What Are the Benefits of LEED Certification?
LEED certification is a prestigious credential given to buildings that have prioritized sustainability in their design by the USGBC or the U.S. Green Building Council. The LEED certification is a framework that helps organizations make buildings that benefit people and the planet, mostly through eco-friendly and community-friendly initiatives.
It takes plenty of effort to receive a LEED certification, but numerous potential benefits can also come from obtaining the credential. Learn more about the benefits of LEED certification using our handy guide below!
What is the LEED Certification & Rating System?
The LEED certification is far more than just a piece of paper handed to anyone who asks for it. It takes a commitment to receive and maintain the credential, as it has an entire rating system to ensure compliance before it is awarded.
The LEED certification rating system has eight distinct categories:
- Water efficiency
- Energy and atmosphere
- Sustainable sites
- Materials and resources
- Indoor environmental quality
- Location and transportation linkages
- Innovation and design
- Regional priority
Each of these categories offers a certain number of points a building can earn for having specific sustainability features. Once a building earns 40 points or more, it can become LEED certified!
The more points a building earns, the higher LEED certification it can be granted. Silver requires at least 50 points, while gold requires at least 60.
The highest rating, platinum, can only be given to businesses that earn at least 80 points. Why would a businessearn these points and credentials in the first place?
Key Benefits of LEED Certification for Your Business
While it's true that it can cost an organization extra money upfront to construct a sustainable building eligible for LEED certification, most find the expenses worth it in the long run. Here are a few of the most important benefits your business can gain from getting a LEED certification.
Competitive Advantage
It's no secret that consumers increasingly demand that organizations ramp up their sustainability efforts. Those that rise to the challenge can be rewarded with a major competitive advantage over rival firms that fail to do so. A LEED certification gives your organization tangible evidence of your commitment to sustainability and the local community.
Meet Your Company's ESG Goals
Many organizations have Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals and requirements, which can be difficult to meet independently without a framework. Fortunately, becoming LEED certified can tick off many of the boxes required by your company's ESG goals, allowing you to meet these requirements without much additional effort or resources. It's a true win-win.
Less Construction Waste
Constructing a new building is a notoriously costly endeavor, and there are many factors that organizations don't consider when creating a budget. One such factor is disposing of the waste generated by the construction process.
Disposing of large sums of construction waste can quickly get costly, but following LEED certification recommendations can allow your company to generate less waste. This not only helps the environment, but it also helps your bottom line.
Cost Effective
On the same lines as less construction waste, the cost savings of LEED certification don't stop there. LEED-certified buildings have better energy efficiency and less water than average, drastically reducing energy and water costs throughout the year.
LEED-certified buildings also need less maintenance and have reduced overall operation costs. Finally, buildings with this credential also have less waste to dispose of, which can cut waste handling costs by a large margin. Overall, your company stands to save on utility costs throughout the entire year, enhancing your bottom line.
Indoor Environmental Air Quality
LEED-certified buildings typically have advanced HVAC and air filtration systems, which keep the people inside more comfortable and breathing more easily. Indoor air pollution can cause allergies and other respiratory issues, so buildings with higher indoor air quality can help employees miss fewer days and be more productive overall. Advanced HVAC systems can also keep the temperature inside the building more comfortable for everyone while reducing related energy costs.
Employee Retention and Improved Hiring
Employees no longer want to work for a company to simply collect a paycheck. Younger generations especially want to work for a company that seeks to improve the world or at least makes an effort to reduce its burden on the planet. LEED-certified offices tend to see higher employee retention and have less trouble finding qualified talent to join the team.
It's no secret that constantly training a revolving door of new employees is costly, but one way to increase retention is by seeking LEED credentialing. It can make your building more comfortable to work in and help your employees feel a sense of pride in your organization's commitment to being more sustainable.
Less Pollution
Less pollution is a good thing for everyone, especially the community surrounding your building. Because LEED-certified buildings make a green cleaning commitment, they generate far less pollution because of reduced energy needs and more responsible waste management practices.
This can be a major bragging point for businesses, especially if their competitors have not yet jumped on the LEED bandwagon. It may also qualify for economic incentives from the federal government, potentially making the investment to become LEED-certified pay for itself. These are just a few of the dozens of benefits your organization can get from a LEED certification.
How LEED Certification & Compliance Impact Green Cleaning
Clearly, your organization stands to gain from seeking a LEED certification in both the short-term and long run. However, when cleaning and sustainably maintaining your building, you can't let just any company do the job for you. To stay consistent with the LEED guidelines, you'll need a LEED-compliant green cleaning company that takes your organization's commitment to the planet seriously.
At Pritchard, we only use LEED-compliant cleaning practices, and we go the extra mile to help your business continue to benefit people and the planet. Ready to get started? Contact us today!