International Journal of Sustainable Building Technology and Urban Development ISSN:2093-761X(Print) 2093-7628(Online)

The Decree 1285 of 2015 is the new standard for sustainable construction in Colombia, with technical parameters and design guidelines adopted by Resolution 0549. This normative has increased public and private interest in the subject, in order to develop a sustainable construction industry. However, there is a lack of technical and practical knowledge in architects and builders, and the recent process of training on sustainability guidelines and its relation to the standard are insufficient to shape a critical mass for its application in architectural process. This situation constitutes a commercial opportunity for the promotion of LEED certification in Colombia and their representatives. They having publicity stated in academic events and media, that compliance with a LEED certification is enough to fulfil the guidelines of the Sustainable Construction standard. However, this statement lacks technical support, turning a model of visual, media and distorted sustainability. This paper evaluates the real water and energy consumption of an office building with LEED Gold certification in Medellín and its relation to the sustainable construction standard, with the aim to determine if a building with LEED certification can reach the goals established by the Colombian standard. The results show differences of 172% in energy consumption and 81% in water consumption between the real and the expected consumption. This suggests that there is no guarantee to meet the standard through a payment of a foreign system, but it threatens the expectation of sustainable construction in Colombia.