Brazil Has 240 Sustainable Developments; More Than Half Are in São Paulo

In a conversation with Sandrino Beltrane, Head of Business Development - Brazil at Green Business Certification (GBC), the representative of LEED in Brazil, he explains that certification is a critical part of demonstrating progress toward corporate sustainability goals. It increases asset value and provides significant operational cost savings.

"Green buildings are a global solution for cities, communities, and neighborhoods. They can reduce carbon emissions, energy consumption, and waste, conserve water, prioritize safer materials, and reduce our exposure to toxins," says Beltrane.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the world’s most widely used green building rating system, tested by the USGBC in 1998, with the first certified projects in 2000. Today, there are more than 197,000 LEED-certified projects worldwide. Data shared by Beltrane shows that Brazil ranks fifth among the countries issuing the most LEED certifications.

According to the USGBC’s list, Brazil is surpassed by Peru and is in fifth place with 2,605,269.39 m². Mexico ranks 10th. Still, Sandrino emphasizes that both Brazil and Mexico are two of the most significant markets in the region.

• Read: Why Mexico Surpasses Asia, Europe, and LATAM as a Sustainable Supply Chain Hub for the U.S.

Outside of the Americas, China holds the top position. The US remains the largest market globally for LEED, with more than 556 million square feet certified in 2023.

"We will have a new version of the certification, LEED v5. We aim to meet the market demand for greater responsibility and to present solutions to align the built environment with critical imperatives, including decarbonization, conservation and restoration of ecosystems, equity, health, and resilience," emphasizes Beltrane.

• More: Executives Discuss Energy Efficiency Trends in Industrial Properties

Countries without LEED certification do not necessarily lack sustainability certification. One example is EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies), a green building certification process launched in 2015 by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. In 2022, the company reported that Colombia had the highest number of EDGE-certified buildings, with 118 properties. Other countries with significant numbers included Vietnam, Indonesia, and Mexico. That year, Brazil had about 17 EDGE-certified properties, showing a significant increase in demand. By 2023, Brazil had accumulated around 120 certifications.

Brookfield Properties has earned sustainability certifications for its office portfolio. However, in recent weeks, the company achieved its first-ever DGE seal for two multifamily developments.

The company states that during the development of these projects, measures were implemented to reduce energy, water, and carbon consumption. Key features include the use of solar energy, low-flow faucets and showers, a reduction in the amount of cement and steel used in slabs, and integrated window shading systems.

Brookfield has set a target to achieve NetZero across its entire portfolio by 2050. The properties that received the seal are Luggo Rebouças in Curitiba, with 6,338.88 m², and Luggo Jardim Carvalho in Porto Alegre, with 3,906.04 m².

• Read: Net Zero in Commercial Real Estate: Discover the Sustainable Movement Impacting the Real Estate Market