Sustainable Building Certifications: A Way of Encouraging the Right Construction Practices for the Environment
Sustainable building certifications are now common in encouraging sustainable construction of all structures and beyond for them to be sustainable in their design, construction and operation. These certifications set some generally acceptable standards that anyone involved in architecture, real estate development, and property management and anyone else cannot afford to ignore. This paper will outline some of the most popular certification systems and how they are impacting the building industry:
1. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
LEED is one of the most popular green building certification programs developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED rating system rates buildings based on energy consumption, water use, the sustainability of materials used, and indoor environmental quality. LEED certified buildings are believed to use fewer resources, improve the health of the occupants and their productivity. It has led to the adoption of energy conservation technologies and production of energy from renewable sources, changing the design of new buildings.
2. BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method)
BREEAM is one of the earliest sustainability certification programs, founded in the United Kingdom. It assesses the environmental, social, and economic performance of a building from the design stage through to construction and then to the in-use stage. BREEAM has its focus on energy, health, pollution, and land use. Through promoting new and sustainable approaches to development, BREEAM has been able to set very high standards for sustainable development, particularly in Europe.
3. WELL Building Standard
The WELL certification is different from other certification systems which are based on the environment, as it is aimed at the health of the occupants of the building. It was created by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) to review factors such as air, water, light, fitness, and mental wellbeing. The focus with WELL certification has been to change the focus to creating spaces that are not only environmentally friendly, but also promote the health and performance of the people who use them.
4. Other Notable Certifications
- Living Building Challenge: This is a more strict certification that has a very strict standard that the building should be able to produce its own energy, treat its water and use non-toxic materials.
- Green Globes: This is a performance based certification that is primarily used in North America, and has energy efficiency and life cycle sustainability as its focus.
- Passive House (Passivhaus): The Passivhaus standard is a set of standards for designing buildings to require almost no energy for heating or cooling through proper insulation, construction, and ventilation.
Analysis of the Certification Systems
The following are the ways in which these certifications have generally positively impacted the construction industry:
- Encouraging the adoption of green technologies and sustainable products.
- Reducing CO2 emissions and energy consumption.
- Establishing the significance of IAQ to health.
- Promoting innovation in sustainable building design and emission control.
Besides the above, certified buildings are known to have some economic gains, including higher property values, higher tenant occupancy rates, and lower operating costs. Also, these certifications act as a marketing tool, a proof of concept of sustainability that would be attractive to the environmentally concerned stakeholders.
Conclusion
As for the building and construction industry that is facing the challenges of climate change and resource competitions, sustainable building certifications are a starting line for the future. These certifications when embraced by developers and architects can help in improving the sustainability of the built environment and at the same time create better and healthier buildings for the occupants.
