Green building certification are an essential aspect of the construction and building industry, which helps reduce the negative environmental impact of building operations. Green building certification aims to improve the health and well-being of building occupants by promoting better indoor air quality, natural lighting, and other health-related features. It can also help building owners and operators reduce operating costs by using more energy-efficient systems and equipment, and make their buildings more attractive to potential tenants or buyers who are increasingly seeking sustainable and environmentally-friendly properties.
What are green building certifications?
Green building certifications evaluate and recognize buildings or projects that have achieved certain levels of environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and resource conservation. The certification is based on a set of standards, guidelines, and criteria developed by various organisations, such as the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Buildings can be certified based on their design, construction, and operation, and are typically awarded with a rating based on their environmental performance. The certification process encourages the use of sustainable building practices and helps promote a healthier and more sustainable built environment.
Top 6 green building certifications
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building certification program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to promote sustainable design and construction practices. It provides a framework for building owners and operators to create high-performance, environmentally responsible, and healthy buildings.
LEED certifications are based on a point system that evaluates a building's environmental performance across several categories, including energy efficiency, water conservation, materials selection, indoor environmental quality, and sustainable site development. Buildings that meet certain criteria can earn LEED certification at different levels: Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum.
WELL Building Standard
The WELL Building Standard is a performance-based certification program that focuses on promoting the health and well-being of building occupants. It was developed by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and launched in 2014.
The standard is based on seven categories, including air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind. These categories address like air and water quality, lighting, acoustics, ergonomics, and access to healthy food and physical activity.
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method)
BREEAM stands for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method. It is a green building certification developed in the United Kingdom by the Building Research Establishment (BRE).
BREEAM assesses the environmental, social and economic sustainability performance of buildings, and provides a rating system based on the results. The certification is based on a range of factors such as energy and water use, indoor air quality, waste management, and materials used in construction. BREEAM is used in over 70 countries worldwide and is one of the most widely recognised green building certifications globally.
Green Globes
Green Globes is a green building certification program that was developed in Canada in 2000 and is now also available in the United States. It is a web-based tool that allows building owners and managers to assess and improve the sustainability of their buildings across a range of criteria, including energy efficiency, water conservation, and indoor air quality.
Green Globes uses a point-based rating system and offers customizsed guidance for achieving certification at different levels. It is designed to be flexible and affordable, and can be used for new construction, existing buildings, and major renovations.
Living Building Challenge
The Living Building Challenge is a green building certification that goes beyond traditional sustainability measures to encourage buildings to become truly regenerative and restorative. It was developed by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) and focuses on seven performance areas, including site, water, energy, health, materials, equity, and beauty.
To achieve Living Building Challenge certification, a building must meet a series of rigorous criteria and demonstrate that it operates with net-positive energy and water, uses non-toxic materials, and promotes a healthy and just environment for all occupants.
EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies)
EDGE is a green building certification system that was created by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. It aims to promote sustainable design and construction practices by assessing the resource efficiency of buildings. EDGE certification looks at three areas of resource efficiency: energy, water, and materials.
To achieve EDGE certification, a building must meet a minimum threshold of 20% resource savings compared to a base case building. The EDGE certification process includes an online software tool that provides recommendations for design improvements to help the building meet the certification requirements.
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