LEED-CIv4 commercial interiors: United States (2014-2019)

Abstract

This paper analyzes Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Interior Design and Construction: Commercial Interior (LEED-CIv4) projects, thereby presenting the first empirical evidence of these projects. The aim of the study was to reveal trends in Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum LEED-CIv4 US projects, certified in 2014-2019. The effect size between possible and achieved points in categories and credits was measured using Cliff's δ. The following conclusions were drawn: (i) the Integrative Process, Innovation, and Regional Priority categories showed high achievements only in Platinum projects, so it is necessary to reconsider these categories toward increasing their acceptance at all certification levels; (ii) the Location and Transportation and Indoor Environmental Quality categories were quite well-designed because most credits in these categories showed varying levels of achievement (low/medium/high/very high) at all four certification levels; and (iii) the Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, and Material and Resources categories were badly designed because most credits there similarly showed low achievements at all four certification levels, thus needing more attention toward their improvement in the next LEED-CI version.