Frequently Asked Questions
The Value Maximizing Plan (VMP) is a value/ROI hyper-focused review process that targets and uncovers the areas of building design that will impact ROI over the next 20-40 years. Our VMP report includes an actionable list of recommendations and a clear financial overview, so building owners can make decisions that will maximize the lifetime value of their projects.
- The design phase of a building is a great time to implement a Value Maximizing Plan.
- We can deliver your VMP report within weeks, so you can know the options with the highest ROI and maximize the value of your investment.
The VMP is a unique consulting service offered by EOS Labs, which improves the financial performance of buildings through a 270-value-point system. When owners can visualize multiple opportunities and the ROI associated with each option, they can prioritize design elements that maximize return on the construction budget, and the lifetime value of the building.
- A typical VMP report has a list of over 100 recommendations, covering all areas of building performance.
- Many of the recommended measures have an ROI of over 100% and a payback period of less than one year.
Traditional consulting services are narrowly focused on specific areas like energy efficiency, or meeting the requirements of specific certifications, such as LEED.
Through the Value Maximizing Plan, EOS Labs improves all areas of building performance, with the main goal of increasing ROI and asset value. Energy efficiency and building certifications are within our scope of services, but we focus on overall financial performance.
The VMP covers many performance areas not considered in traditional value engineering:
Performance Area | Value Engineering | Value Maximizing Plan (VMP) |
Does it address sustainability? | No | Yes |
Reducing maintenance costs? | No | Yes |
Maximizing the asset value of a building? | No | Yes |
Comprehensive report to highlight value areas and ROI? | No | Yes |
Reduction of energy costs? | No | Yes |
Proactive or reactive? | Reacting to unexpected costs in specific areas. | Proactive strategy to maximize the value of your building. |
Our Value Maximizing Plan focuses on achieving the highest possible ROI and building value, while the LEED Certification focuses on energy performance and environmental impact. The VMP overlaps with the performance areas covered by the LEED rating system, but it also improves other aspects of your building.
The VMP can complement your in-house technical expertise. Consider that the VMP focuses on improving the financial performance of your building, instead of targeting a specific technical area. The VMP relies on technical knowledge, but the end goal is increasing ROI and building asset value.
If you have a portfolio composed of multiple small buildings, you can use the Value Maximizing Plan in one of your properties. The recommendations in the report can then be implemented across your portfolio, after a quick review of each building.
The 270-value-point system used by the VMP covers all areas of building performance, including sustainability. The EOS Labs team has over 50 years of combined experience across the US, Canada, Europe and MENA. Our team of consultants holds multiple sustainability certifications, including:
- LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED AP)
- Certified Energy Managers (CEM)
- Estidama Pearl Qualified Professionals (PQP).
Yes. Energy efficiency is one of the key performance areas considered in the Value Maximizing Plan, and EOS Labs is an ENERGY STAR Service Partner. We have achieved over $20 million in energy savings across hundreds of buildings, and 30+ ENERGY STAR Certifications.
Not exactly. EOS Labs offers BIM implementation consulting, helping our clients develop BIM capabilities in-house. In other words, we help your company create its own BIM department, so you don’t have to rely on external design and modeling services.
Your building must meet two main requirements to become ENERGY STAR Certified:
- Being among the property types that are currently eligible for certification
- Achieving an ENERGY STAR Score of at least 75
The ENERGY STAR Score is calculated by the US EPA Portfolio Manager, which compares the performance of your building with similar properties throughout the US. The score is based on percentiles: a score of 75 or above means your building is among the top 25% most efficient.
You can visit our ENERGY STAR Certification service page for detailed information.
EOS Labs has a successful track record working with over 2,700 buildings, and we have achieved cumulative energy savings of over $20 million. Our current and past clients include Fortune 500 companies, and we have global experience: USA, Canada, Europe, and MENA.
In simple words, a green building is one that has been designed to use resources efficiently and minimize environmental impacts throughout its life cycle. There are many green building certifications around the world, and one of the best-known examples is LEED.
Since green buildings use resources more efficiently, they have lower ownership costs. According to the US Green Building Council, the typical LEED building saves 25% in energy bills and 11% in water bills, while cutting its emissions by 34%. In the real estate market, the value of a LEED building is typically 21.4% higher.
The upfront cost of green buildings is typically 2% higher, according to research by the US Green Building Council. However, the long-term savings achieved are much larger than the increase in upfront costs. A study by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory shows that green buildings typically achieve 25-50% energy savings, 11-40% water savings and 12% maintenance savings.
The carbon footprint of a building is closely related to its energy consumption and the materials used for its construction. There are three main strategies to reduce the lifetime emissions produced by a building:
- Using energy efficiency measures to reduce consumption directly
- Switching to clean and renewable energy sources
- Using construction materials with low embodied carbon
For example, if a building saves 10,000 kilowatt-hours per month with energy efficiency measures, the emissions associated with its electricity consumption are reduced at the same time. The carbon footprint is also reduced if a building uses solar panels to generate 10,000 kWh/month, even if total consumption stays the same.
The Utility Financial Intelligence Engine (UFIQ) analyzes energy consumption according to building load operation, occupancy, weather conditions and other external factors. Data is processed automatically into user-friendly charts and reports, revealing building-specific opportunities to save energy. A traditional energy monitoring system only provides raw energy consumption data without context.