Real Estate Tip – LEED Certification and Energy Efficiency Part 1

A commercial tenant may expect lower than normal energy costs when considering a green building, but lower energy costs are not guaranteed. The U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’s new construction program offers a total of 110 points – of which 33 is the maximum number available for energy efficiency. That means 77 points can be given without earning unusually high energy-efficiency ratings.

LEED new construction certification levels:

• 40 points = Certified
• 50 points = Silver
• 60 points = Gold
• 80 points = Platinum

If the LEED certified space you’re considering earned a significant number of energy points, be sure to verify that an advanced commissioning was performed and an operations manual was prepared. It’s important to make sure your landlord’s path to LEED certification matches your goals for the space.

Today’s real estate tip is brought to you by Rick Smith, a LEED Accredited Professional and member of Bernstein Shur’s Real Estate Practice Group. Stay tuned for more useful tips for real estate professionals.