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Applying LEED to warehouse and distribution center projects

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Why use LEED on warehouses and distribution centers?

In addition to the benefits that are seen across all sectors (such as building and operating a resource-efficient, healthy building and the value of obtaining rigorous third-party certification) warehouse and distribution centers are experiencing increasing demand to deliver LEED certified projects to fulfill ESG goals, keep up with market competition and to demonstrate commitment to environmental sustainability.

How many warehouse and distribution center projects are registered and certified under LEED?

As of June 2024, there are almost 7,060 LEED‐certified and registered warehouse and distribution center projects representing over 2.6B square feet (244M square meters) of built space. This includes projects certified through the one-off process and those certified through multiple building applications such as campus and volume.

What is the LEED volume program and how can warehouse and distribution center projects benefit from the offering?

For organizations planning to certify many new construction projects, LEED volume certification can simplify LEED documentation and speed up the review process for those portfolios where uniformity and standardization of the LEED requirements are built into the project delivery process. Using this option streamlines LEED certifications by focusing on similarities in building design and construction practices – no matter where the projects are located. For organizations that certify multiple buildings within a given timeframe, this option offers valuable economies of scale for new construction buildings and commercial interior spaces. Learn more.

How do multiple buildings and structures in a campus setting earn LEED certification?

Warehouse and distribution center projects commonly operate with multiple buildings spread across a single site. To address this, the LEED Campus Guidance was introduced for projects that are on a shared site under the control of a single entity. Its application to LEED projects represents the complexity and commonality of buildings and infrastructure on a site. LEED Campus Guidance is a useful tool for campuses with multiple buildings, common utilities, and campus‐wide management policies. By utilizing LEED Campus Guidance, project teams can benefit from an increase in streamlined review process, and reduced certification fees under the Master Site approach, leading to successful implementation of LEED projects.

How does the LEED performance platform relate to warehouse projects?

The LEED v4.1 O+M rating system offers a unique performance-based pathway to certify your existing buildings and interior spaces that uses Arc, a state‐of‐the‐art platform designed to collect, manage and benchmark your building across five performance categories: energy, water, waste, transportation, and human experience.

And what does this mean for warehouse and distribution centers? LEED v4.1 can be used to compare projects to other similar facilities pursuing high-performance measures from around the world. Portfolio managers and other stakeholders can continuously monitor the data and make informed decisions to optimize the building performance based on real-time data and analytics. This performance pathway can then be used to certify and recertify the project every 3 years. Learn more

What are issues unique to warehouse and distribution center projects?

Many new build projects are speculative and do not have tenants contracted to occupy space. When tenant spaces are not under contract, the project may only be able to account for design and construction activities under the control of the owner and will not have details related to future tenant build-outs. In this case, LEED v4.1 presents more options as credit weightings are shifted to include more points that fall within the owner’s control.

Some warehouse and distribution center O+M projects can face challenges with process loads (energy, water, and waste) that can impact performance scores. Process loads impacting the performance score to the point that the performance may not be met. If this is the case, please contact us.

What resources are available for warehouse and distribution center projects?

Where can I find owner profiles and case studies on warehouse and distribution center projects?

Does USGBC offer any education for project teams wanting to learn more about warehouse and distribution centers pursuing green building?

Yes! Check out the following sessions in the USGBC online course catalog:

Is there a document I can download and send to my team?

Yes! Click the link below.

 

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