A value creation tool in the sustainable building field: the LEED(R) certification.

This paper seeks to outline the key aspects of sustainability in the built environment by focusing attention on the LEED(R) certification system as a "universal" instrument to support the implementation, management and evaluation of sustainable buildings. The first part of the paper describes the rapid spread of the LEED certification in recent years as a direct consequence of the capacity of this instrument rating to adapt to specific types of buildings as well as to different climatic conditions and morphological features of the sites. On the other hand the second part proceeds to the presentation and analysis of the economic and financial aspects of sustainable buildings with reference both to evaluation methodologies that are applicable as well as to information that is available from the documentation. Starting from international experiences in the field of sustainability, it then proceeds to describe the situation in Italy, highlighting the market perceptions and the opportunities for future development.