Modern office spaces are no longer solely focused on efficiency-driven design but also reflect an organization's commitment to environmental and social responsibility. This has made Green Buildings the new standard, with LEED Certification serving as an internationally recognized benchmark that verifies whether an office space has been designed and constructed in an environmentally responsible manner.
This article explores what LEED Certified offices are, why they matter, and how this standard promotes the practical implementation of green building concepts. It serves as a guide for businesses seeking workspace that addresses both operational needs and environmental sustainability.
What Is LEED Certification and Where Did It Originate?
LEED Certification stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design a green building rating and certification system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 1993. Its objective is to establish unified criteria for designing, constructing, and maintaining buildings that are environmentally responsible, energy-efficient, and promote occupant well-being. Achieving LEED Certification signifies that a building demonstrates superior performance in resource utilization and reduced environmental impact.
How Many Types of LEED Green Building Certification Exist?
The LEED office standard is designed with flexibility to accommodate all types of construction projects, from individual buildings to entire urban developments. To ensure appropriate application of LEED Certification standards according to each project's characteristics, the system is divided into the following main categories:
- LEED for Building Design & Construction (BD+C): For newly constructed buildings or those undergoing major structural renovations or comprehensive refurbishments. Suitable for office buildings, schools, hospitals, and various commercial structures.
- LEED for Interior Design & Construction (ID+C): Focuses on the design and fit-out of interior spaces specifically for tenants, such as creating LEED Certified office interiors within existing buildings.
- LEED for Building Operations & Maintenance (O+M): For completed buildings seeking to enhance operational efficiency and maintenance practices to become more environmentally sustainable.
- LEED for Neighborhood Development (ND): Used to assess planning and design at the community or district level, promoting connected and sustainable living.
- LEED for Homes: Standards for single-family residences or small-scale residential buildings.
- LEED for Cities & Communities: Standards for entire cities or communities to measure and manage overall sustainability performance.
How Do LEED Certification and WELL Building Standard Differ?
While both LEED Certification and WELL Building Standard relate to buildings, they have distinctly different focuses:
1. LEED Certification
Prioritizes environmental impact and building performance, including energy conservation, water management, and sustainable materials usage.
2. WELL Building Standard
Emphasizes occupant health and well-being, addressing factors such as air quality, lighting, nutrition, and mental health promotion. High-quality office design can incorporate both standards to create buildings that are optimal for both the environment and occupants.
How Does LEED Certification Benefit Companies in Buildings and Why Is It Important for Green Offices?
Organizations choosing LEED Certified office buildings not only enhance their environmentally conscious image but also occupy spaces designed to minimize environmental impact through reduced unnecessary energy consumption, clean energy utilization, and efficient water management. This results in environmentally friendly buildings with lower utility costs.
Additionally, improved indoor environmental conditions enhance employee productivity and reduce sick leave rates. This makes investing in LEED standards, particularly achieving LEED Gold certification, a valuable investment.
What Role Does LEED Certification Play in Reducing Net Zero Carbon and Carbon Footprint?
As introduced earlier, LEED Certification represents green building concepts that are environmentally friendly. It plays a crucial role in advancing Net Zero Carbon goals through sustainable energy management systems designed to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions.
The energy and atmosphere assessment criteria emphasize efficient energy use, promote renewable energy adoption, reduce fossil fuel dependency, select low-carbon construction materials, and implement systematic waste management. This enables LEED Certified offices to reduce their Carbon Footprint across all operational processes.
What Are the Assessment Criteria for the LEED Green Building Rating System (V.5)?
For a building to pass the standards and become a LEED Certified office, it must meet comprehensive assessment criteria across multiple dimensions to achieve the highest green building standards. Each assessment category has assigned points, with the latest version (LEED v5) featuring the following main criteria:
1. Integrative Process
Emphasizes planning and collaboration from the project's inception to systematically analyze and establish energy and water conservation goals. Proper planning ensures smooth design and construction, efficiently achieves sustainability objectives, and minimizes costly errors later.
2. Location and Transportation
This criterion emphasizes project location near public transportation to reduce private vehicle use while supporting design that facilitates environmentally friendly travel, such as bicycle parking or electric vehicle charging stations, helping reduce transportation pollution and promote occupant health.
3. Sustainable Sites
Focuses on designing areas surrounding buildings to minimize ecosystem impact through efficient stormwater management to reduce flooding, mitigating Heat Island Effect by increasing green spaces or using heat-reflective materials, and reducing light pollution that disturbs the environment from building construction.
4. Water Efficiency
Emphasizes maximizing potable water reduction both inside and outside buildings through water-efficient fixtures and appliances, water metering system installation, and landscape design using native drought-resistant plants with smart irrigation systems or recycled water.
5. Energy & Atmosphere
One of the core elements of LEED Gold office standards, focusing on maximizing building energy reduction through efficient building envelope design, energy-efficient HVAC and lighting systems, energy monitoring system installation, and promoting renewable energy such as solar power to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
6. Materials & Resources
LEED Certified office standards consider material and resource selection in construction from source to end-of-life management, promoting recycled materials, local materials to reduce transportation energy, and materials from sustainable sources. Points are awarded to buildings with efficient construction waste management to reduce landfill quantities.
7. Indoor Environmental Quality
Indoor environmental quality directly affects employee health and performance. This criterion assesses various usage-related factors, such as maintaining good indoor air quality by selecting materials with low Volatile Organic Compounds (Low VOCs), designing adequate natural light access to workspaces, and controlling appropriate temperature and humidity to create an environment conducive to work.
What Is the Full Score for LEED Certification and How Are Certification Levels Divided?
The LEED scoring system calculates points from each category based on the seven LEED Green Building Rating System (V.5) assessment criteria above, combined with bonus points for Innovation and Regional Priority, totaling 110 points maximum.
Buildings receive certification at different levels based on achieved point ranges:
- Certified: 40-49 points
- Silver: 50-59 points
- Gold: 60-79 points (a level indicating excellence, such as LEED Gold offices)
- Platinum: 80+ points (highest level)
What Should Tenants Know When Selecting LEED Certified Office Space?
Companies seeking to lease LEED Certified office space should begin by verifying the building's certification level, including factors related to energy, lighting, and air quality, to ensure the selected office addresses both business and environmental needs:
- Start by directly inquiring with building management about the certification level received
- Look for LEED plaques or symbols displayed in the lobby area
- Verify information through the USGBC online database to confirm certification status
- Inquire about distinctive building features related to LEED criteria, such as air filtration systems, energy management, and various building sustainability promotion policies
Examples of LEED Certified Buildings
Thailand has numerous leading office buildings that prioritize and have received LEED Certification, reflecting leadership in green building practices. Among the office buildings with LEED Certification managed by JLL, a real estate services provider, are:
- Siam Pathumwan House - LEED Certified
- Central Park Offices - LEED Gold Certified
- Rasa Tower II - LEED Gold Certified
- Pearl Bangkok - LEED Gold Certified
- AIA Capital Center - LEED Gold Certified
- AIA Sathorn Tower - LEED Gold Certified
LEED Certification is more than just a certificate it's a standard that creates sustainable, environmentally friendly buildings. Choosing LEED-certified office space, particularly LEED Gold standard offices, is a strategic decision offering comprehensive benefits: reduced energy costs, healthier environments that enhance employee performance, and elevated organizational image as a sustainability leader.
For organizations seeking office buildings for lease or LEED Certified rental offices, let JLL Thailand represent you in finding office space and office buildings for lease that meet LEED standards and your requirements, whether size or location. We offer
diverse options to provide you with the most suitable workspace. For more information, please contact property.jll or call +66 2 624 6471.
