Does LEED Certification Save Energy? Evidence from Federal Buildings

Karen Clay, Edson Severnini and Xiaochen Sun ()
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Xiaochen Sun: Carnegie Mellon University

No 14211, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: In the absence of first-best climate policy, energy efficiency has figured prominently among strategies to reduce carbon emissions. One of the most sought-after green certification in the building sector is the internationally recognized Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED). This paper examines the effects of LEED certification on energy efficiency in federally owned buildings. Using propensity score matching and difference in differences models, we find no effect of LEED certification on average energy consumption. This reflects the fact that energy use is one of a number of attributes that receives scores under the LEED program. Buildings with above average energy scores have greater energy efficiency post-certification. Some other attributes, notably higher water scores, decrease energy efficiency post-certification. Trade-offs across LEED attributes account for the absence of energy savings on average. If energy efficiency is the primary policy goal, LEED certification may not be the most effective means to reach that goal.

Keywords: energy efficiency; LEED certification; energy savings; federal buildings; trade-off across LEED attributes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O31 Q41 Q48 Q52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 49 pages
Date: 2021-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene, nep-env, nep-reg and nep-res
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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