Beginning January 2009, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) will launch a new Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification rating system developed specifically for retail operations. All school, healthcare and retail projects will now be evaluated under the LEED for Retail rating system.

There are two certification paths in the new program, the LEED for Retail: New Construction and LEED for Retail: Commercial Interiors. The LEED for Retail: New Construction rating system will certify freestanding buildings, whereas the LEED for Retail: Commercial Interiors rating system will certify tenant space.

According to Justin Doak, manager of the USGBC Retail Sector, the LEED for Retail rating system recognizes the unique nature of retail design and construction projects and addresses the specific needs of retail spaces. Prior to the new rating system, all retail projects were evaluated for certification under the LEED for New Construction guidelines.

Rating System Point Distribution Slightly Different
There are seven prerequisites and 34 credits, with 70 points total in the LEED for Retail: New Construction rating system. Buildings need at least 26 credits to be certified. This rating system has the same structure as the LEED for New Construction rating system, with a slight variance in the point distribution.

In this program, points are distributed as follows: Sustainable Sites (16), Water Efficiency (5), Energy & Atmosphere (17), Materials & Resources (13), Indoor Environmental Quality (14), and Innovation & Design (5). A detailed fact sheet describing the LEED for Retail: New Construction rating system is available here.

There are six prerequisites and 26 credits, with 59 points total in the LEED for Retail: Commercial Interiors rating system. Buildings need at least 21 credits to be certified. Similarly, this rating system has the same structure as the LEED for Commercial Interiors rating system, with a slight variance in the point distribution.

In the LEED for Retail: Commercial Interiors rating systems, points are distributed as follows: Sustainable Sites (8), Water Efficiency (2), Energy & Atmosphere (14), Materials & Resources (14), Indoor Environmental Quality (16), and Innovation & Design (5). A detailed fact sheet describing the LEED for Retail: Commercial Interior rating system is available here.

Also New in 2009: Volume Certification
Developers and property owners now will also have the option to pursue LEED certification for several properties at once through a streamlined process called “volume certification.” Under this program, applicants work with the USGBC to establish a prototype that meets LEED standards, so that properties developed or retrofitted according to that prototype can be certified more quickly than a one-off project.

According to the USGBC, this isn't a different rating system; it’s a streamlined process that helps the council achieve its existing rating systems on a greater scale.

For example, a large financial institution is using the program to certify more than 300 regional banking centers in accordance with LEED standards. While each bank branch must still go through a certification process to achieve LEED for Retail certification, the company can build with the confidence that those properties will qualify for certification so long as they stick to specifications and procedures established in the prototype.

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