LEED signage (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a way to showcase how green your building is.
LEED recognition plaques show a building is LEED-certified. They help you showcase your commitment to sustainability with pride—and, in turn, attract new customers who share those same values.
SpeedPro helps businesses display their LEED certification with branded signs and plaques.
Why Do Businesses Want To Showcase LEED Certification?
A LEED certificate itself isn’t just a piece of paper—it’s an indicator that a building has been designed to use less energy, reduce pollution and save money for its owners. It’s a way for structures to be awarded for using materials, design elements and systems that have been proven to impact the environment positively.
Beyond LEED’s green credentials, there are many reasons why businesses want to showcase their LEED certification, such as:
Commitment to sustainability
LEED certification showcases your commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. Potential customers are more likely to buy from companies that are concerned with more than just profit and care about their community and the environment.
Marketing power
Taking advantage of LEED’s marketing power is a valuable way to attract like-minded customers who care about the environment and are looking for brands that share their values.
Build relationships
LEED certification shows that a business cares about the health and safety of its employees and community members by keeping them safe from toxic materials. It shows that you’re committed to conducting business ethically and responsibly and can promote good relationships with local contractors.
What is LEED signage?
LEED (or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an internationally recognized certification system. It’s a rating system from the U.S. Green Building Council that measures how sustainable a building is and how much it contributes to the environment.
The system has four tiers: certified, silver, gold and platinum—with each level becoming progressively more sustainable than the last.
LEED signage is a way for businesses to tell the world about their commitment to sustainable design. The LEED plaque shows that your building is not just environmentally friendly but also environmentally conscious.
LEED requirements are divided into four categories:
- Sustainable sites (examples include purchasing land with minimal environmental impact and choosing energy-efficient materials for landscaping)
- Water efficiency (examples include using water-saving technologies and collecting rainwater)
- Energy & atmosphere (examples include using recycled materials and designing buildings that use natural light)
- Materials & resources (examples include using locally sourced materials whenever possible and buying products made from recycled or recyclable materials)
Leed signage can come in many forms, from plaques with the green LEED certification symbol to signs throughout the facility highlighting sustainable features and educating visitors about LEED, the architectural design process, LEED’s rating system and how the building’s features impact the business’s carbon footprint and improve user experience.
You can place these signs in lobbies, stairwells and other prominent areas where your customers and employees will see them.
How To Make LEED Signage Eco-Friendly
An eco-friendly building deserves eco-friendly signs! It’s not just about the materials—it’s also about how they’re used. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Read the fine print
When considering different materials for your LEED-certified signage, don’t just look at the product labels. Take a closer look at the manufacturer’s website or ask them directly if they have any certifications of their own. If they do, it means they’ve been evaluated and approved by an outside organization focusing on sustainability and environmental impact.
Look for recycled material
Recycled materials are excellent for LEED signage because it reduces landfill waste and pollution from manufacturing new products. This is why so many LEED plaques are made from aluminum.
Use eco-friendly printing methods
Try to use lower-VOC paint or water-based inks and paints. Certain aspects of your sign can be routed or engraved to minimize printing further. You can also use other processes that reduce waste, like direct-print tactile for ADA signs.
Minimize energy use
If you use any kind of lighting to highlight your sign, make sure it’s LED or solar-powered. LEED signs can be lit from within, backlit, or illuminated with a spotlight, which is popular for outdoor signs highlighting sustainable features.
Best Materials For LEED Signs
You will want signage made from recycled or recyclable materials if you have a LEED-certified building. The best materials for LEED signs are those that do not contain PVC plastics or formaldehyde glues, which can be toxic when burned.
Here are some of our favorite materials for LEED signs:
Polypropylene signs
Polypropylene signs are durable and resemble PVC boards, but they don’t contain PVC or emit toxins. While not completely sustainable, polypropylene is recyclable and a more environmentally conscious choice if you want to use plastic.
Wooden signs
Wood is a classic choice for LEED signage because it’s beautiful and renewable. The wood should be FSC certified, which means that the wood was harvested in an environmentally responsible way and doesn’t contribute to deforestation.
Aluminum signs
Metal is another great option for LEED signage because it’s durable and weatherproof. You can have your signs made from recycled aluminum, and when you’re done with the sign, aluminum is 100% recyclable. Aluminum is also a nice choice for LEED signage because it has a sleek modern look that complements the forward-thinking principles of LEED.
Paper signs
Paper signs aren’t as durable as other materials, but they have advantages. The primary advantage is that you can recycle them. They’re also easy on the wallet! Paper signs are also lightweight, making them easy to transport and set up anywhere to showcase your certification (trade shows, job fairs, etc).
Why Work With A Professional For LEED Signage
When you’ve done the work to attain LEED certification, you want to proudly display that recognition! In addition to being eye-catching and informing visitors about certain green features, you want the signs themselves to be eco-friendly.
The sign experts at SpeedPro understand the nuances of LEED signage, and we love partnering with local businesses that are committed to sustainability.
When you need to communicate your building’s green credentials, schedule a free consultation with your local SpeerPro studio to learn more about our LEED sign solutions.