Green stores: an analysis of LEED-Certified fashion stores

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to provide insight into green retail spaces for fashion brands. Particularly, in this study, we analyzed Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)–certified retail stores of fashion brands. The LEED program, which is one of the most widely used green building certification programs in the world, is administered by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). Using publicly available data from the USGBC, we analyzed patterns and characteristics of fashion stores that achieved LEED certification under the LEED 2009 for Retail: Commercial Interiors rating system (CI). A total of 199 fashion stores that completed their LEED certification were used for the data analysis. A credit achievement pattern of each fashion store project was analyzed in six LEED CI assessment categories. A pattern emerged from the data analysis suggesting that for fashion stores, aesthetic considerations more often than not trump sustainability concerns. This has been highlighted in the low achievement in credit categories where surface materials are most visible or in categories where achievement would greatly alter space design.