- June 22, 2022
LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
info@realteq.com
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In our last article we talked about eight quick “Green Features” wins, when negotiating commercial terms on behalf of your client (read here). However, how does one compare the different certification systems globally and more importantly individually rated (or non-rated) assets on behalf of your client. How does a LEED-rated building compare to a BREAAM-rated building and for example to a non-rated building?
At REALTEQ we have developed innovative software that helps tenants, landlords and advisors compare and negotiate assets on their “Green Features”, as part of the overall RFP process. In addition, we will also discuss this in more depth in a number of articles over the next few weeks. First, we will individually discuss each rating system in more depth, whereafter a final article will compare the three globally most used certification systems (LEED, BREEAM, Green Star and BCA Green Mark).
LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
The USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council) was first formed in 1993 in the United States in a gathering of representatives from 60 firms and several nonprofits. LEED was developed and began pilot testing in 1998. The Certification body is GBCI (Green Business Certification Inc.).
LEED at a glance*:
- 60,307 Certified Activities Globally
- 10.04 Billion SQFT LEED Certified
- 150 Countries
Each project is awarded scores against a standard set of credits and the sum of the points awarded determines the level of Certification. The total points available are 110 points. There are a minimum set of prerequisites that need to be met. If these prerequisites are not met, the project cannot have further points awarded and thus not obtain a rating. There are a total of seven prerequisites.


The rating system addresses the design features of a project across a range of criteria in seven different credit categories (in random order):
- Sustainable Sites
- Water Efficiency
- Energy and Atmosphere
- Materials and Resources
- Indoor Environment Quality
- Integrative Process
- Location and Transportation
Once the minimum prerequisites have been met for a project, the choice of credit to pursue is at the discretion of the building owner / project team. Hence it is important to assess in more detail how the LEED certification is obtained for each specific building.
LEED is the dominant sustainability ratings system globally and is used across all continents where buildings are being assessed.
Next week we will discuss the BREEAM system in more detail and how it assesses the ‘Green Features’ of a building.
Click here to find out how REALTEQ automates, shortens and simplifies the entire negotiation process for you and incorporates all ‘Green Features’ mentioned in this article.