In a world where the fight against climate change has become a necessity, sustainability in the workplace is no longer an option. Therefore, the demand for Breeam and Leed certifications has increased in recent months, especially in cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, where 14% of office properties already have one of these two certifications. But what are Breeam and LEED certifications?
Breeam is the world’s leading sustainable building certificate, adapted to Spanish regulations, language, and construction practices since 2010.
The LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification is developed to accredit the use of different strategies that certify that buildings are sustainable and environmentally friendly.
In Madrid, there are already more than 270 work buildings with energy certification, mainly located in the financial district and the periphery. According to the Markeatbeat Oficinas report, prepared by Cushman&Wakefield, 37% of the square meters of Madrid’s office park already have some sustainability seal.
Thanks to the renovations carried out in the financial district during the last two years, these types of certifications have increased, being granted to 40% of the buildings. Currently, the area with the most sustainable properties is the peripheral area of Madrid, where 63% of its offices have energy quality seals.
A positive sign is the increase in demand for eco-buildings with energy efficiency measures implemented to reduce consumption and CO2 emissions. Now any construction project knows that sustainability must be its main pillar, in fact, 75% of the 148,600 square meters of new office space in Madrid in 2017 had a Leed or Breeam certification. Experts predict that 98% of office building deliveries made between this year and 2019 will carry an energy seal.
In Barcelona, 22@ is being the main support of the sustainable office market. This technology district is increasing the percentage of assets that have high levels of energy certification, especially in the new constructions that have been carried out in the last year and those that are currently underway.
The Catalan capital accumulated more than 50,000 square meters of offices with environmental certificates in the last two years. In addition, another 42,000 square meters already contracted, both in pre-rental and turnkey format, are waiting for their projects to receive a sustainability seal.
Certificates such as Leed, in addition to 22@, are increasing their presence in the central area of the Catalan capital, on Paseo de Gracia and Diagonal. The high promotional activity in 22@ also augurs an increase in the percentage of offices that take advantage of natural and renewable energy to improve the day-to-day work of their tenants.