Top 11 Green Building Certifications That Can Increase Your Property’s Marketability

Sustainability is no longer optional in commercial real estate, it’s a major driver of tenant demand and property value. Studies show tenants are willing to pay up to a 9% premium for green building features, and investors increasingly favor certified sustainable buildings. Whether you’re a property owner, investor, or broker, understanding the top green building certifications can make your properties more marketable and attractive.

Whether you’re a property owner, broker, or investor, understanding green building certifications can make your properties more attractive and increase property marketability. In this guide, we’ll explore 11 key certifications that can elevate your sustainable commercial real estate portfolio and provide actionable insights for listing your properties on top commercial real estate listing sites.

11 Green Building Certifications to Know

Fortunately, there are nearly a dozen different certifications to choose from.

Want to make your commitment to sustainability known? Here are just a few of the green building certification programs for CRE you can take part in:

Certification	Geographic Coverage	Applicable Building Types	Certification Level / Rating	Application Process	Duration / Validity	Cost / Fee Range	Key Focus Area	Resources / Links
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)	Global	Commercial, Retail, Mixed-use, New & Existing Buildings	Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum	Register on USGBC, submit documentation, pay fee, review by USGBC	Lifetime with recertification for some programs	Varies by project size & level	Energy efficiency, water efficiency, materials, indoor environment	USGBC LEED
Energy Star	US	Commercial, Office, Industrial	Score out of 100 (75+ qualifies)	Register on Portfolio Manager, submit energy data, site verification	1 year	Minimal administrative cost	Energy efficiency, operational performance	Energy Star
BREEAM	International (UK origin)	Commercial, Infrastructure, In-use, New Construction	Pass, Good, Very Good, Excellent, Outstanding	Hire licensed assessor, register project, complete assessment	Certification valid 5 years, with recertification	Varies by assessor & project	Environmental performance, energy, water, waste	BREEAM
Green Globes	US & Canada	New Construction, Existing Buildings, Interiors	1-4 Globes	Online survey, third-party assessment, post-assessment review	1-3 years depending on project type	Varies by project size	Energy efficiency, indoor environment, sustainability	Green Globes
Living Building Challenge	Global	Commercial, Institutional, Residential	Full certification requires all 7 petals	Register at Living-Future.org, 12-month performance documentation, audit	Performance-based, continuous	Registration fees apply	Materials, water, energy, equity, health, beauty	Living Building Challenge
National Green Building Standard (NGBS)	US	Residential, Multi-family, Mixed-use	Bronze, Silver, Gold, Emerald	Score building, hire verifier, submit report to Home Innovation Labs, final inspection	Valid for life of building if compliant	Varies by project type	Energy, water, materials, indoor environmental quality	NGBS
GreenGuard	US	Commercial, Residential	Pass / Certified	Planning meetings, compliance testing, product reviews	5-6 months for certification	Varies by scope	Indoor air quality, low-emission materials	GreenGuard
WELL Building Standard	Global	Commercial, Office, Residential	Silver, Gold, Platinum	Register project, submit data for review, audit by IWBI	3 years (with recertification)	Varies by project size	Health & wellness, air, water, light, nourishment, movement	WELL Building Standard
NABERS	Australia	Commercial, Office, Industrial	1-6 Star Rating	Estimate rating online or use accredited assessor	Annually	Low administrative cost	Energy, water, waste, indoor environment	NABERS
Green Star	Australia	Commercial, Interiors, Communities	1-6 Star Rating	Online registration, submit documentation, independent panel review	Valid 3-5 years depending on category	Varies by project type	Energy, water, materials, innovation, indoor environment	Green Star
CASBEE	Japan (pilot international)	Residential, Commercial, Urban Development	S, A, B+, B-, C	Submit assessment forms, on-site evaluation, verification	Varies by project	Varies by project	Energy, environmental impact, sustainability, urban planning	CASBEE

 

A comprehensive guide to the 11 Green Building Certifications for CRE:

LEED

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), issued by U.S. Green Buildings Council, is the most easily recognized sustainable building certification out there. It has nine separate certification programs, including ones for commercial, retail, new construction, existing buildings, and more.

Each program has a points-based rating system. You get points for each green building feature, and your point total determines whether you’re LEED Certified, LEED Silver, LEED Gold, or LEED Platinum (the highest level).

To apply, you’ll need to:

• Head to the U.S. Green Buildings Council website to register your project, fill out your forms, and pay the application fee.
• Identify the credits you’re seeking, and prepare documentation to support how you achieved them.
• Wait for the USGBC to review your application. They may ask for supplementary documentation in the process.
• Get your certification. You’ll need to pay a fee based on the size of your project and the certification you’re seeking.

Energy Star

Energy Star is another well-known green building certification that’s offered through the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. To qualify, your building needs to be at least 15% more energy efficient than traditional properties. These certifications last for one year.

To apply, you’ll need to:

• Have an Energy Star score of 75 points or higher.
• Register for a Portfolio Manager account and fill out your application.
• Get an approved engineer or architect to conduct a site visit and verify your project.
• Enter the site visit information into your account
• await the final verdict

BREEAM

BREEAM (the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is an international program that recognizes sustainable buildings and infrastructure projects.

The certification comes with a star rating from one to six and a designation of “pass,” “good,” “very good,” “excellent,” or “outstanding.”

You can get BREEAM-certified on new construction, in-use, or refurbishment projects. To get started, you’ll need to:

• find a licensed assessor in your area
• register the project
• have the project assessed
• await your certification

Green Globes

The Green Globes certification program is offered through the Green Building Initiative.

It consists of three categories: new construction, existing buildings, and interiors.

To qualify, you need to meet at least 35% of the program’s 1,000 available points. The process consists of an online survey, a third-party on-site assessment, and a post-assessment.

To get started, just file a quote request for your project.

Living Building Challenge

The Living Building Challenge certification is based on your building’s sustainability performance over a 12-month period. To qualify, you need to achieve all seven “petals,” which include materials, site, water, health, equity, beauty, and energy.

To apply, you’ll have to register at Living-Future.org, pay your registration fee, submit your documentation over the course of 12 months, and submit to a data audit at the end of the year.

National Green Building Standard

A sustainable building certification from the National Association of Home Builders, the NGBS designation is for residential properties only (including single-family homes, multi-family properties, and mixed-use developments.)

Like LEED, it has different levels of certification, ranging from Bronze to the much-coveted Emerald.

To apply, you’ll need to score your building, hire an accredited project verifier, have your designs verified and scored, send your report to the Home Innovation Labs, and pass a final inspection with the verified. You’ll receive your certification once the process is complete.

GreenGuard

The GreenGuard certification is all about air quality and focuses on low-emission building materials, mold prevention, moisture protection, and more. The application process requires various planning meetings, reviews, test groups, compliance testing, and a final certification package.

According to the GreenGuard Environmental Institute that manages the program, it usually takes up five to six months to complete.

WELL Building Standard

The WELL Building Standard measures sustainability using seven core concepts, including air, water, nourishment, light, movement, and more.

Awarded by the International WELL Building Institute, the certification focuses on the overall impact of buildings on human health and wellbeing. The entire certification is broken down in this guidebook.

NABERS

NABERS is a green building certification available to Australian projects only. It measures environmental impact on a six-star scale, based on energy use, waste production, water use, and indoor environment.

To participate, you can estimate your rating using the program’s online calculator or find an accredited assessor near you.

Green Star

Green Star is another Australia-based option that certifies interiors, building designs, energy performance, and even entire communities.

The process requires online registration, documentation, and an independent panel assessment.

CASBEE

The Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency is a green building certification in Japan, though it’s currently being piloted for international use.

The program certifies residential and commercial construction, urban development, and city management. The application process includes various assessments.

 

References:

Demand for Green Buildings: Office Tenant’ Stated Willingness To Pay For Green Features

Impact of Sustainability on Property Values