LEED-certified Assets Cost More to Build, Command Higher Prices: Cushman & Wakefield
Originally published by Jacob Albers and David Bitner for Cushman & Wakefield.
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.