LEED certification: the benefits of the most widely used sustainability certification for buildings worldwide

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) protocol is the most widely used certification system for sustainable buildings worldwide. It is a standard that can be used by funds, companies, and other players as a strategic tool to enhance the value of their real estate assets and generate environmental and social impact. Today, building design and management activities must contribute to the success of the organizations that own and occupy them, generate well-being for occupants, and ensure high performance in terms of energy efficiency and environmental quality. But how can the LEED protocol provide a solid framework for constructing and transforming buildings by integrating all these variables and generating economic, social, and environmental value? Let's take a look below.

LEED certification is managed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and issued by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI). Since its launch in 1998, it has become the world's best-known certification system for assessing whether a building is actually capable of reducing its environmental impact, improving resource efficiency, and ensuring a healthy environment for occupants.

Considering that buildings are responsible for 37% of global CO2 emissions and that we spend about 90% of our time indoors, the role of construction in the ecological transition is fundamental. Furthermore, investing in sustainability generates benefits for both those who own and manage buildings and the people who occupy them: it reduces building operating and maintenance costs, increases property market value, attracts talent, aligns with ESG requirements, and increases the well-being, health, and productivity of those who use the spaces.

The LEED protocol therefore defines and evaluates a series of criteria for analyzing building performance—from energy consumption to water use, from the choice of materials to the quality of indoor environments—and provides a structured framework for improving them. The LEED criteria are organized into six main categories:

• Location & Transportation Rewards thoughtful decisions about building location. Credits encourage compact development, the use of alternative transportation, and connection to services and facilities (such as restaurants and parks).
• Sustainable Site Focuses on restoring site elements, integrating with local and regional ecosystems, and preserving the biodiversity on which natural systems depend.
• Water Efficiency Examines indoor and outdoor consumption, specialized uses, and measurement. This section is based on an “efficiency first” approach to water conservation.
• Energy & Atmosphere Addresses energy from a holistic perspective, considering energy consumption reduction, energy-efficient design strategies, and renewable energy sources.
• Materials & Resources Focuses on minimizing embodied energy and other impacts associated with the extraction, processing, transportation, maintenance, and disposal of building materials.
• Indoor Environmental Quality Rewards decisions made by project teams regarding indoor air quality and thermal, visual, and acoustic comfort.
• Innovation

• Regional Priority

  

Figure: LEED categories

LEED is based on rigorous research and technical standards (ISO, EN, ASHRAE, EPA, ASTM) that are updated over time and introduced on the basis of broad market consensus.

The versatility of the LEED protocol makes it suitable for a wide range of players, but for very different reasons. It is not a “one size fits all” system, but adapts to the objectives of those who request it.

Real Estate Developers and Investment Funds
These are among the users most likely to create value through certification, as LEED is a financial and asset management tool for them.

Why it is suitable:

• Increased value: Certified buildings have a higher average market (and resale) value.
• Attractiveness: They attract high-profile tenants (often multinationals that require certified spaces for internal policy reasons).
• ESG Compliance: It helps funds comply with ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria, which are increasingly demanded by global investors.

Companies and Multinationals (Owners or Tenants)
Large companies use LEED for their headquarters or, in the most virtuous cases, to certify their entire corporate portfolio, including owned and leased premises.

Why it is suitable:

• Operating Costs: Drastically reduces energy bills and maintenance costs.
• Human Resources: Improves air quality and natural light, increasing employee productivity and well-being (reducing absenteeism).
• Brand Reputation: Certified buildings communicate the company's commitment and consolidate its reputation.

Public Administration and Public Bodies
In many countries, including the United States and several European nations, the public sector uses the LEED protocol to set a “good example” or to comply with internal regulations.

Why it is suitable:

• Transparency: Ensures that public funds are spent on efficient and durable buildings.
• Italian Context (CAM): In Italy, the Procurement Code requires compliance with the CAM (Minimum Environmental Criteria). LEED certification is one of the most effective and recognized ways to demonstrate compliance with these mandatory criteria in public procurement.

Retail, Hospitality, and Logistics
Chain stores, hotels, and logistics centers (data centers, warehouses).

Why it is suitable:

• Standardization: Allows a brand (e.g., Starbucks or a hotel chain) to have the same standard of quality and sustainability worldwide. (the LEED Volume protocol is often used to certify many buildings together).

• Marketing: For hotels, it is a factor in the choice of eco-conscious travelers.

  

  The LEED Family rating systems and the various applications of the protocol

   

Obtaining LEED certification is not only an environmentally responsible choice, but also offers numerous strategic advantages:

Emissions Reduction and Energy and Water Efficiency
LEED-certified buildings are designed to optimize the use of resources, reducing emissions by an average of 34%, energy consumption by 25%, and water consumption by 11%.

(Source: A Post Occupancy Evaluation of 22 GSA Buildings. Sept. 2011)

Reduced Operating Costs
LEED buildings demonstrate a consistent reduction in maintenance costs of approximately 20% compared to comparable commercial buildings.

(Source: 2012. The cost-effectiveness of commercial building commissioning: A meta-analysis of energy and non-energy impacts in existing buildings and new construction in the United States. Pacific Northwest National Library.)

Market value of the property
LEED-certified properties achieve a higher market value, attracting investors and tenants looking for sustainable, high-quality solutions. Certified buildings have demonstrated an 11.1% higher rental price compared to non-certified spaces, a 3.1% higher rent on residential spaces, and a higher sale price compared to the non-certified market.

(Source: 2021. Cushman and Wakefield. Green Is Good: Part 1, 2, and 3)

Occupant Health and Well-being
Buildings designed to LEED standards improve air quality, reduce exposure to harmful substances, and create more comfortable environments, reducing respiratory risks and supporting mental well-being and productivity, which are valuable elements for the most vulnerable groups, such as children and the elderly who frequent urban environments. 85% of people who work in LEED buildings report improved productivity and greater happiness thanks to outdoor views and natural lighting. Furthermore, to further enhance these results, it is possible to integrate the LEED standard with WELL certification, which, being complementary and synergistic with LEED, allows well-being to be transformed from a technical parameter to a central pillar of building design and management.

(Source: USGBC (2018, July) Employee Survey: Office Workers and green building practices)

Better Corporate Reputation
For companies, a certified building represents a concrete commitment to sustainability, improving reputation and attracting talent. It also demonstrates a commitment to synergistically connecting with the surrounding community, protecting natural resources, and redistributing well-being to the community.

The process for obtaining LEED certification consists of several main steps:

1. Project Registration
2. The first step is to register the project on the official USGBC platform, which provides access to all the necessary tools and resources.
3. Choice of Strategies
4. Each building must meet a series of mandatory prerequisites and can accumulate points by choosing from a range of sustainability strategies. The areas assessed include energy efficiency, water management, indoor air quality, and material selection.
5. Implementation of Solutions
6. During this phase, the selected strategies are implemented in the building project, involving a team of experts and consultants.
7. Verification and Certification
8. An independent team reviews the project to verify compliance with LEED standards. Final certification is issued based on the score obtained, which determines the level of certification:
   • Basic: 40-49 points
   • Silver: 50-59 points
   • Gold: 60-79 points
   • Platinum: 80+ points

Each LEED certification is valid for a specific period (3 years in the case of O+M certification, with no expiry date until further renovation for BD+C and ID+C certifications) and can be renewed to ensure that the building continues to meet the required criteria over time.

The v5 version of LEED represents a significant change from the past. LEED v5 aims to create buildings that have a positive impact on the environment and society.

The three main pillars on which the new standard is based are:

• Decarbonization: The goal is to eliminate CO2 emissions from buildings. The protocol considers not only operational climate efficiency (the energy used by the building), but also the carbon incorporated into the materials and construction phases, aiming for negative-emission buildings.
• Quality of life (Well-being): There is an even greater emphasis on the physical and mental health of occupants, social equity, and community resilience. The building must be a tool for improving people's lives.
• Conservation and Ecological Restoration: This goes beyond the concept of preservation, introducing the restoration of ecosystems damaged by human presence, with the aim of protecting biodiversity and managing resources (such as water) in a regenerative way.

The Chiesi Group's “Better Building” program (Sustainability Report | Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A.) aims to make global sites more sustainable according to high standards, reducing environmental impact and improving people's well-being through an integrated approach that covers the entire life cycle of buildings. It is therefore extremely aligned with the new LEED standard, fully embracing its philosophy and guiding principles.

The internal guidelines were developed in collaboration with NATIVA to improve the sustainability performance of all the group's sites, understanding sustainability in the broadest sense: the health of the planet and the well-being of people. This perfectly reflects the “Decarbonization” and “Quality of Life” pillars of LEED v5.

In addition, the group's headquarters in Parma has obtained LEED and WELL Platinum certification (the highest level on both ratings), becoming the first building of its kind in Italy to achieve this standard. These certifications of excellence demonstrate the focus on people's well-being and sustainable innovation, positioning the company in perfect harmony with the holistic approach required by the new LEED standards.

In short, Chiesi's “Better Building” is not just an application of existing sustainability protocols, but a concrete example of the regenerative culture that LEED v5 has now codified as a new global standard.

Precisely because of this innate alignment between Chiesi's approach and the direction taken by the USGBC, in 2024 the Research Center named after Paolo Chiesi and located in Parma was invited to participate in the pilot project for the new LEED v5 version for existing buildings (Operations and Maintenance: Existing Buildings). NATIVA and Chiesi accepted the challenge, dedicated to only three projects among those selected in Europe. As a result, the building, which is at the heart of the group's research activities and already LEED v4.1 certified in 2020, obtained LEED Gold certification in October 2025.

The building, covering almost 30,000 square meters, is currently the largest LEED v5-certified building in Europe and the first R&D center in the world to achieve this result. The building was already the largest LEED v4.1-certified research center in the world (2020).

Achieving LEED v5 certification for the R&D building is the tangible result of our commitment to sustainability and innovation. It represents a strategic milestone in our journey to certify over 80% of our real estate portfolio according to the most advanced green building standards. This achievement was made possible thanks to a shared vision and the decisive contribution of colleagues, collaborators, and partners who transform our goals into measurable results every day. Leonardo Curzi, Environmental Sustainability Lead – Corporate Engineering

The LEED protocol represents an extraordinary opportunity to improve buildings, whether they are workspaces, residential or public spaces, through high standards that promote sustainability, energy efficiency, and people's well-being. Considering that buildings are responsible for 39% of global CO2 emissions and that we spend about 90% of our time indoors, investing in sustainable and efficient structures is essential to building a more responsible future.

For over 10 years, we have been involved in more than 50 LEED, BREEAM, and WELL certification processes in the United States, the European Union, and China, covering an area of over 280,000 square meters (equivalent to approximately 40 soccer fields).

Over the years, we have achieved significant milestones, innovating processes and exploring new versions [of protocols] to increasingly align ourselves with our clients' ambitions:

• One of the first five LEED v5 O+M pilot projects in Europe.
• The first LEED v4.1 BD+C certified project in Italy.
• The world's largest LEED v4.1 O+M certified research center and the first LEED v5 certified center.
• The first LEED v4.1 O+M certified production building in Italy.
• One of the first 14 WELL Platinum projects in Italy (among the first 600 in the world).

NATIVA can support you in learning about and exploring the standard, measuring your current performance, and planning improvements based on the strategy best suited to your specific needs, right through to assessment and assistance in obtaining certification.

If you would like to know how to obtain LEED certification, contact us at info@nativalab.com for a dedicated consultation.