LEED applicability in bank branches: A study of the World's first two platinum cases

Abstract

Environmental, social, and governance frameworks promote climate awareness, driving firms to balance energy-saving with profit. Although green building projects are noteworthy, enhancing the energy efficiency of existing buildings is crucial. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) V4.1 Operations and Maintenance (O + M): Existing Buildings (EB) rating system is favored; however, there is a lack of platinum-level cases and research regarding its applicability within commercial bank branches. This study aims to test the applicability of the rating system in commercial bank branches to achieve platinum-level certification. Two bank branches were selected to ensure reproducible findings. The study elucidates the applicability of the rating system in commercial bank branches; the results for certification levels, certification cost, and certification time all exceeded expectations. These findings were demonstrated through the success cases of E.SUN Commercial Bank's Linyuan and Nanzi branches, which became the world's first two to achieve platinum-level certification. This study summarizes a structured approach, enabling both branches to keep the certification costs under 1.42 % of the total construction cost, reduce the certification application time by 21 %, and attain platinum-level certification. The structured approach and insights derived from the application process, as illustrated in this study, provide a replicable and reproducible model for other commercial bank branches worldwide.