Energy efficiency in action.

Learn more about how actual commercial buildings of every kind and size have reaped the benefits of energy efficient improvements.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an internationally-recognized green building certification system. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED is designed to promote design and construction practices that increase profitability while reducing the negative environmental impacts of buildings and improving occupant health and well-being.

The LEED rating system offers four certification levels for new construction: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. New buildings certified under the LEED program are, on average, performing 25% to 30% better than non-LEED certified buildings in terms of energy use. Gold and Platinum LEED certified buildings have average energy savings approaching 50%. Getting LEED certified also allows you to take advantage of a growing number of state and local government incentives.

One Crescent Drive, Philadelphia One Crescent Drive is a four-story commercial office building at the Navy Yard Corporate Center located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The building’s sustainable, green design provides a more efficient and higher quality workplace environment and has achieved LEED Platinum certification. The sustainable design innovations reduce energy use by 50% and water use by 30% over typical office buildings its size. This was the first speculative office building in the world to achieve LEED – CS Platinum certification.

The California Study A recent study of California LEED buildings looked at 33 diverse buildings over a period of 10 years. The study found that green improvements, on average, paid for themselves in three years. The ROI (return on investment) was 25-40%. By LEED level, the added construction costs were: platinum 6.8%, gold 2.2%, silver 1.9%, and certified 0.66%. Overall, LEED certification corresponded with an improved bottom line with 30-70% energy savings, increased value, reduced liability and improved risk management, and enhanced productivity.