Green Building Product Certification LCA study in Dubai UAE Doha GCC

by Stephanie Vierra, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Vierra Design & Education Services, LLC Updated: 08-05-2019

Introduction

Green Building Product Certification Dubai Abu Dhabi UAE Sharjah UAE Doha Qatar Oman Saudi Bahrain United Arab Emirates

Green Building Standards and Certification Systems | WBDG – Whole Building Design Guide

Green Building Product Certification LCA study in Dubai UAE Doha GCC

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Buildings have extensive direct and indirect impacts on the environment. During their construction, occupancy, renovation, repurposing, and demolition, buildings use energy, water, and raw materials, generate waste, and emit potentially harmful atmospheric emissions. These facts have prompted the creation of green building standards, certifications, and rating systems aimed at mitigating the impact of buildings on the natural environment through sustainable design.

The push toward sustainable design increased with the launch in 1990 of Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), the first green building rating system in the world. In 2000, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) followed suit and developed and released criteria also aimed at improving the environmental performance of buildings through its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system for new construction. Since that first release, LEED has continued to grow in prominence and to include rating systems for existing buildings and entire neighborhoods. Others also responded to the growing interest and demand for sustainable design including the Green Building Initiative (GBI), which was created to assist the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) in promoting its Green Building Guidelines for Residential Structures. Although originally developed for Canada, GBI helped to make Green Globes available for use in the U.S. in 2005. Additional rating systems have been developed that were influenced by these early programs but are tailored to their own national priorities and requirements or seek to go beyond the limits of current policy and building practices to address broader issues of sustainability or evolving concepts such as net zero energy, and living and restorative building concepts that improve the natural environment, or those that model nature’s processes.

Green product standards also began to appear in the marketplace in the 1980s and increased in the 1990s. Initially, many green product standards were developed in response to growing concerns for product toxicity and its impact on children’s health and indoor environmental quality (IEQ). In the 21st century, when growing concerns over global warming and resource depletion became more prominent and supported by research, the number and type of green product standards and certifications grew. The focus also expanded to include a broader range of environmental issues and the impacts of products during their manufacture, use, and reuse. While there is still no universal definition of a green product, these products are intended to meet claims that they offer environmental benefits and adhere to certain standards. (See also Optimize Building Space and Material Use)

Green Building Product Certification LCA study in Dubai UAE Doha GCC

There is now a proliferation of standards, rating, and certification programs in the marketplace to help guide, demonstrate, and document efforts to deliver sustainable, high-performance buildings. It is estimated that there are nearly 600 green product certifications in the world with nearly 100 in use in the U.S., and the numbers continue to grow (Source: BuildingGreen). There are also green building rating programs in use around the world and they vary in their approach with some outlining prerequisites and optional credits, while others take a prescriptive approach, and still others suggest performance-based requirements that can be met in different ways for different products and project types. As a result, it can be challenging and time consuming determining which standards, certifications, and rating programs are most credible and applicable to a particular project. This page will provide an introduction to some commonly used terms and an overview of the most widely recognized green building product standards, and building rating and certification programs currently in use with an emphasis on how they vary and some of the issues to consider when selecting them.

Green building design strategies are being applied across a very diverse range of projects from office buildings to schools, stadiums, hospitals, and entire neighborhoods. Left: The David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh was one of the first major buildings to achieve LEED certification, earning LEED Gold. Photo Credit: VISITPITTSBURGH. Right: A one-story building converted into an office building that achieved Living Building Challenge Certification.
Photo Courtesy of Arch Nexus

Description

A. Building Standards

A standard is a set of guidelines and criteria against which a product can be judged. Common standards related to building practices are created through consensus processes by organizations such as ANSI, ASTM, or ASHRAE. Supporting the governance of standards and certifications is the International Standards Organization (ISO), which defines and develops worldwide standards that frequently become law or form the basis of industry norms. ISO defines a standard as: “a document, established by consensus, approved by a recognized body that provides for common and repeated use as rules, guidelines, or characteristics for activities or their results.”

Requirements found in standards may either be prescriptive (identifying methods of achievement) or performance based (stating expectations of end results). Consensus based standards, those developed through a formal, voluntary consensus process that is exemplified by an open and due process have immediate buy-in, government support, and international influence. According to the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) federal agencies are required by law to adopt existing private-sector voluntary consensus standards instead of creating proprietary, non-consensus standards. Standards frequently serve as incentives for improved performance. Many of the green product standards available today are proprietary or regulatory standards that have been developed outside of the formal ANSI and ISO consensus process. These types of standards may be more or less stringent than consensus standards and can include some level of transparency and public comment. However, many of these types of standards are trusted because they are associated with a group that has strong environmental credentials.

The ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1, Standard for the Design of High Performance Green Buildings except Low-Rise Residential Buildings provides minimum requirements for site, design, construction and operations in mandatory, code-enforceable language. This standard is comprehensive and includes chapters for site, water, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and materials. For a detailed description on many other building codes and standards that address sustainability goals and requirements, see the Relevant Codes and Standards section below and Energy Codes and Standards.

B. Green Codes

Green building codes continue to be developed and adopted in the U.S. and abroad that seek to push the standard of building design and construction to new levels of sustainability and performance. Codes come in two basic formats: prescriptive and performance, with outcome-based becoming a developing third option. A Prescriptive path is a fast, definitive, and conservative approach to code compliance. Materials and equipment must meet a certain levels of stringency, which are quantified in tables. Performance-based codes are designed to achieve particular results, rather than meeting prescribed requirements for individual building components. Outcome-based codes for example, establish a target energy use level and provide for measurement and reporting of energy use to assure that the completed building performs at the established level. (See also: Outcome-Based Pathways for Achieving Energy Performance Goals.)

The unique difference between codes and building rating systems is that codes are mandatory. If green codes become adopted on a wide spread basis, their impact can change the building environment rapidly and extensively. When undertaking a project, whether it is new construction or a renovation, check to see if there is a state or local green code that will dictate the direction and scope your project must take.

The International Green Construction Code (IgCC) provides a comprehensive set of requirements intended to reduce the negative impact of buildings on the natural environment. It is a document which can be readily used by manufacturers, design professionals and contractors; but what sets it apart in the world of green building is that it was created with the intent to be administered by code officials and adopted by governmental units at any level as a tool to drive green building beyond the market segment that has been transformed by voluntary rating systems.

It was developed by the International Code Council (ICC) in association with cooperating sponsors ASTM International (ASTM) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Other organizations indicating their support include the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and The Green Building Initiative (The GBI), producers of the Green Globes rating system. The IgCC was developed with the intent to be consistent and coordinated with the ICC family of Codes & Standards: the I-Codes. It is applicable to the construction of high performance commercial buildings, structures, and systems, including existing buildings subject to alterations and additions, utilizing both traditional and innovative construction practices. Residential occupancies are covered by reference to the ICC 700 National Green Building Standard (NGBS). High-rise residential buildings, however, may conform to either the IgCC or ICC 700. The IgCC also allows jurisdictions to choose ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC IES Standard 189.1 as jurisdictional compliance option. ASHRAE Standard 189.1, Standard for High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, is an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) in association with the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Because it was written in mandatory language, the IgCC is poised to produce environmental benefits on a massive scale: a scale impossible to attain with purely voluntary green building programs and rating systems.

The California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen Code) is Part 11 of the California Building Standards Code and was the first statewide “green” building code in the US. CAL Green is designed to save water and promote environmentally responsible, cost-effective, healthier places to live and work. The purpose of CALGreen is to improve public health, safety and general welfare by enhancing the design and construction of buildings through the use of building concepts having a reduced negative impact or positive environmental impact and encouraging sustainable construction practices in the following categories:

• Planning and design
• Energy efficiency
• Water efficiency and conservation
• Material conservation and resource efficiency
• Environmental quality

C. Green Product Certifications

A certification is a confirmation that a product meets defined criteria of a standard. ISO defines certification as: “any activity concerned with determining directly or indirectly that relevant requirements are fulfilled.”

Green product certifications are intended to outline and confirm that a product meets a particular standard and offers an environmental benefit. Many product labels and certification programs certify products based on life-cycle parameters, making them multi-attribute programs. These parameters include energy use, recycled content, and air and water emissions from manufacturing, disposal, and use. Others focus on a single attribute, such as water, energy, or chemical emissions that directly impact IEQ.

A green product certification is considered most respected when an independent third party is responsible for conducting the product testing and awarding the certification. Third-party means they are independent of the product manufacturer, contractor, designer, and specifier. Third-party labels and green product certification programs can be helpful in evaluating the attributes of green products because they validate that the product meets certain industry-independent standards. They can also offer greater assurance to consumers, designers, specifiers, and others that a product’s marketing claims accurately reflect its green attributes. Many product certifications are also recognized within comprehensive green building rating systems such as LEED, Green Globes, and the National Green Building Standard. As a result, green product certifications are on the rise as market conditions change and the demand for greener products continues to increase. It is important to note that greenwashing, which is defined as the use of green claims that are not true or are unverifiable but used to sell products or a corporate image, has become commonplace as companies try to stay competitive in the green marketplace.

From windows and doors, to carpet, paints, and skylights, many more building products have achieved a sustainability rating from a third party based on life-cycle parameters. The Brock Environmental Center achieved LEED Platinum and Living Building Certification and had full transparency of the materials, products, and systems used in the project.
Photo Prakash Patel Photography, courtesy of SmithGroupJJR

To fully understand what a green certification represents and the quality of information it provides, the details of its requirements need to be reviewed carefully. The ISO defines different types of labels that can be used for products. Below is an outline of the ISO-defined labels and what is being claimed. Product certifications available in the U.S. are mostly Type I and Type II labels while Type III labels are now required in France and becoming more common in Europe and for those U.S. manufacturers with an international focus.

ISO-defined Types of Green Product Certification Labels

Type	ISO Number	What the label does
Type I	ISO 14024	Seal of approval for multi-attribute requirements
Type II	ISO 14021	Verifiable single-attribute environmental claims for issues such as energy consumption, emissions, or recycled content. Can be first-party, self-declared manufacturer claims. However many manufacturers are beginning to seek third-party verification of those claims in response to industry demand.
Type III	ISO >14025	Comprehensive environmental product disclosure and detailed product information. Similar to an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)

Summary of Green Product Certifications

The following table, and the expanded information directly below it, outlines some of the most commonly used and respected green product certifications in the marketplace. Please see the Additional Resources section for more information on other programs not included in this page.

Product Certification	Single- or Multi-Attribute	Type of Standard or Certification	Managing Organization	Issue of Focus
Energy Star	Single-Attribute	Government certification relying on manufacturer-provided data or third-party testing	U.S. EPA and U.S. DOE	Energy consuming products
WaterSense	Single-Attribute	Government label based on third-party testing	U.S. EPA	Showerheads, toilets, faucets, urinals, and valves
Forest Stewardship Council	Single-Attribute	Third-party certification	Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)	Forests and forestry products
SCS Global Services	Multi-Attribute	Third-party certification	SCS Global Services	Wide range of products ( i.e. carpets, textiles, wood products, insulation, and more)
Green Seal	Multi-Attribute	Third-party ISO Type 1 certification	Green Seal	Wide range of sectors (paints, adhesives, lamps, electric chillers, windows, window films, occupancy sensors)
Cradle to Cradle	Multi-Attribute	Third-party certification, Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM Product Standard is managed and updated by the Institute’s Certification Standards Board	Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute C2CPII	Building materials, interior design products, textiles and fabrics, paper and packaging, and personal and homecare products
GREENGUARD	Multi-attribute	Third party certification	UL Environment	Indoor air quality, children and schools focus
Green Squared	Multi-attribute	Third-party ISO Type 1 environmental labeling and declaration requirements (ISO 14024)	TCNA	Tiles and tile installations

Single-Attribute Product Certifications

ENERGY STAR—First established in 1992 as a voluntary labeling program, Energy Star is a widely recognized government-run product certification label for energy efficient products. It is a joint program of the U.S. EPA and DOE. Energy Star-certified products include appliances, heating and cooling equipment, lighting, home electronics, commercial roofing, and office equipment. Energy Star standards are generally updated and made more stringent every two years. (See also Single-Attribute Building Rating System below.)

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT) requires federal agencies to buy either Energy Star products or products designated as energy efficient by the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP), for which the requirements are included in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 23.203. Executive Order 13423 requires federal agencies to activate Energy Star “sleep” features on computers and monitors and mandates that federal agencies buy EPEAT* registered products. (For more information addressing federal requirements for Energy Star, click here)

WaterSense—a partnership program by the U.S. EPA, WaterSense seeks to protect the future of our nation’s water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water with water-efficient products, new homes, and services. Established in 2006 for water-efficient products, the program seeks to help consumers make smart water choices that save money and maintain high environmental standards without compromising performance. WaterSense products and services that have earned the label must be at least 20 percent more efficient without sacrificing performance. Look for the “WaterSense: Meets EPA Criteria” label, not just “WaterSense Partner”. The “partner” label indicates that an organization or manufacturer has signed an agreement with EPA to promote water efficiency but does not address performance of a specific product.

Executive Order 13423 requires federal agencies to implement water-efficiency measures, including the purchase, installation, and implementation of water-efficient products and practices. Beginning in fiscal year 2008, agencies must reduce water consumption intensity, relative to their fiscal year 2007 baseline, through cost-effective life-cycle measures by 2 percent annually (or 16 percent total) by the end of fiscal year 2015.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)—is a third-party certification program established in 1993 with the goal of promoting responsible forestry and certifying the resulting wood products. The standard is managed by the FSC while certification is awarded by third parties such as the Rainforest Alliance and Scientific Certification Systems. There are different standards for different forest products (FSC pure, FSC mixed, and FSC recycled) and different regions. The FSC chain of custody is a requirement of certification that follows the path of the wood product from forest to consumer. The FSC program uses a specific, prescriptive approach and provides assurance of good environmental and social stewardship of forests.

SCS Global Services—is a third-party certification of claims for recycled content, biodegradable liquid products, and no-added formaldehyde products. SCS Global Services is a long-respected certifier that backs its certifications with vigorous and transparent standards. A number of products with this certification meet indoor air quality, recycled content, and FSC chain-of-custody requirements within green building rating systems such as LEED.

Multi-Attribute Product Certifications

Green Seal—is a third-party certification and labeling program that covers a wide range of products with sector-specific requirements, particularly consumable items for building operations. Green Seal has been certifying products since 1992 and is an ISO 14024 Type I program. Green Seal considers the impacts of a product over its entire life cycle when developing a standard. Building products covered include paints, adhesives, lamps, electric chillers, windows, window films, and occupancy sensors. Green Seal is referenced in several LEED rating systems, and cleaning products for industrial and institutional use are referenced in LEED for Existing Buildings in Operations and Maintenance.

The Cradle to Cradle Certified^CM program is a third party, multi-attribute eco-label administered by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute that assesses a product’s safety to humans and the environment and design for future life cycles. The program provides guidelines to help businesses implement the Cradle to Cradle framework, which focuses on using safe materials that can be disassembled and recycled as technical nutrients or composted as biological nutrients. Unlike single-attribute eco-labels, the Cradle to Cradle Certified program takes a comprehensive approach to evaluating the design of a product and the practices employed in manufacturing the product. The materials and manufacturing practices of each product are assessed in five categories: Material Health, Material Reutilization, Renewable Energy Use, Water Stewardship, and Social Responsibility.

GREENGUARD—is a third-party certification and label established in 2001. GREENGUARD Children and Schools certification complies with California Section 01350, calling for emissions at half of California’s more stringent thresholds. GREENGUARD certifies that a product meets thresholds for formaldehyde, total aldehydes, total volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and one-tenth of the threshold limit value (a regulatory benchmark) for many other compounds. The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute certifies products that comply with their rigorous formaldehyde, emissions, and chemical testing requirements.

Green Squared—Certification was developed by TCNA, and involves one industry, one standard, and one mark and covers products used in a tile installation. As the first multi-attribute sustainability standard developed for tiles and tile installation materials, Green Squared uses the transparency and consensus of the ANSI process combined with third party certification to evaluate, validate, and communicate products which have a positive impact on the environment and society. Green Squared covers product characteristics, manufacturing, end of product life management, progressive corporate governance, and innovation in an effort to establish sustainability criteria for products throughout their full life cycle. Green Squared acknowledges products which have been verified to be in conformance with ANSI A138.1. The easily-recognizable Green Squared mark helps architects, designers, and end users choose products and assured that the products they are choosing meet the industry’s broad range of sustainability criteria.

A new category and approach to identifying and declaring the manufacturing, production, ingredients and make up of a product is rapidly emerging. Whether it is an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), a Health Product Declaration (HPD), a Declare Label, or the Living Product Challenge, there is a growing movement to seek full disclosure of a product within a life cycle framework and create a world of products that do no harm and improve the environment. Additionally, the JUST Label seeks to address social responsibility through transparency. These labels are starting to be accepted or required within the various green building rating systems, although labels do not yet exist for all products. For example, in LEED there is an option within the Materials and Resources category to achieve a credit for transparency about the environmental impact of a product by utilizing an EPD. The Declare label is in use within the Living Building Challenge to meet the stringent materials requirements.

An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is an independently verified and registered document that communicates transparent and comparable information about the life-cycle environmental impact of products. The International EPD System is a global program for environmental declarations based on ISO 14025 and EN 15804. Their database currently contains more than 500 EPDs registered by 150 companies in 27 countries. Having an EPD for a product does not imply that the declared product is environmentally superior to alternatives. It is simply a transparent declaration of the life-cycle environmental impact. The relevant standard for Environmental Product Declarations is ISO 14025, where they are referred to as “type III environmental declarations”. A type III environmental declaration is created and registered in the framework of a program, such as the International EPD System. An EPD may be used for many different applications, including green public procurement (GPP) and building assessment schemes. See: environdec.com for more information.

Designers, specifiers, and owners are increasingly seeking transparent information on the ingredients in building products, and their associated health hazards. Health Product Declarations (HPD) provide a full disclosure of the potential chemicals of concern in products by comparing product ingredients to a wide variety of “hazard” lists published by government authorities and scientific associations. To achieve third party verification, the HPD must have 100% disclosure of known ingredients and/or 100% disclosure of known hazards down to 1000 ppm. The Health Product Declaration (HPD) Open Standard consists of a defined Format and Instructions for reporting about the contents of building products along with the associated health and other related information. The Standard is maintained and sponsored by the Health Product Declaration Collaborative. Version 2.0 of the HPD Open Standard was released in September 2015. In April 2016, the US Green Building Council issued an interpretation of the LEED v4 Building Product Disclosure and Optimization—Material Ingredients, Option 1 that includes clarification of how the Health Product Declaration 2.0 can be used to meet the requirements of the credit. For more information see the The Health Product Declaration® Collaborative (HPDC).

Human and environmental health considerations have emerged as a crucial factor in material selection. Declare is a platform for manufacturers of ecologically sound products to demonstrate market leadership and secure a competitive advantage. Declare takes complex chemical analysis and raw material source location information and provides it to consumers in an elegant, easy to use ‘nutrition label’. Declare gives manufacturers an expanded point of entry into the most groundbreaking restorative projects in the world. Project teams pursuing the Living Building Challenge can use the Declare product database and label to select products that meet the Living Building Challenge’s stringent materials requirements, streamlining the materials specification and certification process. Declare also meets the requirements of the proposed LEED v4 materials inventory and toxic chemical avoidance credit. The Declare label is valid for a 12-month period. After this period manufacturers must renew by paying a renewal fee and either confirming that the information contained within the Product Declaration Form has not changed or submitting a new form. See: Living Future— Declare for more information.

According to the International Living Future Institute, “The Living Product Challenge is a philosophy first, an advocacy tool second and a certification program third. It is intended to guide the manufacturing of thousands of things people are surrounded by on a daily basis, and to give direction and support to those who make the goods that are used. Within the larger Living Future Challenge framework that covers the creation of Living Buildings, Communities and Food Systems, the Living Product Challenge focuses on manufactured goods. It is a unified tool for transformative thought, allowing a future to be envisioned that is Socially Just, Culturally Rich and Ecologically Restorative. The Living Product Challenge is comprised of seven performance categories, or “Petals”: Place, Water, Energy, Health and Happiness, Materials, Equity and Beauty. Petals are subdivided into a total of 20 Imperatives, each of which focuses on a specific sphere of influence. This compilation of Imperatives can be applied to almost every conceivable product, of any size, manufactured in any location—be it a new innovation or a reinvention of an existing item.” For more information see: Living Product Challenge.

The International Living Future Institute’s JUST program is a voluntary disclosure program and tool for all types and sizes of organizations. JUST is a call to social justice action. It is not a verification or certification program. Rather, the program provides an innovative transparency platform for organizations to reveal much about their operations, including how they treat their employees and where they make financial and community investments. In a similar fashion to the Living Building Challenge’s Declare Program, the JUST Program acts somewhat as a “nutrition label” for socially just and equitable organizations. This approach requires reporting on a range of organization-and employee-related indicators. Each of the indicator metrics asks for simple yet specific and measurable accountabilities in order for the organization to be recognized at a One, Two, or Three Star Level, which is then summarized elegantly on a label. Organizations can use the label on their website or marketing to demonstrate their commitments to these issues. JUST marks the beginning of a new era of corporate transparency. See: About JUST for more information.

D. Green Building Rating and Certification Systems

Both standards and product certifications will play a role in determining the level of sustainability or performance of a product. However, each must be considered as part of a larger process, integrating them into the overall project goals to ensure the entire project is sustainable.

Green building rating or certification systems broaden the focus beyond the product to consider the project as a whole. Rating systems are a type of building certification system that rates or rewards relative levels of compliance or performance with specific environmental goals and requirements. Rating systems and certification systems are frequently used interchangeably.

Green building rating and certification systems require an integrated design process to create projects that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle: from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition. A few of these programs are single-attribute, focusing solely on water or energy, while others are multi-attribute addressing emissions, toxicity, and overall environmental performance in addition to water and energy. While the philosophy, approach, and certification method vary across these the systems, a common objective is that projects awarded or certified within these programs are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment.

Green building rating systems exist to address every project type from single-family houses and commercial buildings to entire neighborhoods. There are rating systems available for new construction, which focus on decisions made in the planning and design process and actions taken through construction, as well as for existing buildings, which focus on operations and maintenance throughout the life of the building. A primary reason for the creation of rating systems is the need to more clearly define, implement, and measure green strategies and their outcomes and impacts. Federal, state, and municipal agencies across the country such as the General Services Administration (GSA), Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Environmental Protection Agency, took an early lead in incorporating energy efficiency and sustainability by following green building guidelines in the design, construction, and renovation of Federal facilities. Most states and many major cities have also incorporated green into their internal building requirements for new construction.

To determine which standard, certification, or rating system should be used, ask the following:

• Who the organization is that is making the assessment?
• Is it being done by a first-party, second-party, or third-party?

A first-party assessment is one that comes directly from an organization that is associated with the entity making the claim or who may benefit from the claim. A second-party assessment is performed by an interested party such as a trade association. A third-party assessment is conducted by an independent party that has no financial interest or ties to the outcome of the assessment.

According to RSMeans there are four principles that should be considered when evaluating a building rating or certification system:

• Science-based — Results and decisions must be reproducible by others using the same standard.
• Transparent — Standards and process for awarding the certification should be transparent and open for examination.
• Objective — Certification body should be free of conflict.
• Progressive — Standards should advance industry practices, not simply reward business as usual.

Why Pursue a Green Building Rating or Certification?

The reasons for pursuing a green building certification for a project are varied. Certification through any rating system provides verification of the green nature of the project, and can be a valuable educational and marketing tool for owners and design and construction teams through the process of creating a more sustainable building. Green building certification can also be a way to provide an incentive for clients, owners, designers, and users to develop and promote highly sustainable construction practices. It is important to note that a building does not have to be certified to be sustainable and well-built.

The guidelines within rating systems also help to clarify a market filled with “green” options. Rating systems also clearly outline what green standards need to be followed and what types of green products should be included in construction specifications.

Ultimately, the type of certification system pursued for a project depends upon that singular project; none of these certification systems are one-size-fits all. The dynamic nature of projects might prohibit one system but favor another. The choice is dependent upon the uniqueness of each project and the project needs and requirements such as the project location, size, budget, and overall project goals. Also comparing essential issues such as cost, ease of use, and building performance will help determine which building rating system is applicable and which certification level is possible.

Building rating and certification systems are in a state of change and evolution and continue to be refined to reflect new standards and goals for achieving ever higher levels of sustainability. So it is essential to investigate the most current versions of these programs to gain an understanding of particular requirements that must be met in order to achieve the best results.

Benefits of Using Green Building Standards and Certification Systems

There are a wide range of economic and environmental benefits to sustainable design, often achieved through the use of standards, rating, and certification systems. According to a study of LEED certified buildings , the USGBC has found that energy, carbon, water, and waste can be reduced, resulting in savings of 30 to 97% respectively. Operating costs of green buildings can also be reduced by 8–9% while increasing in value up to 7.5%. Many sustainable buildings have also seen increases of up to 6.6% on return on investment, 3.5% increases in occupancy, and rent increases of 3%. Other benefits of green buildings, such as higher productivity and increased occupant health, have been attributed to better indoor environmental quality, increases in natural daylighting, and healthier materials and products within green buildings.

In a similar study by the GSA , 12 sustainable buildings that were analyzed from a whole building perspective cost less to operate, have excellent energy performance, and have occupants that are more satisfied with the overall building than the occupants in typical commercial buildings. The 12 GSA buildings were compared to industry standard performance of energy, water, maintenance and operations, waste, recycling, transportation, and occupant satisfaction metrics.

While these benefits are possible, it is important to note that they are dependent upon factors such as climate, topography, timing, credit synergies, and local building standards.

Summary of Green Building Rating and Certification Systems – Green Building Product Certification LCA study in Dubai UAE Doha GCC

The following table and the expanded information directly below it outlines several of the most commonly used and respected green building rating and certification systems in the U.S. marketplace.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)	Multi-Attribute	Green building rating and certification system through independent third-party verification for: New Construction (NC)Existing Buildings, Operations & Maintenance (EB O&M)Commercial Interiors (CI)Core & Shell (CS)Schools (SCH)RetailHealthcare (HC)HomesNeighborhood Development (ND)	U.S. Green Building Council	Performance in: Sustainable SitesWater EfficiencyEnergy & AtmosphereMaterials & ResourcesIndoor Environmental QualityLocations & LinkagesAwareness & EducationInnovation in DesignRegional Priority through a set of prerequisites and credits
Building Rating or Certification System	Single- or Multi- Attribute	Type of Standard or Certification	Managing Organization	Issues / Areas of Focus
International Programs
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM)	Multi-Attribute	Green building rating and certification system through on-site independent third-party verification for: New ConstructionIn-UseRefurbishment & Fit OutCommunities Infrastructure	BRE Global	Performance in: EnergyHealth & Well-beingTransportWaterMaterialsWasteLand Use & EcologyManagementPollution No prerequisites for In-Use
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)	Multi-Attribute	Green building rating and certification system through independent third-party verification for: New Construction (NC)Existing Buildings, Operations & Maintenance (EB O&M)Commercial Interiors (CI)Core & Shell (CS)Schools (SCH)RetailHealthcare (HC)HomesNeighborhood Development (ND)	U.S. Green Building Council	Performance in: Sustainable SitesWater EfficiencyEnergy & AtmosphereMaterials & ResourcesIndoor Environmental QualityLocations & LinkagesAwareness & EducationInnovation in DesignRegional Priority through a set of prerequisites and credits
Green Globes	Multi-Attribute	Green building guidance and assessment program for: Existing buildingsNew construction	Green Building Initiative in the U.S. BOMA Canada	Environmental assessment areas to earn credits in: EnergyIndoor EnvironmentSiteWaterResourcesEmissionsProject/Environmental Management No prerequisites
Living Building Challenge	Multi-Attribute	Performance-based standard, and certification program for: Landscape and infrastructure projectsPartial renovations and complete building renewalsNew building constructionNeighborhood, campus and community design	International Living Future Institute	Performance areas include: SiteWaterEnergyMaterialsHealthEquityBeauty All areas are requirements.
NZEB	Multi-Attribute	Certification program using the structure of the Living Building Challenge which can be applied to any building type.	International Living Future Institute	One hundred percent of the project’s energy needs must be supplied by on-site renewable energy on a net annual basis, without the use of on-site combustion. NZEB certified buildings must also meet the following requirements of the Living Building Challenge: the first half of Imperative One, Limits to Growth, dealing with appropriate siting of buildingsImperative 19, Beauty and SpiritImperative 20, Inspiration and Education
Passive House Institute US	Multi-Attribute	Performance based passive building standard Third-party RESNET approved quality assurance/quality controlEarns U.S. DOE Zero Energy Ready Home statusIncludes HERS rating	Passive House Institute US	Any type of building. New focus areas include: air tightness requirementsource energy limitspace conditioning criteria
SITES	Multi-Attribute	Third party verified rating system for development projects located on sites with or without buildings.	Administered by GBCI	Performance criteria in the areas of: WaterWildlife HabitatEnergyAir QualityHuman HealthOutdoor recreation opportunities
WELL Building Standard	Multi-Attribute	Performance based standard and certification program for New and Existing BuildingsNew and Existing InteriorsCore and Shell RetailEducation FacilitiesRestaurantCommercial KitchenMultifamily Residential	Administered by the International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI)	Measures attributes of buildings that impact occupant health by looking at seven factors: Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Fitness, Comfort, Mind
BCA Green Mark Scheme (Singapore)	Multi-Attribute	Benchmarking scheme that aims to achieve a sustainable built environment by incorporating best practices in environmental design and construction, and the adoption of green building technologies.	Building and Construction Authority (BCA)	Rates buildings according to five key criteria: Energy efficiencyWater efficiencyEnvironmental protectionIndoor environmental quality, andOther green and innovative features that contribute to better building performance.
Beam (Hong Kong)	Multi-Attribute	Comprehensive standard and supporting process covering all building types, including mixed use complexes, both new and existing to assess, improve, certify, and label the environmental performance of buildings	Business Environment Council	Performance and assessment in: Site aspectsMaterial aspectsWater useEnergy useIndoor environmental qualityInnovations and additions
CASBEE (Japan)	Multi-Attribute	Building assessment tools for Pre-designNew ConstructionExisting Building andRenovation	JSBC (Japan Sustainable Building Consortium) and its affiliated sub-committees	Assessment areas include: Energy efficiencyResource efficiencyLocal environment, andIndoor environment
EDGE	Multi-Attribute	A universal standard and a certification system for residential and commercial structures.	International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group	Assessment areas include: EnergyWaterMaterials
Green Star SA (South Africa)	Multi-Attribute	Green building rating system for: OfficeRetailMulti-unit residential	Green Building Council of South Africa administers program Independent assessors to assess and score projects	Categories assessed in: ManagementIndoor Environmental QualityEnergyTransportWaterMaterialsLand Use & EcologyEmissionsInnovation
Pearl Rating System for Estidama (UAE)	Multi-Attribute	Green building rating system for: CommunityBuildingsVillasTemporary Villas and Buildings	Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council	Assessment of performance in: Integrated Development ProcessNatural SystemsLivable CommunitiesPrecious WaterResourceful EnergyStewarding MaterialsInnovating Practice

Single-Attribute Green Building Rating Systems

Energy Star Rating System—is a rating system created by the U.S. EPA and DOE that uses a benchmarking method to assess a building’s energy and water use. (Please note that Energy Star also has a product certification program. (See also Single-Attribute Product Certification above.)

As stated on the ENERGY STAR website, “statistically representative models are used to compare your building against similar buildings from a national survey conducted by the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration. This national survey, known as the Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS), is conducted every four years, and gathers data on building characteristics and energy use from thousands of buildings across the United States. Your building’s peer group of comparison are those buildings in the CBECS survey that have similar building and operating characteristics. A rating of 50 indicates that the building, from an energy consumption standpoint, performs better than 50% of all similar buildings nationwide, while a rating of 75 indicates that the building performs better than 75% of all similar buildings nationwide.”

To receive an Energy Star rating, a project’s energy usage must be tracked with the online Portfolio Manager and receive a score of 75 or more.

Multi-Attribute Green Building Rating Systems

Outlined below are the building rating systems most commonly in use within the U.S. in the private and public sectors. Additionally, international programs are included to provide a reference point for those developing projects outside the U.S.

BREEAM was launched in 1990 by BRE (Building Research Establishment), a world leading, multidisciplinary building science organization. BREEAM was the world’s first environmental assessment method for buildings and is defined by building science and research. BREEAM has served as the basis for many of the green building certification systems, including LEED and Green Globes. BREEAM is used in 80 countries around the world, with more than 2,250,000 projects registered and 565,000+ certificates issued. BREEAM aims to deliver sustainable solutions, encourage a holistic approach to sustainability that is based on sound science and measures what is important, and improve building environmental performance. Performance is measured in 9 categories: Management, Health & Well-being, Energy, Transport, Water, Materials, Waste, Land Use & Ecology, and Pollution. Innovation is rewarded through exemplary credits within specific issues. Each category is weighted to encourage projects to focus on the categories with the highest environmental impact and minimum standards are set to ensure that key aspects of performance across the standard are met to achieve the higher levels of certification. This provides a level of flexibility for use while maintaining the rigor of the standard.

The standards are set by building life-cycle stage and define the building types that are included. Where a building type is not included, BREEAM offers a Bespoke service that tailors the criteria in the existing standards to the development’s specific use, sustainability opportunities and its location without compromising the rigor of the standard. The BREEAM standards are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect the latest building science research and knowledge.

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BREEAM provides online tools to facilitate the benchmarking and certification process. Project teams select an Assessor, trained and licensed by BRE, to verify the performance described is accurate and supported by evidence required by the standard. The Assessor submits an assessment report to BRE, detailing how they confirmed compliance with the BREEAM criteria and provides the supporting evidence. The report is subject to a quality assurance process and once passed, the certificate is issued. For all BREEAM rating systems other than In-Use, there are five ratings: Pass (1 Star), Good (2 Stars), Very Good (3 Stars), Excellent (4 Stars) and Outstanding (5 Stars). BREEAM In-Use has six ratings, with Acceptable (1 Star) as the lowest rating and Pass (2 Stars) through Outstanding (6 Stars) above. For New Construction and Refurbishment and Fit Out, an interim certificate can be issued at the Design Stage and the final certificate issued once construction is complete. On-site visits are required for certification.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)—was created in 2000 by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), for rating design and construction practices that would define a green building in the United States. LEED is used throughout North America as well as in more than 30 countries with over 6,300 projects currently certified across the globe and over 21,000 projects registered. As of September 2010, over 35 state governments, 380 cities and towns, and 58 counties  have enacted sustainable legislation, ordinances, or policies, many of which specifically call for LEED certification.

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LEED consists of credits which earn points in 7 categories: Site Selection, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, Regional Priority, and Innovation in Design. One hundred points are available across these categories with mandatory prerequisites such as minimum energy and water-use reduction, recycling collection, and tobacco smoke control. Within each category are credits that pertain to specific strategies for sustainability, such as the use of low-emitting products, reduced water consumption, energy efficiency, access to public transportation, recycled content, renewable energy, and daylighting. Since its inception, LEED standards have become more stringent as the market has changed and expanded to include distinct rating systems that address different building types: New Construction, Existing Buildings, Commercial Interiors, Core & Shell, Schools, Retail, Healthcare, Homes, and Neighborhood Development.

The LEED certification process takes place at LEED Online. Project teams are required to compile documentation to show compliance with LEED requirements and upload this documentation to the LEED Online website. The documentation is then reviewed by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI); a LEED certification is earned if all prerequisites and a sufficient number of credits are earned. There are four levels of LEED certification: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. There are no on-site visits required and certification can occur upon completion of construction.

Green Globes—originated in Canada and was brought to the U.S. by the Green Building Initiative (GBI) in 2004. It is now cited in many Federal, State, and Municipal mandates.

Buildings are rated on a 1,000 point scale spread across seven categories: Energy, Indoor Environment, Site, Water, Resources, Emissions, and Project/Environmental Management. Users can indicate that certain credits may not be applicable to a project, a feature unique to Green Globes. It also does not have prerequisites. A Green Globes rating requires a Green Globes Assessor to perform an onsite assessment of the building. This ensures that the self-reported claims made in the online documentation are verified. Both new construction and existing buildings can be evaluated using Green Globes; commercial or multifamily.

The first step toward a Green Globes certification is completing a self-reported online assessment survey, which is required at various stages throughout design and construction. At the construction documents phase and after substantial completion, a Green Globes Assessor will perform a site visit to verify the claims made in the survey. A Green Globes certification of one through four globes can then be earned once verification is confirmed.

Living Building Challenge (LBC)—is a performance-based system initially launched by the Cascadia Green Building Council. In April 2011, the International Living Future Institute became the umbrella organization for both the Cascadia Green Building Council and the Living Building Challenge.

The LBC makes stringent demands such as 100% net zero energy, 100% net zero water, on-site renewable energy, and 100% recycling or diversion of construction waste. It examines site, water, energy, materials, health, equity, and beauty. All of its tenets are mandatory making it the most rigorous green building certification system in the market today. An on-site audit must occur by a member of the International Living Future Institute (ILFI)

After online registration, projects must join the living building community where discussions concerning compliance are held, and documentation occurs. Certification occurs twelve months after project completion, with an on-site audit to ensure compliance.

NZEB—The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) provides a certification option for a Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB) under its umbrella of the Living Building Challenge certification. These buildings have 100% of their energy needs supplied by on-site renewable energy on a net annual basis. The NZEB designation verifies that a building is truly operating as claimed, harnessing energy from the sun, wind, or earth to exceed net annual demand. To earn this certification, a building must meet five requirements of the LBC:

• Limits of Growth
• Net Zero Energy
• Rights to Nature
• Beauty and Spirit
• Inspiration and Education.

According to ILFI, nearly any building can become NZEB-certified: new or operational, anywhere in the world.

Passive House Institute US (PHIUS)—administers a climate-specific passive building standard and certification system that was developed under a DOE/Building America grant specifically to address complex US climates. Buildings designed and built to the PHIUS+ 2015 Passive Building Standard consume 86% less energy for heating and 46% less energy for cooling (depending on climate zone and building type) when compared to a code-compliant building. PHIUS+ 2015 is the first and only passive building standard based upon climate-specific comfort and performance criteria aimed at presenting a cost-optimized solution to achieving the most durable, resilient, and energy-efficient building possible for a specific location. The PHIUS+2015 Passive Building Standard is applicable internationally. There are certified projects in South Korea and Japan, and projects are certifying most recently in China and Israel. In North America, PHIUS is the leading educational institute with most certified passive building professionals trained in North America. PHIUS is also the leading certifier of passive houses and buildings with 95% of all passive construction currently underway. The German Institute is also active in the US and has certified under their program to date about 5% of all passive building construction.

SITES—Administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) offers a comprehensive rating system designed to distinguish sustainable landscapes, measure their performance and elevate their value. SITES certification is for development projects located on sites with or without buildings—ranging from national parks to corporate campuses, streetscapes to homes, and more. SITES is used by landscape architects, designers, engineers, architects, developers, policy-makers and others to align land development and management with innovative sustainable design. Land is a crucial component of the built environment and can be planned, designed, developed and maintained to protect and enhance the benefits we derive from healthy functioning landscapes. SITES helps create ecologically resilient communities and benefits the environment, property owners, and local and regional communities and economies.

WELL—is a performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of the built environment that impact human health and well-being by looking at seven factors, or Concepts. They include: Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Fitness, Comfort, and Mind.

WELL is grounded in a body of medical research that explores the connection between the buildings where people spend more than 90 percent of their time, and the health and wellness impacts on occupants. WELL Certified spaces and WELL Core and Shell Compliant developments can help create a built environment that improves the nutrition, fitness, mood, sleep patterns and performance of its occupants. WELL is composed of over 100 Features that are applied to each building project, and each WELL feature is designed to address issues that impact the health, comfort, or knowledge of occupants. Many WELL Features intended to improve health are supported by existing government standards or other standards-setting organizations. WELL Features are categorized as either Preconditions—necessary for baseline WELL Certification or Compliance, or Optimizations—optional enhancements, which together determine the level of certification above baseline certification. The Features of WELL can be applied across many real estate sectors, and the current WELL v1 is optimized for commercial and institutional office buildings. WELL is further organized into Project Typologies which take into account the specific set of considerations that are unique to a particular building type or phase of construction. For WELL v1, three project typologies are: New and Existing Buildings, New and Existing Interiors, and Core and Shell.

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There are many international green building design systems that also set up their criteria through a nationalistic focus, keeping local standards and codes in mind. They include:

BCA Green Mark Scheme—Based in Singapore, Green Mark was launched by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) in January 2005 to promote environmental awareness in the construction and real estate sectors. The BCA Green Mark Scheme rates buildings according to five key criteria including: energy efficiency, water efficiency, environmental protection, indoor environmental quality, and other green and innovative features that contribute to better building performance. The program outlines a six step scheme that also offers cash incentives to developers, especially focused on addressing improvements to existing construction in areas such as energy use reduction and materials conservation.

BEAM—Based in Hong Kong, BEAM is a comprehensive standard and supporting process covering all building types, including existing and newly constructed mixed use complexes. BEAM is an initiative that assesses, improves, certifies, and labels the environmental performance of buildings. It is a voluntary program developed in partnership with, and adopted by the industry. BEAM is intended to: stimulate demand for more sustainable buildings in Hong Kong and other regions, giving recognition for improved performance and minimizing false claims; provide a common set of performance standards that can be pursued by developers, designers, architects, engineers, contractors and operators; reduce the environmental impacts of buildings throughout the planning, design, construction, management and demolition life cycle; and increase awareness in the building community, and ensure that environmental considerations are integrated at the beginning of a project.

BEAM assessments are currently undertaken by the Business Environment Council (BEC), an independent, nonprofit, environmental information center, under the guidance of the BEAM Society Executive Committee. Certification can only be issued upon building completion due to a significant number of credits being based on actions taken during construction and upon completion.

CASBEE—in Japan is composed of four assessment tools corresponding to the building life cycle. “CASBEE Family” is the collective name for these four tools and the expanded tools for specific purposes. The CASBEE assessment tools are CASBEE for Pre-design, CASBEE for New Construction, CASBEE for Existing Building and CASBEE for Renovation, to serve at each stage of the design process. Each tool is intended for a separate purpose and target user, and is designed to accommodate a wide range of uses (offices, schools, apartments, etc.) in the evaluated buildings.

CASBEE covers the assessment fields of energy efficiency, resource efficiency, local environment, and indoor environment. Both indoor and outdoor spaces are considered as part of the assessment but are assessed separately.

EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies)—is a green building certification system for new residential and commercial buildings in 125 emerging markets. The program, which engages financiers, developers, regulators, and homeowners, shows property developers how fast and affordable it is to construct resource-efficient buildings, enabling them to pass value directly to building owners and tenants. EDGE enables design teams and project owners to assess the most cost-effective ways to incorporate energy and water-saving options into their buildings. An innovation of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group that focuses on private sector development, EDGE consists of a web-based software application, a universal standard and a certification system.

Green Star SA—was developed by The Green Building Council of South Africa, and is based on the Australian Green Building Council tools to provide the property industry with an objective measurement for green buildings and to recognize and reward environmental leadership in the property industry. Each rating tool reflects a different market sector (office, retail, multi-unit residential, etc.). The objectives of the Green Star SA rating tools are to: establish a common language and standard of measurement for green buildings, promote integrated, whole building design, raise awareness of green building benefits, recognize environmental leadership, and reduce the environmental impact of development.

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Green Star SA Certification is a formal process which involves a project using a Green Star SA rating tool to guide the design or construction process during which a documentation-based submission must be submitted as proof of the achievement. A “Design” certification can be submitted for and awarded at the end of the design phase of the project. At the end of construction, a project can submit for and be awarded “As Built” certification, certifying that all green building strategies were in fact incorporated into the final building. The Certified Rating can be achieved prior to practical completion, but must be achieved no later than 24 months after practical completion. As Built submissions must be submitted after practical completion, and the Certified Rating must be achieved no later than 24 months after practical completion.

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Pearl Rating System for Estidama—Estidama, which means ‘sustainability’ in Arabic, is intended to be the initiative which will transform Abu Dhabi into a model of sustainable urbanization. Its aim is to create more sustainable communities, cities, and global enterprises and to balance the four pillars of Estidama: environmental, economic, cultural, and social. The Pearl Rating System for Estidama aims to address the sustainability of a given development throughout its life cycle from design through construction to operation. Accordingly, three rating stages have been established: Design, Construction, and Operational.

Within each section there are both mandatory and optional credits and credit points are awarded for each optional credit achieved. To achieve a 1 Pearl rating, all the mandatory credit requirements must be met. To achieve a higher Pearl rating, all the mandatory credit requirements must be met along with a minimum number of credit points.

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Emerging Issues

New green technologies and materials are always being developed and entering into the marketplace to complement current practices in creating greener environments. Many of these technologies and materials have not been tested long enough in the built environment in order to fully verify their performance. Seek extensive testing and performance data before incorporating new technologies and materials into a project. Also, test beyond the product’s green performance for safety, durability, and fire resistance standards from UL and ETL.

New and more stringent requirements will continue to be introduced to the standards and certifications process. Because of the toxicity of some pesticides and fire retardants, and additional means of exposure, testing and certifying beyond product emissions to product content is a trend that will likely increase.

Over the last several years there has also been a shift away from a prescriptive approach to sustainable design toward the scientific evaluation of actual performance through Life Cycle Assessments (LCA). While LCAs are not yet a consistent requirement of green building rating systems and codes, there is a trend toward requiring LCAs and improving the methods for conducting them.

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Relevant Codes and Standards

Federal Mandates, Acts, and Executive Orders

• Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
• Executive Order 13693, “Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade”
• Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT)

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International Code Council

• International Green Construction Code (IgCC). The IgCC is intended to be used as a jurisdictional and municipal building code for new construction and major renovations. The IgCC is a comprehensive code document; it sets standards for energy conservation, water efficiency, and commissioning, and also includes enforcement procedures and guidelines for existing building renovations.
• ICC 700 National Green Building Standard. The standard defines green building for single-family and multi-family homes, residential remodeling, and site development projects while allowing enough flexibility to incorporate regionally appropriate best green practices.

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ASHRAE Standards

• ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings this standard provides minimum requirements for site, design, construction and operations in mandatory, code-enforceable language. A collaborative effort by ASHRAE, IES and USGBC, this standard is comprehensive and includes chapters for site, water, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and materials. ASHRAE 189.1 can be used as a jurisdictional compliance path for the IgCC.
• ASHRAE Standard 55, Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy
• ASHRAE Standard 62.1, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality
• ASHRAE Standard 90.1, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings

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Water-related Legislation and Codes

• Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) Section 438 (stormwater)
• Energy Policy Act of 1992
• Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT) Section 109 (process water)
• International Plumbing Code (IPC), (ICC)
• Uniform Plumbing Code 2006, (IAMPO)

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Material-related Legislation

• Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (FSRIA)
• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

Municipal Standards

Many cities, states, and U.S. Territories have also implemented green standards for public buildings. Every city’s, state’s, and U.S. Territory’s energy goals and requirements are listed, highlighting LEED, Green Globes, and carbon emission reduction goals. New York City and California are two examples of governments that have implemented green standards for public buildings.

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California

California has implemented green building standards for all major renovations and new construction of public buildings. Executive Order S-3-05 calls to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. To accomplish this goal, Executive Order S-20-04 requires all state buildings to reduce energy usage by 20% and achieve a minimum of a Silver LEED rating.

• Assembly Bill 32: California Global Warming Solutions Act
• California Green Building Strategy
• California Executive Order S-3-05
• CalGREEN code

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New York City

New York City’s Local Law 86 requires LEED certification for public buildings with construction costs exceeding $2 million. The NYC Greener, Greater Buildings Plan is another example of NYC’s commitment to sustainability. It requires a combination of benchmarking, energy audits, retro-commissioning, lighting upgrades and sub-metering for the city’s largest buildings.

• New York City’s Greener Greater Buildings Plan—Local Laws 84, 85, 87, 88
• New York City’s Local Law 86 of 2005 Diagram of Criteria and Requirements 
• New York City Mayor’s Office of Environment Coordination

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Additional Resources

WBDG

Building Types / Space Types

Applicable to all Building Types and Space Types

Design Objectives

Aesthetics, Cost-Effective, Sustainable

Guides & Specifications

Building Envelope Design Guide

Sustainability of the Building Envelope

Building Commissioning

Building Commissioning

Organizations

• BioPreferred (USDA)
• Crosswalk of Sustainability Goals and Targets in Executive Orders and Statutes by DOE and FEMP 
• Energy Star’s Portfolio Manager
• Pharos Project
• WaterSense
  • WaterSense Product Database
  • WaterSense Rebate Finder

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Publications

• A comparative study of building energy performance assessment between LEED, BREEAM, and Green Star Schemes”  by Roderick, Y et al. Integrated Environmental Solutions Limited, Kelvin Campus, West of Scotland Science Park, Glasgow, G20 0SP, U.K.
• Guide to Green Building Rating Systems: Understanding LEED, Green Globes, Energy Star, the National Green Building Standard, and More by Reeder, L. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2010.
• Sustainable Building Rating Systems Summary by K.M. Fowler and E.M. Rauch. Completed by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, July 2006.