LEED-certified Assets Cost More to Build, Command Higher Prices: Cushman & Wakefield

by: Lisa Dacres
Category: Industry
Tags
Sep
28

Originally published by Jacob Albers and David Bitner for Cushman & Wakefield.

As investor interest in ESG strategy rises, LEED-certified office provides a key indicator on comparative performance By 2023, 80% of investors intend to incorporate ESG into their strategy.

As demand for ESG-committed assets has grown, a key question has arisen: do these assets perform the same or better than their non-ESG peers? If so, is it possible to quantify this difference?  

Key takeaways:  

  • LEED-certified buildings have consistently achieved higher rents compared to their non-LEED counterparts. 

  • Attaining ESG commitment through LEED certification does come at higher cost through construction or renovation.  

  • LEED-certified assets outperform during recession-recovery periods. 

  • The pandemic accelerated tenant demand for ESG assets. 

  • LEED-certified assets held a 21.4% higher average market sales price per square foot over non-LEED buildings during the past three years. 

  • Sustainable assets are still fairly niche, with LEED certification accounting for just 2.5% of the total urban office inventory in the United States.   
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