What You Need to Know About Sustainable Building Certifications

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Friends Center Playground - Sustainable DesignThere are many definitions for sustainability and what it means to the building community. And there are many designations and certification programs to choose from. So, how do you decide what is the best approach for your design and construction project? It depends on your priorities, your climate, your immediate site, whether your building is yet unbuilt, is a renovation or a historic rehabilitation, and more…

Here is some insight into the various certification types and each one’s focus.


WHOLE BUILDING CERTIFICATION – SITE AND BUILDING

Three of the earliest and most standardized certification programs use a whole-building approach to design and construction. Points are awarded for topics such as site selection, water conservation, and energy-efficiency strategies such as indoor environmental quality, materials selection, and the operation of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. A point system is given for each of 6 or 7 categories, with baseline strategies. The number of points determines eligibility and level of certification:

  • LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design): LEED Certified, LEED Silver, LEED Gold or LEED Platinum
  • Green Globes: 1 through 5 Green Globes
  • NGBS (National Green Building Standard): Bronze, Silver, Gold and Emerald

SPECIALIZED – BUILDING SCIENCE AND EFFICIENCY

A number of more specialized programs offer specific guiding principles on building science and water/energy efficiency. While offered as stand-alone certifications, these programs can also be combined holistically with whole-building programs such as LEED, Green Globes, or NGBS programs to improve the project’s overall level of achievement.

  • Energy Star: Established by the Environmental Protection Agency, this program acts as certification for products and buildings for water and energy efficiency.
  • Passive House: The focus is on a climate-appropriate highly insulated and air-tight envelope, balanced heat- and moisture-recovery ventilation, resulting in a minimal space conditioning system. Taking advantage of passive principles such as solar orientation is key to design.
  • Net Zero Energy: The principle is that Net Zero buildings rely on exceptional energy conservation and on-site renewable generation to meet all of their heating, cooling, and electricity needs.

HOLISTIC APPROACH – BUILDINGS AND THEIR OCCUPANTS

The newest category of green certification has emerged to address the health and welfare of occupants within the built environment. These programs focus on evidence-based design principles as well as performance-driven results, and can supplement or replace current building standards.

  • Living Building Challenge: This certification is touted as the world’s most rigorous proven performance standard for buildings, creating built environments that ‘give more than they take’. Their categories include site and building, as well as occupants’ health: Place, Water, Energy, Materials, Health & Happiness, Equity, and Beauty.
  • FitWel: This certification, used primarily for commercial properties, focuses on occupant health as the driver for building design. Categories describe what the building does: impacts community health, reduces morbidity & absenteeism, supports social equality, instills feelings of well-being, provides healthy food options, promotes occupant safety, increases physical activity.
  • WELL Building Standard: This standard is another which is centered on commercial and institutional buildings. ‘The standard uses innovative, research-backed strategies to advance health, happiness, mindfulness and productivity in our buildings and communities.’ Categories here are Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Fitness, Comfort, and Mind.

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Still have questions about sustainable building certifications?

Download our free Green Building Standards Comparison and get an at-a-glance view of the various standards for environmentally responsible design and construction.

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