Recently, I was asked a series of questions regarding the various green building rating systems. In reviewing my responses, I realized that those looking to measure a building’s sustainability have a number of choices. The sustainable building industry has provided building owners and operators with numerous tools that can be used in their pursuit of sustainability. I also realized that the amount of choices available could make a decision of which tool to use confusing to a person who has never used or, in some cases, never heard of many of the systems in the marketplace.
How many different green building rating systems are there?
When you combine the green building rating systems used in the U.S. with those from around the globe, there are many different ones. A few of the systems that come to mind are: Energy Star, Green Globes (GG), the Living Building Challenge (LBC), and of course, LEED. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program has been around just as long as, if not longer than, LEED. The Green Building Initiative created the Green Globes rating system based on the American National Standard ANSI/GBI 01-2010. The LBC, created by the International Living Future Institute, moves beyond concept design and construction practices and takes the operation of a building before granting certification. And finally, the USGBC has certified more buildings under its LEED rating system around the world than any other green building rating system.
We read about the LED rating system so often, but why are there so many others?
think it is all about choice-each building owner can choose a system they feel is the right fit for them. If you go to the grocery store, for example, you’ll find several types of laundry soap. All laundry soap manufacturers say they do the same thing
(clean your clothes), and there are certain people who stay loyal to one brand over another. There are other people who are not brand loyal and look for the lowest cost or the newest label on the shelf. The USGBC has done a fantastic job in bringing a product to market that is internationally recognized. Many people might even say they are the recognized brand leader when it comes to rating systems and certified buildings. The word “LEED” is recognized the world over as describing a sustainable building, but it is not the only rating system an owner can use to rate their building’s sustainability
Do all rating systems view a sustainable building the same way?
No. While there are similarities between all rating systems, each have some characteristics that make them unique or specialized. The Energy Star program is considered a green building rating system, but it focuses on a building’s energy performance, and does not look at the site logistics or the building materials. The LBC certification program takes into account a broader view of sustainability, embracing the philosophy of a restorative future by looking at a building’s performance over time. Certification is not granted until the building has been occupied and its performance can be documented for one year.
GG and LEED are probably the most similar to each other, but they are still very different. Both LEED and GG require evidence of the building’s energy savings. LEED requires energy simulation models using a compliant ASHRAE standard 90.1 base building, while GG looks at the building performance compared to the Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) database. LEED and GG have categories for building materials, and they both award points for recycled content, the location of extraction/manufacturing, the use of biobased materials and certified wood. However, LEED requires the wood certification from the Forestry Stewardship Council, while GG is not so specific. GG, unlike the current version of LEED, has specific credit language for project teams using Life Cycle Cost Assessment (LCA) tools when selecting the building materials. GG has no prerequisites or Minimum Program Requirements, whereas the current version of LEED has both. LEED and GG both offer certifications for buildings. LEED bases the certification on the documentation provided to a reviewer at the end of construction, whereas GG sends an assessor to the site to review the completed project.
Are green building codes the same thing as a sustainable building rating system?
No. The new green building codes are just that: a code no different than a plumbing code or a life safety code. Codes differ in that they are mandatory, and rating systems are, for the most part, voluntary. However, there are some municipalities that require new building construction to be certified under a third-party rating system. Absent of those locations, a rating system is voluntary. Building owners can choose to use a rating system to design, construct and certify their buildings if they wish. If you are in a location that has adopted a green building code, you have no choice, as you must follow the code enforced by the local governing body.
Is there one green building rating system that is better than all of the rest?
No. All of the rating systems in the marketplace have a place and a purpose. Some systems are more specific to a geographical region, some are more specific to one aspect of the built environment, and still others take a holistic view of the impacts building have on the planet. When starting a project, each building owner must decide what is important to them and then assemble a team with the correct tools that will assist them in creating a space that suites their needs. The rating systems in the market are tools, which in the right hands can be used to create beautiful sustainable buildings. In the end, it is all about choice
Thomas Taylor, a 30-year veteran of the construction industry and noted expert on sustainability, is the general manager of St. Louis-based Vertegy. His recent book, “Guide to LEED 2009: Estimating and Preconstruction Strategies,” provides step-by-step information about the LEED 2009 for New Construction process. To learn more about Vertegy or Thomas’ new book, visit www.vertegyconsultants. com for more information.