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7 of the greenest buildings in the world
The US Green Building Council last week marked a significant milestone, surpassing 1bn sq ft of commercial buildings recertified around the world under the LEED green rating system.
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To date, LEED, the most widely used green building certification system in the world, has registered and certified a total of 24bn sq ft of space across more than 110,000 buildings.
Since 2018, the USGBC has been recertifying occupied buildings to give owners a clear indication of the actual performance of their assets.
In light of the milestone, PlaceTech takes a look at some of the highest rated new buildings certified under LEED v4 and v4.1 – the latest green building standards – from around the world.
Only 50 developments have qualified for LEED v4 Platinum, the highest certification level, in the BD+C (building design and construction) category. These buildings, designed from the outset to be exceptionally sustainable, are an eclectic mix of offices, factories and even repurposed storage containers.
Here are seven of these buildings from around the world:
Schneider Electric Technopole
Location | Grenoble, France
Occupier | Schneider Electric – energy management company
Use type | Industrial
Rating | Platinum (83) – January 2019
Re-rating | Platinum (91) – February 2021
Size | 111,320 sq ft
Notable features
- Extensive energy metering: 235 electrical, 88 thermal and 9 portable water meters
- Natural daylight in more than 50% of the space
- EV car sharing available to employees
Three Consultoria Medioambiental
Location | Monterrey, Mexico
Occupier | Three – environmental consultancy
Use type | Office
Rating | Platinum (84) – July 2016
Notable features
- Constructed from re-cycled material, including 8.5 re-used maritime containers
- High efficiency glazing, insulation and strategically placed overhangs to harvest natural light while maintaining a comfortable temperature
- A solar thermal station that provides 100% of the hot water demand
- First LEED v4 Platinum building in Latin America
Lee Kum Kee Soy Sauce Fermentation Plant
Location | Jiangmen, China
Use type | Industrial, manufacturing
Occupier | Lee Kum Kee – food manufacturer
Rating | Platinum (80) – February 2020
Size | 14m sq ft
Notable features
- A 172,000 sq ft man-made wetland park that treats 4,000 cubic metres of wastewater per day
- A geothermal heat pump, which takes heat from the ground to provide both hot and cold water for soy sauce fermentation
- Rooftop solar panels
Kendeda Building
Location | Atlanta, Georgia
Occupier | Georgia Institute of Technology – university
Use type | Education
Rating | Platinum (89) – April 2021
Size | 36,978 sq ft
Notable features
- Sourced at least 50% of its products and services from within 621 miles
- Generates 225% of its energy needs through onsite renewable energy
- Cost of electricity over 12 months totalled -$15,500
ENOC Futuristic Retail Fuel Station
Location | Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Occupier | Emirates National Oil Company – energy provider
Use type | Service station
Rating | Platinum (93) – January 2021
Size | 8,342 sq ft
Notable features
- Includes both 283 solar PV panels and a 25-metre wind turbine
- Canopy built from 37 tonnes of carbon fibre instead of steel
- Converts humidity in the air into water molecules, producing drinking water for onsite staff
Stellantis Rivalta
Location | Turin, Italy
Occupier | Stellantis – car manufacturer
Use type | Office
Rating | Platinum (84) – August 2021
Size | 94,614 sq ft
Notable features
- A south-facing wall with photovoltaic glazing to provide renewable energy
- A mix of individual and collaborative spaces, all of which have access to natural light
- Extensive sensors that monitor and control carbon dioxide, humidity and temperature
Interloop Denim Factory
Location | Kasur, Pakistan
Occupier | Interloop – clothing manufacturer
Use type | Factory
Rating | Platinum (85) – December 2020
Size | 574,229 sq ft
Notable features
- Includes specialised rainwater harvesting pits to recycle ground water
- More than 30% of the area is dedicated to greenspace, including a planned “urban forest” with 3,000 trees, which will be planted over five years
- 30% reduction in its carbon footprint by introducing by introducing solar panels and rice husk boilers
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