LEED Volume Certification for Portfolios
What is LEED Volume?
The LEED Volume program, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) streamlines the certification process for companies developing multiple similar buildings.
Rather than certifying projects one by one, organizations can certify a prototype design once and apply that framework portfolio-wide, saving time, cost, and effort across future projects.
LEED Volume Program is ideal for industrial buildings.
Benefits of LEED Volume vs. One-Off Certification
✓ Saves Time
LEED Volume creates consistency across all projects, minimizing internal coordination and standardizing documentation. Projects within the Volume program also receive priority review, accelerating certification and reducing turnaround times.
✓ 30-50% Cost Savings
GAIA’s deep experience managing LEED Volume portfolios allows clients to streamline reviews, fast-tracking the timeline and associated fees.
✓ Consistent Standards Across Portfolio
The LEED Volume process helps companies develop or refine sustainability specifications, ensuring every project meets consistent performance and design standards.
GAIA customizes your LEED prototype to align with your business goals using pre-approved credits, guaranteeing the same certification level for all future projects.
✓ Strengthens ESG and Corporate Responsibility
By committing to a LEED Volume program, companies demonstrate measurable progress toward ESG goals and operational efficiency targets.
Portfolio-wide certification simplifies reporting for investors and stakeholders while reinforcing a company’s commitment to responsible development.
The 3-Step LEED Volume Process
1. Get started: Apply, pay the USGBC fee, and provide training.
2. Create your prototype: LEED Volume workshop, develop your prototype¹, submit for review.
3. Certify projects: We submit your LEED projects to be reviewed and certified.
¹ What is the LEED Volume Prototype?
Participants in LEED volume complete pre-certification of a Prototype —which is a conceptual building or framework that can then be applied across a group of projects that have major elements in common. They can pursue a common set of credits in a single LEED rating system.
Why Work With GAIA?
As a long-time LEED consultant and one of the top firms to manage portfolios through LEED Volume, GAIA helps developers and owners scale their sustainability goals efficiently.
Our approach integrates energy modeling, life cycle assessment, commissioning, and specification development — ensuring your certification process supports both compliance and long-term performance objectives.
Client Testimonials:
“They [GAIA] effectively, with their creative approach, saved us over a million dollars.
While at CapRock Partners, I had the opportunity to lead the implementation on our new development projects becoming LEED Certified. After meeting with various groups, it was an easy decision to bring GAIA on to help with this initiative. Their teams did not just work on sustainability during the day, they are living it out in their everyday lives. But it was their ability to take charge and quickly drive the process with USGBC to get us accepted into the LEED Volume program and seamlessly work with multiple development managers, GC's, subs and architects to help us get some of the largest industrial projects under development in the program.
— Nicholas Ilagan, former Senior Vice President of Asset Management at CapRock Partners
“GAIA’s advice and assistance have been instrumental in helping Rexford achieve our sustainability and ESG goals. They quickly set up our LEED Volume program and we have benefited from their deep knowledge of GHG accounting and management, including asset decarbonization and solar energy strategies.”
— Kirrin Winning, Senior Director, ESG at Rexford Industrial
“Lincoln, a global full-service real estate firm, tapped into GAIA's expertise in energy optimization and carbon management to achieve LEED Gold Certification for Park303, a multi-phased industrial development in Arizona.
GAIA’s partnership exceeded our expectations and led us to register with the USGBC’s LEED Volume program.
Their team seamlessly integrated with our project teams, prioritizing and implementing project-specific sustainability goals for us to achieve. We are excited to continue our journey of pushing the boundaries of sustainable development in collaboration with GAIA."
— Lindsey Pierson, Sustainability Strategist at Lincoln
Learn from industrial developers why they use LEED Volume for their portfolios. The live panel featured Rexford Industrial, Hillwood, and DIV Industrial.
LEED Volume Certification from the Industrial Developer Point of View
Read on usgbc.org →
“We have been able to help developers save 35% to 50% in LEED-associated costs while creating processes and specifications to earn certification in a shorter time," McEvoy said. "Due to our hands-on approach, setting up LEED Volume takes six to 10 months as opposed to competitors who offer a yearlong timeline.”
Learn How LEED Volume Can Drive Value
Schedule a consultation: hello@gaiadevelopment.com
