The short answer is ‘no.’ Solar power by itself is not enough to satisfy LEED energy standards for a commercial property, but the technology is a great PR move, as well as an energy-saving one.

Adding solar panels to the rooftop, covered parking or unused landscape of a commercial property can net a property owner:

  • Tax credits and financial incentives, from local, state and Federal sources
  • Increased property resale value
  • Reduced operating costs
  • Leverage against rising energy costs

 

By using solar energy, a property owner can supply lighting, heat, hot water and other amenities to the building, at reduced costs. When coupled with other green-technology, from gray water recycling, water-free facilities, recycled flooring/building materials, among others, solar power can be truly beneficial to a property’s operation.

The US Green Building Council, the organization that sets the LEED standards, requires more than any one of these techniques before a building can become LEED-certified. Specifically, they measure: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environment quality and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

The initial expense to upgrade a property to LEED standards may seem undesirable, but the lifetime benefits for the property, both through cost savings and positive public perception, can be astounding.