SPOKANE, Wash., Aug. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Advantage IQ's Mark Breuker, director of energy consulting, and Randy Michael, senior energy manager, have earned their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional designation from the U.S. Green Building Council/Green Building Certification Institute. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040128/SFW031LOGO) LEED is a voluntary standard that defines a way to score healthier and more environmentally responsible building structures, also known as "green buildings." The Accredited Professional certification requires knowledge of LEED criteria and an understanding of design, construction and ongoing operational issues that must be considered to promote sustainable buildings. This accreditation distinguishes Breuker and Michael as professionals with the knowledge and skills to successfully steward the LEED certification process. "As energy prices increase, multi-site companies in every sector are turning to businesses like Advantage IQ because we can help them operate more efficiently, become more sustainable and consume less energy," Breuker said. "We believe that becoming LEED accredited allows us at Advantage IQ to provide excellent client service by offering the highest level of counsel and expertise surrounding their energy conservation and environmental initiatives." Companies seeking LEED certification for their buildings must meet a minimum Energy Star Rating. Advantage IQ has been an Energy Star Partner since 2004, helping companies automate their Energy Star rating process. For the past three years, Advantage IQ has handled more than 85% of all automated building ratings processed by the EPA. "The knowledge gained through our LEED accreditation will be instrumental in supporting our clients' energy initiatives," said Michael. "Advantage IQ's system is a powerful tool for the data collection, monitoring and reporting requirements for clients pursuing LEED certification or Energy Star Ratings for their buildings." "As we reviewed the LEED requirements, Mark and I realized that Advantage IQ, which offers total energy and environmental management for multi-site organizations, supports more than 40 percent of the LEED checklist items, including the tracking of electric, gas, water, and trash invoices," Michael said. "Having mastered the LEED process and qualifications presents an opportunity for our company, and it will become an asset for our clients who are interested in promoting sustainability in their building portfolio." Both Breuker and Michael are also Certified Energy Managers from the Association of Energy Engineers. About Advantage IQ Advantage IQ is a leading provider of comprehensive cost management services for utility, telecom and waste expenses, including strategic energy management services. Its patented technology and services provide multi-site companies with critical, yet easy-to-access information that enables companies to proactively manage and reduce expenses. Advantage IQ's patented Facility IQ(TM) System provides online access to consolidated costs as well as powerful analytical consulting services and real-time reporting tools. For more information about Advantage IQ, visit http://www.advantageiq.com/ or call 1-800-767-4197. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040128/SFW031LOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Advantage IQ CONTACT: Antonio Lima of The Summit Group, +1-801-990-1156, , for Advantage IQ Web site: http://www.avistacorp.com/ http://www.advantageiq.com/

Copyright