Standardizing the Green Building Standard

It seems every major market in the world is developing some type of GreenBuilding Standard by which to measure the effects on the environment of developing, constructing,and managing building structures.

Traditional measures of such standards include a concern for developing in such a way that it does not impact the existing environment in a negative way. Issues addressed in these green building standards include that the building have a higher level of energy efficiency, that it has some level of renewable energy capacity, that its water use and management is exemplary, that materials employed are sustainable and recycled and other factors impacting the indoor quality, productivity and livability factor of the building are addressed.

However, it seems that as more markets see the potential to develop a green building standard, they are also creating confusion, and potential market cannibalization amongst the differing Green Building Standards.

In the US alone there is LEED, Energy Star, NAHBgreen, and countless state standards developed in tandem. Globally, the confusion continues:

Some examples of green building environmental assessment tools currently in use:

* Australia: Nabers / Green Star

* Brazil: AQUA / LEED Brasil

* Canada: LEED Canada / Green Globes

* People's Republic of China: GBAS

* Finland: PromisE

* France: HQE

* Germany: DGNB

* Kong Hong Kong: HKBEAM

* India: GRIHANational Rating System developed by TERI /LEED India

* Italy: Protocollo Itaca

* Malaysia: GBI Malaysia

* Mexico: LEED Mexico

* Netherlands: BREEAM Netherlands

* New Zealand: Green Star NZ

* Portugal: Lider A

* Singapore: Green Mark

* South Africa: Green Star SA

* Spain: VERDE

* Switzerland: Minergie

* The United States: LEED /Living Building Challenge / Green Globes Build it Green/NAHB NGBS

* The United Kingdom: BREEAM

So as you can see, there really is no such thing as THE Standard for Green Building Standards. It's a myriad of labels, brands, ratings that leave those of us "Accredited Professionals" wondering if we must master all these standards to be globally competitive. Furthermore, what really matters is which standard or label creates the most bang for the buck. Meaning by applying which attributes of these standards will our buildings gain the most energy efficiency, renewable energy, maintain a level of financial competitiveness and marketability, and offer the best inddor and quality standards. In other words become THE STANDARD of Standards.

Recently, to address this parade of standards three of the most widely known green building labels, the UK's BREEAM rating System, the US Green Building Council's - LEED certification, and Australias, Green Star Label signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) committing them to work together to develop common standards for measuring the environmental impact of new and existing buildings. Yet I wonder if they trully represent the best...

The prized global STANDARD of GreenBuilding is still up for grabs, or maybe there is room for all these labels, standards, schemes, templates to work together...


Pilar - a BrightGreen EnviroLeader