LEED certification: designing the sustainable buildings of the future

What is LEED certification?

LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is an internationally recognized rating system that encourages the development of sustainable, high-performance buildings with low environmental impact. Launched in 1998 by the U.S. Green Building Council, this program responds to a global imperative: limiting the ecological footprint of an industry that is placing enormous pressure on natural resources and the environment.

In Canada, this industry is responsible for 50% of natural resource extraction, 33% of energy consumption, 25% of waste produced and 10% of airborne particles.

LEED is an essential solution to these challenges, guiding building design that has positive impacts on the environment and on occupant wellness.

Why choose this certification?

LEED certification is the international benchmark for excellence in sustainability and green building. Found in more than 150 countries, it reflects a worldwide movement towards more responsible building practices.

Patrick Côté sees LEED as a key strategic tool for companies that are committed to a sustainable future. It delivers concrete results: high-performance buildings that have a lower environmental footprint and controlled operating costs, while improving occupant wellness.

Find out why LEED has become a fundamental cornerstone of the real estate industry:

1. Reducing environmental impact

Reducing the ecological footprint of buildings is LEED’s core mission. Its point system prioritizes concrete strategies for combating climate change, with a focus on criteria such as water conservation, energy efficiency and choosing sustainable and recycled materials.

Every year, LEED norms and standards produce measurable results, diverting an average of 3,500 tons of waste from landfills per project, eliminating more than 231 tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and conserving 478,000 liters of water.

In concrete terms, this means:

• 15 containers of 40 cubic yards of waste diverted,

• 58 fewer cars on the roads,

• 15 swimming pools of water saved.

2. Reducing energy costs

Incorporating sustainable strategies as early as the design stage of a building can significantly reduce its energy consumption throughout its life cycle. Although such measures sometimes require an additional initial cost, the savings generated quickly establish them as a profitable and essential strategy.

Patrick Côté illustrates this approach with Écoparc Saint-Bruno, a MONTONI project: “This project’s high-performance mechanical systems, including heat pumps, and improved sealing and insulation of the building envelope, have reduced heating consumption by 75% and annual air-conditioning consumption by 30%.”

These solutions prove that it is possible to combine significant savings with a reduced environmental footprint, for the benefit of the planet and building tenants.

3. Improving occupant health and wellness

Occupant wellness is at the heart of the LEED certification vision. By incorporating user comfort into every stage of building design and layout, LEED promotes the creation of spaces that are both healthy and conducive to productivity.

These features create an environment that fosters concentration, wellness and performance, as shown by the following figures:

• 11% increase in productivity as a result of better indoor air quality;

• 23% improvement in productivity due to optimal lighting, abundant natural light and views to the outside;

• 25% improvement in employees’ memory due to views of the outdoors.

5. Justifying and optimizing costs

Investing in a sustainable building often involves higher initial costs. LEED certification offers a tangible solution for justifying and optimizing these costs by integrating them into a proven framework that improves operational performance and reduces long-term costs.

LEED guarantees that every sustainable investment contributes to the building's performance and longevity, while reassuring stakeholders that it will be profitable.

The LEED system’s eight evaluation criteria

LEED certification is based on eight criteria that redefine the standards for sustainable construction. Every certified project becomes a model of performance, innovation and environmental commitment.

These criteria cover all the essential aspects of a sustainable building: its impact on the environment, its energy efficiency, its comfort for occupants and its ability to meet tomorrow's challenges.

1. Location and transportation

LEED certification encourages projects that are closely linked to modern transportation solutions, reducing the use of personal vehicles and promoting greener alternatives.

Certified buildings can be distinguished by:

• their proximity to public transit networks;

• dedicated facilities for cyclists (showers, shelters);

• charging stations for electric vehicles.

2. Sustainable site development

This criterion encourages practices that safeguard ecosystems, limit soil degradation and promote biodiversity. Every building is designed to harmonize with its natural environment to ensure sustainable ecological continuity.

3. Water efficiency

Water is a precious and essential resource, and one that lies at the heart of today’s environmental challenges. LEED certification rewards innovative practices that aim to protect and restore this resource while significantly reducing drinking-water consumption.

LEED-certified buildings adopt concrete solutions such as:

• low-flow plumbing fixtures to limit consumption;

• rainwater reuse systems for non-drinking uses (lawn watering, toilet flushing).

4. Energy and atmosphere

Energy efficiency is a central pillar of LEED certification. Certified buildings consume significantly less energy than those built to current industry standards.

“The Abipa building is a perfect example of how strategic choices can improve a project’s energy efficiency,” says Patrick Côté. By implementing innovative solutions such as heat wheels, solar pre-heating, reinforced insulation and LED lighting, the building reduced annual energy costs by $50,276, with a return on investment in just over years.

5. Materials and resources

This criterion seeks to limit the environmental impact of the manufacturing, use and end-of-life management of the materials used in a construction project. It promotes a responsible approach by favouring high-performance, sustainable and environmentally friendly materials, while ensuring occupant health.

6. Indoor environmental quality

This criterion highlights the importance of designing interior spaces that combine health, comfort and performance with a direct impact on occupant wellness and productivity. Indeed, a carefully designed work environment that takes into account the needs of its users not only creates a space that is conducive to their satisfaction and health, but also contributes to the success of the organization as a whole.

7. Regional priority

The regional priority criterion highlights the importance of adapting building design to the specific environmental challenges of their particular location. It rewards projects that meet local needs in a sustainable and targeted way, creating solutions that are in harmony with the immediate surroundings. The regional priorities are defined by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) based on the location of the project.

Patrick Côté explains that the actions to be implemented are guided by these regional priorities as defined by the USGBC: “Common concerns that MONTONI focuses on in its projects include reducing heat islands in urban centres, improving energy efficiency in very hot or very cold zones and managing water in regions where access is limited.

8. Innovation

The innovation criterion is an essential pillar of LEED certification, complementing the seven other main criteria. It promotes projects that adopt bold approaches or that significantly raise sustainability standards. Through unique and creative solutions, innovation maximizes the positive environmental impacts of buildings, while inspiring new practices for the future.

Distribution of certification credits

The LEED rating system is based on a points structure with a total of 110 credits available, distributed across a number of environmental and social priorities. Each credit corresponds to a sustainability strategy implemented in a building project, reflecting its positive impact on the environment, occupant health and community quality of life.

Credit distribution:

• 35% relate to climate change

• 20% directly impact human health

• 15% impact water

• 10% relate to the green economy

• 5% impact community resources

Adapting LEED strategies to each project

Patrick Côté underlines the importance of adapting LEED strategies to each project’s specific characteristics: “The type of building influences the achievable LEED credits. For instance, an office tower is often better suited to obtaining points related to human health, through such initiatives as improved air quality or access to natural light. A factory, on the other hand, is more likely to be looking at strategies aimed at reducing its energy impact.”

This flexible approach enables each project to focus on the most relevant credits in order to achieve the desired level of certification.

LEED’s four certification levels

The LEED program provides a structured framework for the design, construction and management of high-performance buildings of all types. Each green strategy adopted earns points, which are added up to achieve one of four certification levels: Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum.

Find out more about the levels:

1. LEED Certified: 40-49 points earned

The Certified level is the entry point to LEED certification. It recognizes projects that incorporate basic sustainable practices, and is often a first step for organizations wishing to adopt green standards in their construction initiatives.

Tornatech: A LEED Certified building by MONTONI 

Patrick Côté says Tornatech’s head office, a MONTONI project, is a perfect example of the LEED Certified level: “Located in a strategically important district of Laval, its modern architecture and rhythmic window design make it an attractive place to work.”

This project illustrates how basic sustainable practices can generate measurable results while laying the foundations for responsible resource management.

2. LEED Silver: 50-59 points earned

The Silver level represents a higher step in the LEED certification process. It recognizes projects that go beyond the minimum sustainability requirements by making significant efforts in several key categories. LEED Silver-certified real estate projects incorporate additional eco-friendly strategies such as more efficient energy systems, materials with a smaller carbon footprint and better management of carbon emissions.

The ELOPAK industrial project: a LEED Silver building by MONTONI

Patrick Côté says the ELOPAK industrial project illustrates well the achievement of LEED Silver status: “This project incorporates enhanced green strategies to reduce its ecological footprint and create a healthy and safe workspace for employees. These efforts have resulted in an annual saving of 745,000 litres of water, diverted 200 tons of construction waste from landfill, and enabled the use of 37% recycled materials and nearly 60% local materials.”

This building shows how sustainable strategies can be harmoniously integrated into industrial environments while meeting environmental performance objectives.

3. LEED Gold: 60-79 points earned

Gold certification reflects an advanced level of commitment to sustainability, and is distinguished by a balance between environmental performance, occupant wellness and cost-effectiveness. Achieving this level requires the implementation of ambitious sustainable strategies that are consistent with the nature of the building being constructed. This is the level sought after by companies wishing to position themselves as sustainability leaders.

The Ericsson Campus: a LEED Gold building by MONTONI

“The LEED Gold-certified Ericsson Campus demonstrates a sustainable approach that combines energy efficiency with its occupants’ wellness. It is designed to inspire, and blends seamlessly with its natural surroundings thanks to its green spaces, abundant natural light and proximity to cycling and walking paths. A lush green courtyard at the heart of the site provides an inviting place to relax, whether for a coffee break or a short stroll. This setting is the epitome of wellness in the workplace, a key element of LEED Gold-certified projects.”

— Patrick Côté, Director, Sustainable Development, MONTONI

4. LEED Platinum: 80 points or more earned

Platinum certification is the highest distinction in the LEED system. It represents excellence in sustainability and innovation in building design, construction and operation. This certification is awarded to building projects that redefine sustainability standards.

Espace Montmorency: a LEED Platinum building by MONTONI

“The Espace Montmorency project by MONTONI is targeting Platinum status for its office towers. Located in the heart of Laval, it is in a lively, well-served neighbourhood and features cycling infrastructure, charging stations and convenient access to public transit. The project also features innovative water management, reducing water consumption by 73% through rainwater recovery. Its energy efficiency has resulted in a significant 91% reduction in GHG emissions for the entire complex. It is an inspiring example of sustainable development, by virtue of its use of local and sustainable materials, its healthy interior spaces (quality air, natural light, thermal comfort) and the incorporation of innovations adapted to local needs.”

— Patrick Côté, Director, Sustainable Development, MONTONI

How to become LEED certified in Canada

At MONTONI, we have developed a recognized expertise in obtaining LEED certification. Our teams of expert consultants and experienced project managers have refined every step of the process, turning ambitious goals into concrete achievements.

Here are the main steps we follow to ensure the success of each project:

1. Determining the project objectives

“The first step is to assess the building’s environmental potential and define the sustainability priorities with the specialist LEED certification consultants,” Patrick Côté explains. This involves factoring in the type of building, its uses and the initial budget in order to establish a clear roadmap.

It is essential right from the start to choose the level of certification sought (Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum). This strategic choice guides all subsequent decisions, from design to implementation, and enables efforts to be coordinated to maximize the relevant credits. A well-defined vision at this stage guarantees optimal long-term results and efficient use of resources.

2. Assembling a dedicated team

A project manager is assigned to coordinate efforts, supported by the specialist sustainability advisors. These experts work closely with the architects, engineers and consultants from the earliest design stages.

3. Planning and integrating LEED strategies

The project team carries out an in-depth analysis to select the most appropriate LEED strategies for achieving the desired level of certification. Every aspect of the project is discussed—and sometimes reinvented—to meet the criteria while taking into account the specific site constraints.

This strategic phase is essential for shaping the project and ensuring that every decision is aligned with its environmental, social and economic objectives.

4. Registering the project with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

Once the LEED strategies have been defined, the project is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) via LEED Online. This registration, which formalizes the commitment to certification, requires information about the building (type, location, sustainability objectives) and payment of a registration fee proportional to the scale of the project.

5. Documentation and credentialing by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI)

The project manager and LEED consultants document each sustainability strategy (energy analyses, materials reports, green development plans) and submit this evidence via the LEED Online platform. The GBCI then examines the credits to validate their compliance, a process that Patrick Côté says can take six to eight months.

6. Certification and recognition

Once the credits have been confirmed, the project receives its level of certification: Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum. An official plaque is awarded, attesting to the sustainability initiatives undertaken.

7. Monitoring and maintenance

“After certification, our team develops a monitoring plan to ensure that the building maintains its performance. This includes regular audits, the use of automated management tools to track consumption and air quality, and awareness-raising campaigns to encourage occupants to adopt sustainable behaviours.”

— Patrick Côté, Director, Sustainable Development, MONTONI

The limits of LEED certification

Although LEED certification is a major asset for promoting sustainability, it also poses specific challenges that are important to understand in order to maximize its impact. Taking a long-term view is the key to overcoming these obstacles and transforming constraints into sustainable strategic opportunities, says Patrick Côté.

Considerable cost

The high cost of LEED certification is often a limiting factor. Meeting sustainability requirements requires significant investment, divided into three main categories:

• Materials and technologies: LEED projects require the use of sustainable, local or recycled materials and the use of advanced energy-efficient technologies, which are generally more expensive than standard options;

• Certification costs: obtaining certification involves direct costs associated with registration, document submission and audits required to demonstrate compliance with LEED criteria;

• Specialist expertise: planning and implementing a LEED-certified project requires specialist sustainability consultants, engineers and architects, which increases design and management costs.

However, Patrick Côté explains that the benefits of LEED buildings more than compensate for the initial investment: “LEED buildings show reduced operating costs, higher property value and greater employee productivity.”

These advantages make sustainable construction a strategic and profitable long-term choice.

Maintenance and monitoring

LEED certification entails rigorous maintenance and monitoring requirements in order to maintain the building’s performance, which can be a limiting factor. Continuous monitoring of energy and water consumption, expert maintenance of advanced equipment, and compliance with evolving environmental standards all add to management cost and complexity. In addition, the success of the strategies often relies on the occupants’ commitment to adopting sustainable behaviours.

These efforts are necessary to ensure optimum performance, but they can be a long-term challenge for managers and owners.

MONTONI, your sustainability partner

At MONTONI, LEED certification is much more than a standard: it reflects our vision of a sustainable future. We were among the very first to believe in the need to transform the real estate industry by adopting practices that are respectful of the environment and communities. When sustainability was still a fledgling idea, we chose to make it central to our approach, convinced that it was the key to making a lasting positive impact.

With more than 5 million square feet of LEED-certified buildings and 300,000 square feet of Zero-Carbon Building (ZCB) construction, the group aims to add nearly 11.2 million additional square feet of LEED and ZBC certification to its project portfolio.

Our commitment is clear: to leave a real estate heritage that will make future generations proud. 

Explore our available spaces and discover how we can turn your ambitions into a sustainable reality.