Key takeaways:
Sustainability: the new baseline for architecture and design
Sustainable design has moved quickly from nice to have to non-negotiable. And this shift is happening at a critical moment for the building sector: nearly three-quarters of the infrastructure that will exist in 2050 has yet to be built. [1]
The decisions made today – what we build, how we build it, and the materials we choose – will shape emissions, human health, and asset performance for decades to come.
For architects and designers, this represents a fundamental market shift. Sustainability has become a prerequisite for competitiveness, access to capital, and long-term portfolio resilience. The projects moving forward most efficiently are those that can demonstrate environmental, social, and economic performance through clear, measurable, and verifiable criteria.As Katie Mesia, Firmwide Design Resilience Leader and Director of Sustainability at Gensler, puts it:
“People aren’t buying abstract sustainability anymore […] Corporations are struggling with how to keep and demonstrate their environmental commitments in a way that is tangible and not abstract.” [2]
And this demand for tangibility is exactly why green building certifications have taken on such strategic importance.
Green building certifications: what they are and why they matter
Green building certifications are evaluation systems designed to assess the environmental and social performance of both new and existing buildings. While many of them were first introduced in the 1980s, their relevance has grown significantly alongside the rise of ESG strategies, corporate responsibility, and heightened scrutiny from investors and regulators.
Globally recognized systems such as LEED®, BREEAM®, WELL™ have become key reference points for the industry. [3] Alongside these building-level frameworks, material-level tools – such as the Gensler Product Sustainability (GPS) Standards™ – are gaining traction, showing how clear, upfront material criteria can support better decision-making early in the design process, when the opportunity to reduce impact is greatest. [4]
Beyond definitions, however, the real question is why an increasing number of developers, designers, property owners, and investors are choosing to adopt these frameworks.
Beyond compliance: the tangible benefits of certification
1. An investment with measurable returns
Certification costs vary widely depending on project scope, complexity, and ambition.
Yet evidence consistently shows that these investments can generate long-term returns. Certified buildings tend to operate more efficiently, consume fewer resources, and require less ongoing maintenance. In the case of Energy Star-certified properties, energy use can be reduced by up to 35% compared to non-certified equivalents. [5]
2. Stronger market performance
Financial outcomes are a key consideration. Research from JLL indicates that BREEAM-certified buildings achieve capital values more than 20% higher than comparable assets without certification. [6] Other studies point to higher rental rates and stronger occupancy levels for certified properties. Additionally, workplace studies from the World Green Building Council link certified buildings to improved employee health, productivity, and satisfaction – factors increasingly viewed as integral to asset quality and retention. [7]
3. Credibility, visibility, and access to capital
Certification also plays an important signaling role. For investors and stakeholders, third-party verification provides confidence that sustainability claims are grounded in measurable performance rather than marketing narratives. Many certification schemes are recognized by broader benchmarking and reporting systems used to evaluate ESG performance at a portfolio or corporate level. In practical terms, this alignment can support access to green finance, public incentives, and tax mechanisms such as the 179D and 45L credits in the U.S., alongside comparable programs in Europe. [8]
4. Efficiency through clarity
One of the less visible – but increasingly valuable – benefits of certification-ready design is process efficiency. When products and materials are supported by complete, verified documentation – covering environmental performance, transparency requirements, and potential credit contributions – project teams gain early clarity. This enables faster alignment between architects, consultants, and clients, reducing uncertainty and limiting late-stage revisions. Put simply, projects can move more efficiently from concept to delivery.
5. Reducing impact while improving quality of life
The environmental implications are substantial. Commercial real estate accounts for roughly 39% of global greenhouse gas emissions, spanning both construction and operations. Certified buildings typically perform better across key impact indicators. On average, sustainable buildings generate:
Importantly, these improvements are not purely technical. Buildings that prioritize material quality, indoor air, daylight, and comfort tend to be spaces where people function more effectively – whether in homes, offices, or shared public environments. [10]
Conclusion: a win-win choice for everyone
Green building certifications are no longer peripheral or symbolic. They function as strategic instruments that support resilience, reduce risk, and help translate sustainability objectives into measurable performance.
For design teams, they provide structure and clarity. For investors and the wider market, they establish a common language linking design intent, operational outcomes, and long-term value.
As the built environment continues to evolve, sustainability is no longer an optional ambition. It is the foundation on which future projects are being judged.
[1] Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA). (2021). Global cement and concrete industry announces roadmap to achieve groundbreaking net zero CO₂ emissions by 2050. https://gccassociation.org/news/global-cement-and-concrete-industry-announces-roadmap-to-achieve-groundbreaking-net-zero-co2-emissions-by-2050/#:~:text=Three%20quarters%20of%20the%20infrastructure,the%20transformation%20of%20your%20industry.%E2%80%9D; University of the Built Environment. (2025). Understanding green building certifications: Why should you get one? https://www.ube.ac.uk/whats-happening/articles/green-building-certification/
[2] Gensler. (2023). Why Low-Carbon, Healthy Materials Are an Imperative for the Building Industry. https://www.gensler.com/blog/gensler-product-sustainability-standards-v2
[3] Green Business Benchmark. (2024). How to Choose the Right Green Business Certification. https://www.greenbusinessbenchmark.com/archive/choosing-green-certification; Emerald Built Environments. (2024). Maximizing Building Value: The Benefits of Green Certifications. https://blog.emeraldbe.com/new_blog/the-benefits-of-green-certifications
[4] Gensler. Gensler Product Sustainability Standards V2.0. https://www.gensler.com/gensler-product-sustainability-standards
[5] Emerald Built Environments, 2024.
[6] University of the Built Environment, 2025;
[7] Method Recycling. (2025). Benefits of green building certifications for property managers. https://methodrecycling.com/world/journal/benefits-of-green-building-certifications-for-property-managers
[8] Emerald Built Environments, 2024.
[9] Method Recycling, 2025.
[10] Gensler, 2023; Sensgreen. (2024). Why Every Employee Needs a Smarter, Greener and More Sustainable Office Space. https://sensgreen.com/why-every-employee-needs-a-smarter-greener-and-more-sustainable-office-space/