What are the top Sustainability and Green Building Certifications?
Why do we need Sustainability and Green Building certifications?
Sustainable construction and the growing need for ‘green’ buildings have become a focus in recent discussions due to changing regulations and the government’s goal to achieve net zero by 2050.
The built environment has a significant global environmental impact and is a key contributor to climate change. Buildings are responsible for 40% of the world’s carbon emissions and use roughly:
- 40% of the world’s energy
- 30% of the world’s available drinking water
Green buildings are better for the bottom line, better for staff and clients and better for the planet.
There are a number of sustainability and green building accreditations in the industry. The following certifications, ratings and standards are most commonly requested by clients and focused on at ODGroup.
BREEAM
The BRE Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) is used to specify and measure the sustainability performance of buildings, ensuring that projects meet sustainability goals and continue to perform optimally over time.
A BREEAM assessment uses recognised measures of performance, which are set against established benchmarks, to evaluate a building’s specification, design, construction and use. The assessment focuses on a building’s most influential factors, including reduced carbon emissions, low impact design, adaptation to climate change, ecological value and biodiversity protection.
You can find out more about BREEAM assessment categories and how to get started here.
LEED
LEED is a holistic system that doesn’t simply focus on one building element, it factors in all critical elements that work together to create the best building possible that:
- Reduces contribution to global climate change
- Protects and restores water resources
- Promotes sustainable and regenerative material cycles
- Enhances individual human health
- Protects and enhances biodiversity and ecosystem services
- Enhances community quality of life
LEED-certified buildings are critical to addressing climate change and meeting ESG goals, enhancing resilience, and supporting more equitable communities.
You can find out more about LEED and how to get started here.
Fitwel
The Fitwel Standard provides tailored scorecards for existing and new buildings and sites to optimise the unique opportunities for every project to receive the Fitwel healthy building certification. The Fitwel Scorecards include 55+ evidence-based design and operational strategies that enhance buildings by addressing a broad range of health behaviours and risks.
Fitwel’s seven health impact categories:
- Impacts surrounding community health
- Reduces morbidity and absenteeism
- Supports social equity for vulnerable populations
- Instils feelings of well-being
- Enhances access to healthy foods
- Promotes occupant safety
- Increases physical activity
You can find out more about Fitwel and how to get started here.
SKA
SKA rating is an environmental assessment method, benchmark and standard for non-domestic fit outs. It is led and owned by Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and was launched in 2009.
SKA is different to tools that assess the environmental impact of whole buildings such as BREEAM and LEED as it only applies to the office fit-out. SKA rating helps designers, contractors, landlords and tenants assess fit out project against a set of sustainability good practice criteria, known as good practice measures (GPM). There are over 100 good practice measures covering energy and CO2 emissions, waste, water, materials, pollution, wellbeing and transport. An example of a good practice measure is that when wooden flooring is stripped out, it should be sent for re-use to a salvage yard instead of to landfill.
You can find out more about SKA Rating and how to get started here.
NABERS
NABERS measures and rates the actual energy use of offices, helping building owners to accurately track and communicate the energy performance of their buildings. It also helps identify areas for savings and improvements.
NABERS provides a rating from 1 – 6 stars for building efficiency across:
- Energy
- Water
- Waste
- Indoor environment
You can find out more about NABERS and how to get started here.
WELL Building Standard
The WELL Building Standard is a building certification which focuses on human health and wellbeing. Consisting of an evidence-based system, the standard is designed to spotlight elements of building design and business operations that have an influence on people, their health and wellbeing. The certification covers a broad range of wellbeing criteria , categorised into ten concepts: Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind and Community.
You can find out more about the WELL Building Standard and how to get started here.
For a full list of sustainable building accreditations and certifications, you can visit the World Green Building Council website.
