Sustainable building certifications

LEED certification

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a globally recognised certification system developed in the United States to assess the environmental performance and sustainability of buildings.

LEED certification focuses on energy efficiency, site selection and water use. It covers the following categories:

Integrative process (IP)
Location and transportation (LT)
Sustainable sites (SS)
Water efficiency (WE)
Energy and atmosphere (EA)
Materials and resources (MR)
Indoor environmental quality (IEQ)
Innovation (IN)
Regional priority (RP)

Projects are awarded one of four levels based on total points achieved:

Certified
Silver
Gold
Platinum

LEED highlights the overall responsibility of sustainable design and construction, encouraging innovation throughout a building’s lifecycle. It is one of the most widely recognised environmental certification systems in the world, particularly well known among international property investors.

In property transactions, an environmental certificate serves as reliable proof of a building’s sustainability and risk management standards.

Learn more about LEED certification categories and scoring.

BREEAM certification

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is one of the oldest and most widely used sustainability assessment systems in Europe, originally developed in the United Kingdom.

BREEAM evaluates buildings across a wide range of categories, including energy, water, transport, materials, waste, ecology, management and user wellbeing.

Key assessment areas include:

Energy efficiency
Waste management
Water use
Durability and usability of structures
Health and wellbeing of occupants

The five BREEAM rating levels are:

Pass
Good
Very Good
Excellent
Outstanding

Certification levels are awarded based on a detailed scoring system, with the highest level representing outstanding sustainability performance across all categories.

Read more about BREEAM certification.

Finland’s environmental classification system (Rakennustieto YL)

Finland’s national Rakennustieto Environmental Classification (YL) is a practical and cost-efficient tool that guides sustainable construction and building maintenance in Finnish conditions. It helps developers and property owners build environmentally responsible projects that save water and energy, reduce carbon emissions and generate long-term financial benefits. By improving indoor air quality and comfort, the system also enhances user wellbeing and workplace satisfaction.

Developed specifically for Finnish regulations, climate and user expectations, the Rakennustieto system evaluates:

Energy consumption and carbon footprint
Indoor air quality
Material responsibility
Technical performance of buildings

Its main goal is to ensure that construction projects promote sustainability both today and in the future.

SRV applies for environmental certification for most of its residential projects and meets its criteria in multiple ways:

Energy consumption and carbon footprint: Energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and smart energy use are key priorities, aligned with both LEED and Rakennustieto standards.
Resource management: Sorting and recycling construction waste is a core part of every project, addressing key BREEAM priorities.
Indoor air quality: Healthy indoor conditions are considered from the design phase onwards, supported by responsible material choices that ensure long-term wellbeing and building performance.

SRV – leading the way in sustainable construction

SRV is a forerunner in sustainable construction. At the core of the company’s strategy is lifecycle-wise thinking – a holistic approach to planning and delivering construction projects throughout their entire lifecycle, promoting the wellbeing of both people and the environment. This approach is built on continuous development, minimising environmental impacts, resource efficiency and uncompromising quality.

SRV meets the requirements of the LEED and BREEAM certifications in many ways:

Energy and environment: We prioritise energy-efficient design, renewable energy sources and smart energy use across our projects, reducing carbon footprints and supporting both LEED and BREEAM certification goals. Energy efficiency and reducing carbon footprints are integral to our strategy of lifecycle wisdom.
Resource management and circular economy: Sorting and recycling construction waste is standard practice. We favour durable, responsibly sourced materials with a high recycled content.
Indoor air quality: The healthy indoor environments emphasised in LEED certification are ensured through the use of low-emission materials and early-stage design attention.
Strategic locations: We develop buildings in accessible areas with good transport links, services and nearby nature – key factors in LEED evaluations.
Biodiversity and natural water management: Our projects integrate nature-conscious design and sustainable stormwater solutions.

Environmental certifications are essential tools for measuring, improving and verifying the sustainability of construction projects. LEED and BREEAM provide a clearly defined framework for sustainable building practices. SRV’s lifecycle-wise strategy, energy-efficient solutions and strong commitment to sustainable development demonstrate how these principles are embedded in our everyday operations.

Explore our reference projects