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Fact or Fake: Are green buildings only for large companies?
- Sustainability practices are often associated with large corporations that have bigger budgets, in contrast to small businesses that have fewer resources.
By: SiiLA News
01/22/2026 Sustainability has established itself as one of the major trends of the moment. With environmental issues increasingly present in public debate, consumers have become more discerning not only about the products they consume, but also about the stance and image of the companies behind them.
In real estate, this movement is reflected in the growing demand for corporate buildings that incorporate sustainable practices, allowing companies’ discourse to be aligned with their day-to-day operations. Still, the idea persists that only large corporations are able to keep up with this transformation.
This stigma stems from the understanding that large companies, with more robust budgets, have greater capacity to invest in sustainable solutions, while small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) would prioritize more immediate demands related to business survival. But does this logic still make sense?
Real market context
According to Felipe Faria, CEO of the Green Building Council Brasil (GBC Brasil), the presence of SMEs in sustainable buildings is already a reality in the country. Today, Brazil has more than 1,400 developments certified by the organization, mostly under the international LEED protocol. “The vast majority of certified developments are A+ corporate buildings; however, there are certified commercial units that predominantly serve SMEs,” he states.
In addition, there is a growing movement of smaller companies choosing to certify their own administrative headquarters or only the space they occupy within a building, through LEED ID+C (Interior Design and Construction), aimed at interior design and renovation projects.
In addition, there is a growing movement of smaller companies choosing to certify their own administrative headquarters or only the space they occupy within a building, through LEED ID+C (Interior Design and Construction), aimed at interior design and renovation projects.
Where does the myth come from?
For Faria, this perception arises from an incomplete understanding of sustainability. “The idea that it is very expensive comes from a lack of development of the economic pillar and from limited understanding that investments in engineering and architecture in the early stages can lead to top-level international certification without additional construction costs.”
A GBC Brasil survey reinforces this distortion: 100% of developers that do not adopt certifications believe there are high additional costs, while 71.5% of those that use the protocols say there was no increase or that it was acceptable.
A GBC Brasil survey reinforces this distortion: 100% of developers that do not adopt certifications believe there are high additional costs, while 71.5% of those that use the protocols say there was no increase or that it was acceptable.
Certifications
A central point of the debate is whether sustainability necessarily requires formal certification to generate value.
In the view of David Douek, CEO of OTEC, sustainability can exist even without a formal label. “Correct design decisions, efficient systems, good construction quality, commissioning, and qualified building management are already capable of generating economic and functional value,” he says. However, he acknowledges that certification plays a strategic role: “It does not create efficiency where none exists, but it enhances, proves, and communicates existing efficiency, reducing information asymmetries and strengthening real estate liquidity.”
In the view of David Douek, CEO of OTEC, sustainability can exist even without a formal label. “Correct design decisions, efficient systems, good construction quality, commissioning, and qualified building management are already capable of generating economic and functional value,” he says. However, he acknowledges that certification plays a strategic role: “It does not create efficiency where none exists, but it enhances, proves, and communicates existing efficiency, reducing information asymmetries and strengthening real estate liquidity.”
Democratization of ESG
Another relevant point is that sustainability is not an all-or-nothing concept. According to Felipe, certifications work with four levels: certified (basic), silver, gold, and platinum, all of which require minimum efficiency prerequisites. David reinforces this idea: “Sustainability is a spectrum. A building does not need to reach the highest level to be efficient, comfortable, and economical. Intermediate solutions already deliver a large portion of the benefits with more controlled investments.”
For SMEs, the most immediate benefit is usually financial. “Reducing energy and water consumption leads to more predictable and often lower monthly costs,” says David. Next come institutional gains, such as better thermal, visual, and acoustic comfort, which directly impact productivity, well-being, and talent retention. In the medium and long term, strategic gains emerge. “Being in a sustainable building prepares the company for increasing demands from clients, financing institutions, and environmental regulations,” he concludes.
In this context, the growing presence of SMEs in sustainable buildings helps democratize ESG in the real estate market. For David, when access to efficient buildings is no longer exclusive to large corporations, ESG comes to be seen as a basic attribute of asset quality: lower operating costs, better comfort, and lower regulatory risk.
For SMEs, the most immediate benefit is usually financial. “Reducing energy and water consumption leads to more predictable and often lower monthly costs,” says David. Next come institutional gains, such as better thermal, visual, and acoustic comfort, which directly impact productivity, well-being, and talent retention. In the medium and long term, strategic gains emerge. “Being in a sustainable building prepares the company for increasing demands from clients, financing institutions, and environmental regulations,” he concludes.
In this context, the growing presence of SMEs in sustainable buildings helps democratize ESG in the real estate market. For David, when access to efficient buildings is no longer exclusive to large corporations, ESG comes to be seen as a basic attribute of asset quality: lower operating costs, better comfort, and lower regulatory risk.
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