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Swedish construction and real estate development giant Skanska has said it is incorporating the international environmental certification system, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), in its Nordic building construction operations.

Skanska said it is the first construction company in the Nordic region to offer customers environmental certification in accordance with LEED for construction projects and for commercial development projects. All Skanska's own commercial development projects and new premises for its own operations will also be certified in accordance with LEED.

LEED is one of the world's main systems for environmental certification of buildings. Resource utilisation, the building's location, design and indoor climate as well as energy and waste minimization are a few of the criteria on which LEED classification is based. Certification is carried out and verified by an independent third party through the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

Skanska said about 100 of its personnel in the Nordic region will be trained to lead the LEED design and certification process and to serve as advisors to Skanska’s customers. The training will be carried out with the aid of some of Skanska's approximately 350 LEED Accredited Professionals in the US operations.

Skanska has completed approximately 70 LEED certified projects in the US and the first project in the Czech Republic. Currently, the first LEED projects in Finland and Sweden are being developed.

Seven Skanska projects have achieved an EU GreenBuilding rating, which means at least 25% lower energy use than what is prescribed in national standards. In addition to energy, LEED covers wider environmental impact. LEED certification and the EU GreenBuilding rating can be applied in parallel.