How to earn green building certification points with urban beekeeping

Commercial real estate is under pressure to reduce emissions and show real ESG progress. Buildings account for up to 40%of global carbon emissions, according to experts at COP26. One way forward is through popular green building certifications, which reward properties for more sustainable building choices.

Urban beekeeping is one of those choices. It supports biodiversity, engages tenants, and helps you earn certification points across multiple certification programs

Stand out from the crowd with a green building certification

Green building certifications are industry standard programs that recognize a building for its sustainability performance. Investing in a sustainability strategy to earn these certifications can make your building more attractive to potential tenants and increase its overall value. On top of that, you can feel proud knowing you’re making a positive impact in your community!

The following guide will walk you through some of the top certifications and how you can earn them for your building.

DID YOU KNOW?

Bringing an urban beekeeping project to your property can help you earn points towards 4 of the top green rating programs available on the commercial real estate market. Keep reading to learn how.

BREEAM Sustainability Assessment

BREEAM (the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is an international green building certification system. To earn green building certification points, BREEAM awards up to 10 credits for adding a pollinator habitat to a commercial building.

How you can earn points:

• Up to 4 credits for submitting an Ecology Report that measures your property’s ecological value and sets a baseline for improvements.
• Up to 6 credits for a Biodiversity Management Plan that outlines how your team will protect and enhance on-site biodiversity over time.

Alvéole’s service provides the key components for both. Your plan can include a managed beehive, wild bee home, and pollinator-friendly vegetation.

LEED Rating System

LEED is the most widely used green building rating system. It rewards creative approaches to sustainability with up to 5 points under the Innovation credit.

How you can earn points:

• The Green Building Council awards up to 5 points towards the Innovation LEED credit for out-of-the-box strategies. Adding a pollinator habitat to a commercial building can earn points towards this credit.

BOMA 360 Performance Program

The BOMA 360 certification focuses on excellence in building operations. A pollinator project can earn you up to 5 points across multiple categories.

How you can earn points:

• 2 points for transforming rooftop space into a pollinator habitat
• 2 points for running events that engage tenants and the broader community
• 1 point for transparent tenant communication through tools like the MyHive app

Alvéole supports each of these with turnkey services and ongoing engagement, helping project teams meet green building goals.

BOMA BEST Certification

BOMA BEST recognizes Canadian existing buildings that lead in environmental performance. A beehive contributes directly to multiple scoring areas, totaling up to 13 points.

How you can earn points:

• 6 points under Health and Wellness for adding a visible natural feature
• 2 points in the Site category for restoring pollinator habitat
• 5 points for Stakeholder Engagement through educational workshops and community initiatives

By installing a hive and sharing its impact, your team checks the box for “Occupant Environmental Communication,” a BOMA BEST requirement, strengthening the connection between building occupants, nature, and human health.

The takeaway

Urban beekeeping is more than a feel-good project. It is a practical, proven way to earn points toward major green building certifications. At the same time, it connects people to sustainability in a way that spreadsheets cannot.

Want to learn how your property could qualify? Explore our packages.