Green Building Certifications: Which is Right for You?

The Benchmark of ENERGY STAR® Certification

The ENERGY STAR® program, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), leads the charge in energy-efficient innovation for building technologies and operations. The ENERGY STAR program is for existing buildings only, not new construction. The certification signifies exceptional energy efficiency in structures, leveraging a scoring system that benchmarks buildings against their national peers. This ensures that certified buildings consistently outperform others, maintaining high energy performance year after year.

The advantages of securing ENERGY STAR certification go well beyond energy savings. They offer a competitive edge in a market increasingly focused on sustainability. Building owners can leverage their ENERGY STAR certification as a signal to tenants that they sustain low operating costs while consumers may see an ENERGY STAR certification posted at a building entrance as a signal of alignment in sustainable values.

The cost of obtaining ENERGY STAR certification remains relatively modest compared to the long-term savings and benefits it yields. Requirements are that the building must demonstrate effective lighting, ventilation, and temperature control systems along with score a 75 or higher on the EPA’s 1-100 energy performance scale using actual energy data, indicating it performs better than at least 75% of similar buildings nationwide. There is not a certification or program fee for ENERGY STAR certification. However, the cost of achieving ENERGY STAR certification are operational changes and energy-efficient upgrades to the building. The application and verification of your performance require the expertise of a licensed professional, typically incurring a cost of $3000+/-. This process involves a day to verify operational efficiency and may extend to a few weeks for ENERGY STAR to either approve or request additional documentation. For a newly designed building, ENERGY STAR “Design Intent” does not have nearly the same emphasis or traction as other design pathways but is an option.

LEED®: A Comprehensive Framework for Sustainability

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification, conceived by the US Green Building Council® (USGBC®), redefines the conversation around both new design and existing building operations. LEED’s structured levels provide a clear pathway for progression, from the foundational Certified level up to the achievement of Platinum status. This tiered approach assists developers and property managers in navigating through scalable sustainability milestones.

Achieving LEED certification provides building owners with numerous benefits that positively affect both operational expenses and property values. The validation process involves a rigorous, points-based system derived from various categories, including energy and atmosphere, indoor environmental quality, among others. This system mandates prerequisite requirements while also offering optional points for the design of the building and its site. A LEED building boosts occupant well-being and productivity through enhanced indoor air quality and increased exposure to natural light (Top 10 Reasons to Certify to LEED). By integrating sustainable design features like water-efficient fixtures and energy-optimized systems, LEED certified buildings play a role in resource conservation light (Top 10 Reasons to Certify to LEED). Additionally, achieving LEED certification demonstrates a company’s dedication to sustainability and ethical business practices, significantly improving its brand image and fostering loyalty in a market that is becoming more environmentally aware. LEED can be a signal of well-intentioned design, sustainable operating practices, or both. To realize the full benefits of a building that yields market or above market rents and maintains low operating costs, the owner must implement “best in class” practices once the building is operational. Simply put, excellent design cannot achieve its potential without the support of a proficient operations team.

Energility: Choosing a Green Building Certification

At Energility, we recommend ENERGY STAR certification for most of our clients because it offers a cost-effective route to green building certification with measurable outcomes. Its affordability makes the certification accessible to a wide range of organizations, including small businesses, local governments, and nonprofits organizations on a lean budget. We advise only a select number of our clients on pursuing LEED certification due to its associated costs, which may not be feasible for many of our clients, particularly small businesses and nonprofits. However, for new constructions or larger organizations with well defined sustainability objectives, LEED certification could be an optimal choice.

Beyond the big two – ENERGY STAR and LEED – there’s a whole world of standards out there, all tied together with the goal of a sustainable future. Interested in exploring further? We’ve curated a list of alternative standards and certifications each with its own set of criteria, designed to accommodate various types of buildings.

By assessing your organizational values, long-term goals, and the engagement of stakeholders, will pave the path to the most fitting accreditation.