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NeoCon Green Pages: Update on LEED

A Preview into v3 or LEED for Commercial Interiors for Retail

Justin Doak -- Interior Design, 6/9/2008 12:00:00 AM

As more and more building owners are examining the impact of sustainable design on both building occupants and the environment, the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Certification program is being tailored to meet the unique challenges faced by the owners of retail spaces.

Designed to fulfill the needs of different project types ranging from supermarkets to restaurants to electronic stores, LEED for Retail takes the greening of where citizens live and work to an even more popular place—where they shop. "Retailers are going to start demanding green features in their buildings soon, and in great numbers," says Rick D'Amato, a principal with architecture firm LPA Inc. "I'd say we're on the verge of a rush into green retail."

Over 80 organizations are participating in the LEED for Retail pilot program, which began in the summer of 2006. A total of 94 pilot projects are seeking certification under either the LEED for Retail: Commercial Interiors or the LEED for Retail: New Construction programs. Currently entering various stages of the public comment period, both systems are expected to launch by November in time for Greenbuild 2008 in Boston.

There are several reasons why a completely separate Commercial Interiors LEED rating system was needed for retail spaces versus commercial offices. The first and perhaps most important is the need to address the different types of spaces that retailers need for their distinctive product lines. For example, Whole Foods needs to refrigerate frozen meals, while Citibank needs to operate ATMS—both are participants in the LEED for Retail: Commercial Interiors pilot program.

Also significant is the clear distinction between the two groups that occupy a retail space: employees and customers. LEED for Retail is unique in recognizing that customers and employees have different expectations and needs when it comes to sustainable-design features such as recycling, lighting, and energy use.

This anecdotal support for sustainable design in retail spaces is in line with current research. In one study, retail stores with day-lighting boosted sales by an average of 40 percent. For retail owners, going green means saving money on rising energy and building costs, and possibly attaining higher sales and employee retention. But for most, the primary motive for participating is to build brand equity by building sustainability into the customer and employee experience to generate a competitive advantage.