LEED certification for retail

Why retail facilities are certifying to LEED

Through LEED certification, building and interior space owners receive an internationally recognizable, third-party verification that shows the world that a company means business regarding sustainability.

• Health: Employees and customers of LEED-certified retail locations benefit from spaces designed to maximize indoor fresh air and minimize exposure to airborne toxins and pollutants.
• Savings: LEED stores operate with lower operating costs. On average, the life-cycle savings amounting to 20 percent of total construction costs represents a ten-fold payback on the upfront investment.
• Responsibility: LEED certification sends a powerful message about a company’s values and priorities. By using LEED, retailers actively demonstrate to their employees and customers that they care about human health, community resilience and environmental protection.
• Value: LEED-certified retail spaces attract and retain more customers than non-certified comparable spaces. LEED spaces also report higher sales and operate with lower overhead costs.
• Brand loyalty: LEED certification sends a powerful message about a company’s values and improves overall brand experience and increase brand loyalty
• Verification: The LEED plaque on the wall sends the message that you care about your customers and employees and that a third party has verified the sustainability and health aspects of your space. Third-party validation helps guarantee that each project saves energy, water and other resources, reducing overall environmental impact. No cutting corners.
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Retailers can also use LEED to support CSR reporting. Examples include Chanel, Prada, TD Bank, Citibank and Tanger Outlet Malls.

Learn more about the business case for retail and educational opportunities:

• LEED in Motion: Retail
• LEED User Group Insights: Landlords, tenants and LEED
• WGBC’s Health, Wellbeing & Productivity in Retail
• Retailers market sustainable stores to lure eco-conscious customers
• Education courses
  • USGBC Presents: Corporate & Commercial LEED Project Showcase
  • The World’s Healthiest Grocery Store?
  • Find additional courses in the USGBC course catalog.

Getting started

1. Determine your project type (individual new or existing building or new or existing interior space) and register. Use the Rating System Selection guidance to make a final decision.
2. Do you have multiple buildings on a single site or multiple new sites across your portfolio interested in LEED? See the LEED campus and LEED volume offerings to learn more.
3. Select priorities for your project based on outcomes outlined in the LEED rating system (ex. human health, energy efficiency, carbon reduction, etc.). Rating system options for retailers include:
   • LEED for Building Design and Construction (BD+C): Retail
   • LEED for Interior Design and Construction (ID+C): Retail
   • LEED for BD+C Core and Shell
   • LEED for Building Operations and Maintenance (O+M)
   • LEED for O+M: Interiors
4. Review additional tools and resources available for LEED projects. Access tools.
5. Register the project(s), document achievement of rating system requirements and sumbit for review in LEED Online.
6. Have questions or want to talk with a LEED technical specialist? Contact GBCI.