LEED Volume FAQs: The Scalable Solution For Portfolios
What is LEED Volume?
The LEED Volume program was created by the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to streamline the LEED certification process across multiple buildings, resulting in faster certification times and cost savings.
LEED Volume is ideal for developers certifying at least 15 projects over three years.
Benefits of LEED Volume
Saves Time
LEED Volume streamlines certification with fewer meetings, less team effort, and quicker reviews for faster certifications.
Saves Money
GAIA’s deep experience managing LEED Volume fast-tracks the certification timeline and associated fees, reducing them by 30-50%.
Boosts Corporate Sustainability Image
The LEED Volume process helps companies develop or update sustainability specifications, ensuring consistent design standards.
GAIA customizes the prototype to align with business goals using pre-approved prototype credits, guaranteeing the same certification level for all projects.
Industrial developers leveraging LEED Volume in their portfolios include Rexford Industrial, Hillwood, and DIV Industrial. They spoke on a panel at NAIOP I.CON West Industrial Conference.
LEED Volume Process
1. Get Started: Apply, pay USGBC fee, provide training
2. Prototype: LEED Volume workshop, develop Prototype¹, submit for review
3. Projects: Submit LEED projects to be reviewed and certified
¹LEED Volume Is Based On Your Prototype
Participants in LEED volume complete pre-certification of a Prototype —which is a conceptual building or framework that can then be applied across a group of projects that have major elements in common. They can pursue a common set of credits in a single LEED rating system.
Testimonials From Developers in the LEED Volume Program
“GAIA's advisory has been instrumental in helping Rexford achieve our sustainability and ESG milestones. They quickly set up our LEED Volume program and we have benefited from their deep knowledge of carbon footprint, net-zero emissions, and solar energy.”
– Kristin Brown, Director, Sustainability at Rexford Industrial
“While at CapRock Partners, I had the opportunity to lead the implementation on our new development projects becoming LEED Certified. After meeting with various groups, it was an easy decision to bring GAIA on to help with this initiative. Their teams did not just work on sustainability during the day, they are living it out in their everyday lives. But it was their ability to take charge and quickly drive the process with USGBC to get us accepted into the LEED Volume program and seamlessly work with multiple development managers, GC's, subs and architects to help us get some of the largest industrial projects under development in the program.
They effectively, with their creative approach, saved us over a million dollars.”
— Nicholas Ilagan, former Senior Vice President of Asset Management at CapRock Partners
“We have been able to help developers save 35% to 50% in LEED-associated costs while creating processes and specifications to earn certification in a shorter time," McEvoy said. "Due to our hands-on approach, setting up LEED Volume takes six to 10 months as opposed to competitors who offer a yearlong timeline.”
Learn How LEED Volume Can Drive Value
Schedule a lunch and learn with GAIA.
