The environmental certificate guides the consideration of energy efficiency and environmental impacts in construction

Environmental certification is always sought for YIT’s self-developed business premises projects

There are many different environmental certifications in use around the world. These include, for example, LEED, BREEAM, Miljöbyggnad, RTS, the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, DGNB, HQE, Green Globes, etc., of which LEED and BREEAM are the best-known internationally. The most frequently used certification is currently LEED, for which reason YIT primarily favours it. However, we are also prepared to apply for any other certification for our own projects that is more suitable for our customers or better known. 

What good is a certificate for?

Environmental certification systems have been established as tools for measuring and verifying the environmental performance of buildings. In addition, they facilitate the mutual comparison of properties and ensure that, for example, energy efficiency, use of materials and environmental impacts have been taken into account. The external evaluation, which is an essential part of the certification, ensures that the building is designed and built, and that it eventually also functions, appropriately.

The awarded environmental certification always sends a strong message of the building owner's investments in energy efficiency and environmental impact management. Companies and organisations around the world use certifications to improve the efficiency of their buildings, to save costs and to preserve the limited resources of the Earth. Environmental certification is also a trusted way to verify the sustainability of the asset being sold and to manage risks in connection with property transactions.

What is our objective?

We always apply for the highest LEED Platinum level certification for our construction projects if feasible in view of the location of the project and unless our customer has other preferences.

Certifications used by YIT:

	LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a widely used a classification system for assessing the environmental performance of buildings. LEED provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving buildings that take into account energy efficiency, materials and environmental impacts. Based on the fulfilled criteria, the certified buildings are classified into four different categories: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinium. The LEED classification system is used in more than 130 countries.
	BREEAM is a sustainability assessment method for masterplanning projects, infrastructure and buildings. It recognises and reflects the value in higher performing assets across the built environment lifecycle through third-party certification of the assessment of an asset’s environmental, social and economic sustainability performance.
	THE NORDIC SWAN ECOLABEL reports on the fulfillment of the environmental criteria of the product and service of a product and service – not forgetting product safety and quality.
	The EKOenergia label is an environmental label for energy maintained by the Finnish Nature Conservation Association. It is the only energy ecolabel in Finland and operates worldwide.
	YL-CLASSIFICATION is Rakennustieto's environmental classification, which has been developed for Finnish conditions and supports the environmentally responsible design, construction and maintenance of buildings throughout their entire life cycle. The YL-classification criteria summarize what the Finnish construction and real estate industry considers a building that takes into account energy efficiency and life-cycle impacts.
	CEEQUAL is an international evidence-based sustainability assessment, classification and reward system for civil engineering, infrastructure, landscaping and public space works.

Read more about YIT's sustainability principles