent is carried through into building performance.