LEED certified

Contributed by The Ashkin Group

Since the program began in 1998, there have been over 70,000 LEED-certified buildings in the United States, a testament to its widespread influence.

Chances are, we've all walked into a facility and seen a sign or inscription indicating the facility we are entering is “LEED-certified.”

LEED, developed by the U.S. Green Building Program, stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Today, it is the world's most widely used green building rating system.

However, Steve Ashkin, President and CEO of The Ashkin Group, one of the leading advocates for Green Cleaning and sustainability in the professional cleaning and building industries, is curious about what seeing that inscription on a building – this it is LEED-certified — means to you.

To find out, The Ashkin Group conducted a week-long survey on LinkedIn. Those participating were asked the following:

What's the first thought that comes into your mind when walking into a building that says it has been LEED-certified?

The following were the responses:

• More than 64 percent responded that it indicates a facility's "commitment to sustainability."

• Twenty-two percent indicated that walking into a LEED-certified property means "it uses less water and energy" than comparable buildings.

• Thirteen percent of the respondents answered that when they walk into a LEED-certified facility, it means the owners and managers have taken steps to "protect occupant health."

Of note, according to LinkedIn, those who viewed or participated in the survey were from:

• Larger companies with 10,000 employees or more

• Held C-level positions such as President, CEO, or company owner.

• Were from the "facility services," "chemical manufacturing," and product "manufacturing" industries.

"A takeaway I have from the survey is that whatever the first thought people have when walking into a LEED-certified building, it appears we all agree that without question, being LEED-certified is a 'stamp of approval,'" says Ashkin. "However, for me, what comes to my mind first when I see that inscription is that the facility is designed and operated to protect human health. To me, that is first and foremost."