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Tommy Linstroth green badgeris a leading SaaS provider that simplifies sustainability and ESG in the construction industry.
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The physical workspace is being radically reimagined in real time. The same whether companies are dispersing physical space by making hybrid or remote work a permanent part of their operations, or reconfiguring onsite offices to meet the demands of new workplaces. Few offices look like this.
98% of UK business leaders are rethinking their physical space or investing in hybrid work capacity, according to Slack and Economist Impact research, reflecting the widespread restructuring of businesses around the world doing.
When building or purchasing the next space for your business, green certification can make it efficient, effective, and attractive.For example, it can be used for both new and existing buildings. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard, a popular green building certification system, enables business leaders to take advantage of new spaces by analyzing and optimizing green spaces for design, construction. , operation and maintenance.
As a LEED Fellow with nearly 20 years of industry knowledge and experience in over 1,000 green construction projects, I know the certification process can be complex and cumbersome. But it turns out that the achievements are worth the effort. Green building certification is a powerful tool for designers and owners. Here are three reasons to consider certification for your next purchase or build.
1. Reduction of environmental load
New construction can generate large amounts of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming, accounting for nearly 40% of global emissions. Moreover, construction consumes natural resources, exacerbates climate problems and undermines sustainability initiatives.
However, certified green projects typically use fewer resources and leverage circular economies, recycling protocols, and other initiatives to reduce their overall environmental impact. Additionally, LEED certified projects can reduce the amount of carbon, water, energy and waste required to build and maintain physical workspaces, making them more affordable overall.
At the same time, certified buildings can help provide a cleaner indoor environment, improve employee health, increase productivity and minimize sick leave. Simply put, green buildings create a healthier indoor experience while reducing the strain on the outdoor environment.
2. Improvement of asset value
Business leaders want to know that real estate investments can support today’s workforce without compromising tomorrow’s economic flexibility. Certification can enhance a facility’s image and make it more attractive to tenants.
Environmentally friendly buildings are perceived positively in today’s market and can demand higher lease rates. According to one study, LEED-certified properties earn about 11% higher rents than non-certified properties. Combined with the cost savings from reducing utility usage, certification can be a value-maximizing investment across the board.
With the growing demand for green offices, business leaders can leverage certification to create facilities that support their teams, their ultimate investment, and their long-term sustainability.
3. Lower operating and maintenance costs
Certified buildings require less maintenance than conventional buildings. This may be due to the energy efficiency of the building. Materials used in LEED buildings reduce water and energy consumption, lowering the overall cost of building operations.
1 analysis found LEED-certified buildings achieved $1.2 billion in energy savings, $715.3 million in maintenance savings, $149.5 million in water savings, and $54.2 million in waste savings. Another study concluded that LEED-certified buildings had 7.43% lower operating costs per square foot, a meaningful metric that highlights the long-term cost savings associated with LEED certification.
Reducing maintenance costs depends on implementing effective LEED certification, but the economic benefits make it a worthwhile priority to pursue.
getting started
If you’re a business leader looking to refurbish an existing purchase or build a new certified eco-friendly building, keep the following in mind.
Accreditation as an afterthought rarely yields results. So, regardless of which certification you are working toward, doing due diligence on your requirements and registering your project with a regulator (in the case of LEED, the U.S. Green Building Council) is clearly an early step and an important one. is a step.
For example, LEED certification has four different levels, from the simplest “Certified” to the comprehensive “Platinum” designation for the most sustainable green buildings. We recommend that you understand these levels and choose levels that are achievable and appropriate for your building early in the process. When buying property, certification levels give insight into the environmental strategies employed. Other data points, such as a building’s Energy Star score, can also provide real-world operational feedback about how a building performs compared to similar buildings (higher scores are better).
When assembling a team of qualified architects, engineers, contractors, and certified and experienced sustainability consultants, be sure to maintain regular communication up and down the chain. Develop a plan for your project that includes specific strategies for achieving certification, such as using sustainable materials, reducing energy and water consumption, and promoting healthy indoor environments. Also, make sure your team knows that sustainability goals are just as important as other project requirements.
Task
A consideration is the ongoing reporting requirements for building energy and water consumption. It’s not a hassle, but depending on the date of certification, there may be an ongoing obligation to report utility data.
Additionally, maintaining consistent property management practices is also important, as tenants and residents will likely expect continued sustainable operating practices (green cleaning, IAQ monitoring).
final thoughts
Ultimately, business leaders want to create cost-effective, long-lasting and healthy buildings. But it turns out that just loosely embedding a sustainability strategy into an asset is not enough. A thorough process of third-party certification can provide residents and markets with the necessary verification and credibility to prove that sustainability has been properly implemented.
There are many options for green building certification, including WELL, Fitwel and BREEAM programs. And today, with more than 100,000 LEED certified projects in the United States, these certified green buildings not only contribute to the creation of a healthier and more sustainable planet, but also empower forward-thinking owners. It brings many economic and business benefits.
There is real-world evidence that leaders who reimagine or recreate physical space can elevate their business priorities without compromising the planet or their employees. This is a rare win-win-win that deserves attention today.
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