LEED Certification Made Simple with LynxPower

All You Need to Know About LEED

What is LEED certificate?

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a globally recognized green building certification system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). It provides a comprehensive framework for designing, constructing, operating, and certifying sustainable buildings. LEED certification is awarded based on the building’s performance across multiple environmental aspects and it is also the most widely used green building assessment framework worldwide.

As one of the world’s foremost green building rating system, USGBC’s LEED is always evolving to further the design and development of sustainable projects. The program’s latest update, LEED v5 represents a significant update focused on decarbonization, quality of life, and ecological conservation. LynxPower helps projects easily align with these new requirements through its energy management platform, while our experts ensure that broader LEED criteria are met smoothly and effectively.

Certification Requirements

In a fast-evolving real estate market, green certification is no longer a nice-to-have – it’s a must-have! LEED-certified assets are proven to drive return on investment and greater future earning potential:

• Lower operating costs (approx. -15%)

• Higher rental yield (approx. +11%)

• Higher property value / market sales price (approx. +22%)

• Attractive to clients, investors, and building users (e.g., lower employee turnover)

An investment in property that supports regulatory compliance, reduces operating costs and climate impact.

What does LEED certification assess?

Depending on the total number of points earned, each LEED-certified project is awarded one of four certification levels: LEED Certified (40-49 points), LEED Silver (50-59 points), LEED Gold (60-79 points), LEED Platinum (80+ points).

During the LEED certification process, the project is primarily evaluated across the following categories:

• Location and Transportation: This category awards points for thoughtful decisions regarding building location, promoting compact development, reduced parking footprint, access to alternative transportation, existing infrastructure, and proximity to services and amenities.

• Sustainable Sites: This category evaluates the inclusion of biodiversity, restoration of disturbed soils, implementation of GI and LID stormwater management practices, and reduction of heat island effect and light pollution.

• Water Efficiency: Projects are assessed on reducing outdoor water use, reducing indoor water use, and measuring water use in subsystems.

• Energy and Atmosphere: This category evaluates building energy performance, associated greenhouse gas emissions, integration of renewable energy, and implementation of energy monitoring systems.

• Materials and Resources: This category considers the use of recycled, locally sourced, and sustainable construction materials, as well as strategies for waste reduction and diversion from landfill.

• Indoor Environmental Quality: The focus is on ensuring a high-quality indoor environment, including thermal comfort, interior lighting, access to daylight and quality views.

• Innovation: Additional points can be earned by incorporating innovative design strategies and addressing regionally important priorities.

How LynxPower Supports Your LEED Journey?

We assist you throughout the entire certification process — from concept design all the way to building occupancy. We manage projects personally and collaborate closely with you to find the best tailored solutions. Beyond project management, we install LynxPower’s smart monitoring and control systems that help your project meet essential LEED energy criteria, including:

• The installed metering devices collect energy consumption data at minimum hourly intervals and store it for at least 3 years, automatically uploading it to a cloud platform. The data is accessible at any time via computer, tablet, or phone, even directly on the construction site.

• You can instantly generate energy consumption reports that comply specifically with LEED requirements.

• Measure energy usage individually for each end user (pumps, fans, lighting, plug-in devices, etc.) or per tenant.

• Monitor both electricity consumption (kWh) and demand (kW).

• Our systems create the capability to connect to demand response programs that help reduce energy costs by shifting consumption away from peak hours.

• LynxPower room controllers help to ensure high indoor quality and thermal comfort for building users, with easy handling (Monitor volatile organic compounds (VOCs), humidity, and adjust temperature, ventilation, etc.).

• The new version of the LEED standard (v5) also brings new requirements – great emphasis will be placed on decarbonization, not only in terms of building materials and related carbon, but also in terms of emissions during operation, transport, and refrigerants. This requires the involvement of an LCA specialist from the early stages of the design phase – LynxPower can help with this too.

Ready to Lead in Sustainability?

Transform your building into a benchmark of environmental excellence with LynxPower. Our experts and integrated system streamline LEED certification, ensuring you achieve and maintain your LEED certificate — reach the highest levels of sustainability effortlessly. Schedule a Demo today to explore how LynxPower drives LEED success and smarter building performances.

Green building is a smart building!