Is This LEED or Lean? (Both seem obsessed with trash…)
How Lean Project Delivery Drives Sustainability in the Pursuit of LEED Certifications
I overheard someone on a project team say, “Is this LEED or Lean? I can’t tell—they’re both all about moving trash.” I had to laugh—because there’s truth in that.
Both Lean and LEED are obsessed with removing waste, but for good reasons. Whether it’s eliminating inefficiencies or reducing landfill impact, both aim to create better outcomes for people, projects, and the planet. But when used together, Lean Project Delivery (LPD) doesn’t just support LEED—it supercharges the pursuit of sustainability by aligning cost, design, and execution around what truly matters.
Let’s break down how three core Lean practices—Conditions of Satisfaction, Target Value Delivery, and the Last Planner System®—can drive LEED success through intentional design and planning.
1. Conditions of Satisfaction: Defining What Sustainability Really Means
Lean starts with a question many teams skip: What does success look like for the customer?
Through Conditions of Satisfaction (CoS), project teams define what’s truly important and define success beyond just “Achieve LEED Gold certification.”
LEED certification may be a stated goal, but often the real driver or value is:
- Reducing environmental impact
- Lowering carbon footprint
- Creating healthier buildings
- Delivering on a sustainability mission
When these values are explicitly embedded in the CoS, they guide design and planning from the start—not as “nice to haves,” but as non-negotiables.
Conditions of Satisfaction Examples
- “Reduce embodied carbon by 20%”
- “Maximize indoor air quality and daylighting for occupant well-being”
- “Divert 90% of construction waste”
- “Design a building that reflects our company’s environmental values”
By understanding customer value and defining conditions of satisfaction a team is forming the foundation of Target Value Delivery, helping them make decisions that deliver both sustainability and cost alignment.
Key takeaway: LEED in the CoS is good. But defining the value behind LEED beyond achieving a standard like environmental responsibility, carbon reduction, sustainability for the future—is what truly sets the project up for success.
2. Target Value Delivery: Budgeting for What Matters
We’ve all seen it: LEED strategies get cut when budgets get tight. Why? Because traditional design happens first, then the team tries to price it, and sustainability often doesn’t survive the chop.
Target Value Delivery (TVD) changes the game.
TVD starts with the target cost and works backward, ensuring that design decisions—especially around sustainability—are aligned with value, conditions of satisfaction and budget from the beginning.
When LEED strategies like energy modeling, enhanced commissioning, or sustainable material selection are part of the value conversation, TVD makes sure they don’t get dropped—they get delivered.
Teams can:
- Make informed, collaborative trade-offs
- Test sustainability options against budget early and often
- Align scope and value without sacrificing what matters
Example: If the value and/or conditions of satisfaction statement includes both energy performance and wellness, the team might analyze HVAC strategies that improve indoor air quality and reduce operational carbon—balancing cost, performance, and value in real time.
Key takeaway: TVD turns “we couldn’t afford LEED” into “we made LEED work—by design.”
3. Last Planner System®: Turning Sustainability Plans into Action
You’ve defined the values. You’ve aligned the budget. But if the team can’t execute, LEED points (and sustainability goals) start slipping through the cracks. Enter the Last Planner System® (LPS).
LPS is how Lean ensures that workflows, commitments are reliable, and what gets planned gets done.
In Design
- Milestone planning includes LEED documentation and coordination deadlines.
- Pull planning ensures activities like energy modeling, product vetting, and low-emitting material selection are coordinated across disciplines.
- Design cycle + make ready planning identifies constraints before they derail progress.
- Weekly work planning is where these commitments, decisions and handoffs are realized.
In Construction
- LPS ensures proper sequencing and preparation for credits tied to IAQ, erosion control, material compliance, and more.
- Weekly and daily planning keeps LEED-sensitive tasks on track, with the right materials, approvals, and team members in place.
Reality check: LEED doesn’t fail in design—it fails in execution. LPS helps prevent that by fostering planning, accountability, and flow across the project lifecycle.
Key takeaway: The Last Planner System turns sustainability from a “we hope to do this” into a “we committed to this and here’s how we’re delivering it.”
Want to See Where Lean Meets LEED? Download the Alignment Guide!
To celebrate Earth Day, we’re offering a free download: the Lean x LEED Alignment Guide—a quick reference to help your team connect Lean practices to your projects pursuit of LEED accreditation
Let’s build smarter. Let’s build greener. Let’s build Lean.