Green building rating systems provide consumers, building professionals and government regulators with a means to evaluate the environmental impact of a particular structure. Green rating systems award points for optional building features that support green design, in categories such as location and maintenance of building site, conservation of water and energy, choice of building materials, and occupant comfort and health. The more points, the greener the building.
The growing interest in green building concepts and practices has encouraged a number of organizations to develop green building standards, codes and rating systems.
Examples of rating systems include:
Building Research Establishment Group Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) was established in the United Kingdom in 1990 as a tool to measure the sustainability of new commercial buildings by using a straightforward scoring system supported by research. It is the basis for other rating systems that followed. With more than 100,000 certified buildings, it is the most widely used green building system in the world.
Green Globes – operated in Canada by ECD Jones Lang LaSalle and in the United States by the Green Building Initiative – is a web-based application that helps building professionals to assess the environmental performance of new construction and renovation projects for commercial buildings. Based on information entered by a design team, the assessment provides feedback on how to reduce operating costs, create a more pleasant workplace, and minimize negative environmental impacts. It can result in improved buildings, and leads to higher Green Globes ratings once the site is inspected by a third-party certifier.
BOMA BEST, operated by the Building Owners and Manufacturers Association, is Canada’s national environmental certification program for existing commercial buildings. Formerly known as Go Green, Go Green Plus and Green Globes.
Green Building Assessment Protocol for Commercial Buildings (ANSI/CGI 01-2010) was derived from Green Globes by the Green Building Initiative and applies to new or existing structures. The standard was approved by the American National Standards Institute in 2010 and is currently being adapted for use as a web-based tool to replace Green Globes.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED 2009) was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED has seven modules: New Construction, Commercial Interiors, Core & Shell, Schools, Retail, Healthcare, and Homes. LEED Canada is a parallel set of rating systems adapted by the Canada Green Building Council to Canadian climate, construction practices and regulations.
The National Green Building Standard (ANSI/ICC 700-2008) was developed by the National Association of Home Builders for residences.
Built Green is a voluntary program for residential construction that was started in the United States by local home builders. It is managed for Canadian home building associations by Built Green Canada.
Green building codes and standards are sets of rules created by standards development organizations. These organizations establish minimum requirements for elements of green building such as materials or heating and cooling. Examples include:
- The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has developed a set of minimum green building requirements (known as ASHRAE 189.1) written in language that can become part of a building code.
- The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) provides technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services, and is drafting guidance to U.S. federal agencies for meeting government requirements for green buildings.
- The International Code Council (ICC) has the draft International Green Construction Code to complement its International Building Code, which has been adopted as regulation in most of the United States. It is currently undergoing public review.
- California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen) will become mandatory for new building in California in January 2011.
