How Synergies Between Sustainable Certifications Increase the Value and Efficiency of Green Projects

In a context where green certifications have become standard in real estate development, synergies between sustainable certifications have become an effective strategy to maximize value and minimize costs.

Leading organizations in the industry have found that the strategic combination of systems such as LEED, BREEAM, WELL, SITES and EDGE, in addition to multiplying environmental benefits, it also generates significant savings in time, documentation and resources.

What do we mean by synergies between sustainable certifications?

The synergies between sustainable certifications represent the strategic collaboration between different environmental certification systems to create value that exceeds the sum of its individual parts. This strategy makes it possible to take advantage of the complementary strengths of each system, optimizing resources and maximizing impact.

In practice, these synergies are manifested when a project uses the same technical documentation, energy efficiency measures and design solutions to meet multiple standards simultaneously. For example, high-efficiency LED lighting systems can contribute to credits in LEED (energy efficiency), WELL (light quality for well-being) and BREEAM (energy consumption), creating a multiplier effect that benefits both the environment and the occupants.

What are the fundamental benefits of integration?

The adoption of synergies between certifications generates tangible benefits that go beyond the simple sum of individual certifications:

• Reducing costs: Shared documentation and efficient use of resources reduce consulting and operating expenses between 25% and 30%, according to case analyses reported by USGBC, AIA and Enpowered.
• Time optimization: although there is no single figure applicable to all cases, experience shows that by integrating processes and avoiding duplicate tasks, it is possible to significantly reduce the time required to obtain certifications, in some cases shortening the process by several months.
• Higher market value: buildings with multiple certifications usually achieve rent and sale premiums of between 5% and 12% compared to their non-certified equivalents (source: CBRE, JLL and academic studies on green premiums).
• Attractive to investors: More and more investment funds and banks are prioritizing projects with multiple certification, since they tend to be more efficient, less risky and better valued in the market. This translates into easier access to green finance, preferential rates and a solid image vis-a-vis investors committed to ESG criteria.

Main Sustainable Certifications and Their Approaches

To understand synergies, it is essential to know the specific approaches of each certification system and how their criteria can complement each other.

LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

LEED focuses on energy efficiency, water management, indoor air quality and the use of sustainable materials. Its comprehensive approach evaluates the entire life cycle of the building, from site selection to long-term operation. Key points include:

• Energy efficiency and use of renewable energy
• Sustainable water management and consumption reduction
• Materials and resources with low environmental impact
• Quality of the indoor environment for the health of occupants
• Innovation in design and regional processes

BREEAM: Construction Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method

As a pioneer in green certifications, BREEAM adopts a holistic approach that evaluates sustainability from multiple aspects. Its strength lies in the comprehensive evaluation that considers:

• Project management and sustainable planning
• User health and well-being
• Energy efficiency and emission reduction
• Sustainable transport and accessibility
• Water Use and Waste Management
• Materials with sustainability criteria
• Land Use and Local Ecology

WELL: Certification for Wellness and Health in Buildings

The certification WELL revolutionizes the sector by focusing specifically on the impact of buildings on people's health and productivity. Its criteria address:

• Indoor air quality and optimal ventilation
• Drinking water quality and hydration systems
• Healthy eating and spaces for nutrition
• Circadian lighting and visual comfort
• Physical activity and active design
• Thermal and acoustic comfort
• Mental Health and Psychological Wellbeing

SITES: Initiative for Sustainable Sites

SITES specializes in the sustainability of outdoor spaces and landscapes, perfectly complementing building certifications:

• Sustainable rainwater management
• Selection of native vegetation and biodiversity
• Reduction of the urban heat island effect
• Soil Management and Erosion Prevention
• Regional and low-impact materials
• Long-term ecological maintenance

Passivhaus: High Energy Efficiency Building Standard

Passivhaus sets the most demanding standard in energy efficiency, focusing on:

• Superior thermal insulation and elimination of thermal bridges
• Airtightness and infiltration control
• Optimal solar orientation and passive gains
• Minimum energy consumption for heating and cooling

EDGE: Certification System for Scalable Efficiency

EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) is a certification promoted by IFC (World Bank) designed especially for emerging markets. Its practical approach makes it possible to develop sustainable buildings in an agile, measurable and cost-effective way, facilitating their implementation on a large scale. It complements other certifications by focusing on three key areas of efficiency:

• 20% reduction in energy, water and materials
• Simplified analysis for emerging markets
• Ideal for housing and hotel projects

FIWEL: Certification for Healthy Buildings and Occupational Wellness

Fitwel is a certification system developed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the General Services Administration (GSA) of the United States. Its main objective is to improve the health, productivity and well-being of occupants through accessible interventions, based on scientific evidence and applicable to different types of buildings.

Fitwel evaluates factors that directly influence the quality of life of people who use a space, including:

• Pedestrian accessibility and urban connectivity
• Promoting physical activity through stairs and active routes
• Air quality and controlled ventilation
• Natural lighting and visual comfort
• Access to healthy food and clean water
• Accessible outdoor spaces and green areas
• Inclusive Design, Safety and Mental Health

Its flexible approach allows improvements to be applied even to existing buildings, making it an efficient and rapidly implemented tool to promote healthier environments.

Strategic Combinations of Certifications

The most effective synergies arise when certifications are combined with complementary approaches that cover different aspects of comprehensive sustainability.

Combination Key Synergies Ideal sectors READ + WELL Air quality, comfort, lighting, shared documentation Offices, hospitals, schools LEED + Fitwel Technical sustainability + accessible occupational well-being Offices, schools, public and corporate buildings SITES + READ Equivalences in landscaping, water, ecology Corporate campuses, urban developments BREEAM + Passivhaus Extreme efficiency + comprehensive evaluation Institutions, Public Sector, Europe EDGE + WELL Efficiency + accessible inner health Social housing, hotels, LATAM and Asia LEED + EDGE Global standardization + low documentary cost Residential and commercial projects

Own elaboration

LEED + WELL: Integrated Sustainability and Wellness

This combination creates buildings that are not only environmentally responsible, but also prioritize the health and productivity of occupants. Benefits include:

• Documentary synergies: Indoor air quality reports serve both LEED and WELL credits, eliminating duplication in measurements and analysis.
• Proven Economic Benefits: Studies of the World Green Building Council report reductions of up to 27% in staff turnover and more than 40% in absenteeism from work in buildings that integrate sustainability and well-being strategies such as those promoted by LEED and WELL. Source: World Green Building Council — Doing Right by Planet and People: The Business Case for Health and Wellbeing in Green Building
• Optimized spaces: The integrated design creates offices that maximize both energy efficiency and the comfort and well-being of workers.

LEED + Fitwel: Technical Sustainability with Accessible Wellness

This combination empowers sustainable buildings that also actively promote the health, comfort and productivity of occupants. While LEED focuses on energy efficiency, materials and sustainable operation, Fitwel adds a critical layer of physical, mental and social well-being.

Natural complementarity: Both systems address categories such as indoor air quality, active accessibility, natural lighting and green spaces. The documentation generated for LEED (for example, ventilation analysis or low VOC materials) can be used in Fitwel's requirements.

Application in existing buildings: Fitwel is especially useful for optimizing spaces that are already LEED certified or are in operation, allowing measurable improvements without the need for large investments.

Human+technical approach: This synergy is ideal for offices, schools, government institutions and corporate buildings that seek to improve their environmental performance without losing sight of the impact on people.

SITES + LEED: Full Space Integration

This synergy extends sustainability from the building to the entire environment, creating truly comprehensive developments:

• Equivalent credits: The GBCI officially recognizes equivalences between SITES and LEED, allowing achievements in sustainable landscaping to contribute to both certifications.
• Comprehensive water management: Rainwater collection and bioretention systems can simultaneously meet the requirements of both systems.
• Added value: Projects with this combination are especially attractive for corporate campuses and large scale urban developments.

BREEAM + Passivhaus: Extreme Efficiency and Sustainability

The fusion of maximum energy efficiency with BREEAM's holistic approach results in exceptional projects.

• The combination achieves buildings with almost zero consumption that also excel in all other sustainability categories.
• Shared documentation: Passivhaus energy efficiency studies contribute significantly to BREEAM energy credits.
• Market recognition: This combination is particularly valued in European markets where both labels have strong recognition.

EDGE + WELL: Efficiency with Wellness in Emerging Markets

This combination is especially valuable in social housing projects, hotels and hospitals in regions such as Latin America and Asia. By integrating energy, water and material efficiency (EDGE), with health and well-being criteria (WELL), a balance is achieved between measurable sustainability and interior quality of life.

• Affordability with impact: EDGE can demonstrate measurable reductions of 20% in energy, water and materials, improving the economic viability of the project.
• Accessible well-being: WELL complements efficiency with criteria of clean air, thermal comfort, natural light and mental health.
• Ideal for emerging markets: Their joint implementation makes it possible to deliver healthier and more efficient projects, even with tight budgets.

LEED + EDGE: Global Standardization with Agile Efficiency

This combination takes advantage of the international strength of LEED and the technical simplicity of EDGE. Together, they make it possible to certify projects with high sustainability standards without significantly increasing costs or document burden.

• Verifiable efficiency: EDGE provides clear and comparative metrics on energy and resource savings.
• International reputation: LEED provides technical and commercial support in global markets.
• Lower complexity: The compatibility between the two systems makes it possible to optimize times and reduce certification costs in medium-sized and residential projects.

Case Study: TVS Offices in Atlanta

TVS Atlanta. Image taken from usgbc.org

The headquarters of the firm TVS in Atlanta is a pioneer in obtaining simultaneously certifications LEED Platinum (ID+C v4) and WELL Platinum through the new Streamlined Pathway designed to align both systems. In its approximately 3,066 to 3,484 m², the design focused on four key pillars oriented to human well-being and planetary health: Be Better Together, Celebrate the Design Process, Cultivate Joy and Embrace Human and Planetary Health.

Despite operating in a context of budgetary constraints, tight deadlines and adverse construction conditions, the team managed to achieve the highest scores of both certifications. Strategies such as furniture reuse (> 60%), natural lighting, outdoor connection and selection of low-impact materials were integrated, allowing Platinum requirements to be met without compromising performance or exceeding costs.

Since its inauguration — LEED certification confirmed on September 20, 2023 — tangible benefits have been observed: better acoustics, awareness of healthy habits, efficient use of space and perceptible indoor well-being (Source: https://www.usgbc.org/projects/tvs-atlanta?view=overview).

Shared Documentation and Equivalent Credits

• GBCI recognizes shared credits between SITES and LEED (e.g. bioretention, vegetation, soils, heat island)
• Reusable documentation between systems: plans, energy calculations, indoor air quality

Successful Implementation Strategies

• Integrated conceptual design with certification goals
• Multidisciplinary sustainable certification consultants with experience in cross systems
• Unified Documentation Platform
• Ongoing monitoring and preparation for re-certification

Future Trends

• Institutional alignment between GBCI, BRE, IWBI
• Cross Audits and Hybrid Standards
• Digitalization (AI, Blockchain, IoT)
• Integration with circular economy and climate objectives

Conclusion

Synergies between sustainable certifications represent a powerful strategy for maximizing value, reducing costs and accelerating industry transformation. In markets such as Mexico and Latin America, where sustainability is increasingly strategic, this integration becomes a key competitive advantage.

Adopting a planned approach, with a holistic vision and efficient use of resources can make the difference between a certified building and a truly transformative one.

Contact us to advise you on the certification of your sustainable project here