Green building certification systems
Building certification systems used around the world
Building certification systems used around the world
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### Germany

The German Sustainable Building Council (Deutsche Gesellschaft für nachhaltiges Bauen e.V., DGNB in German) introduced its own [green building](/wiki/Green_building "Green building") certification in 2009 together with the [German Federal Ministry of Traffic, Construction and Urban Development](/wiki/Federal_Ministry_of_Transport_and_Digital_Infrastructure "Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure") (Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Bau und Stadtentwicklung in German). The DGNB certification is voluntary and is based on German codes and standards ([DIN](/wiki/Deutsches_Institut_f%C3%BCr_Normung "Deutsches Institut für Normung") and [VDI](/wiki/Verein_Deutscher_Ingenieure "Verein Deutscher Ingenieure")). It is generally regarded as more comprehensive than BREEAM and LEED. The DGNB System is based on the three main paradigms of:

1. [Life\-cycle assessment](/wiki/Life-cycle_assessment "Life-cycle assessment")
2. Holistic sustainability (environment, economy and society)
3. Performance\-based approach.

It also takes into consideration the economic aspects and as such, also assesses the associated Life Cycle Costs and Value Creation of the building. It has six assessment categories and further assigns different weights to each category indicator.

| \+ DGNB assessment categories and Weightages |
| --- |
| Category | Weightage in % |
| Ecological quality | 22\.5 |
| Economical quality | 22\.5 |
| Sociocultural and functional quality | 22\.5 |
| Technical quality | 22\.5 |
| Process quality | 10 |
| Site quality | (Separate assessment) |

The assessment is done by an auditor who is appointed by the project contractor. The auditor supports the contractor and supervises the construction process from the initial registration up to the certification and the project conclusion.

| \+ DGNB rating levels and percentage scores |
| --- |
| Rating level | Percentage score |
| Platinum | ≥80% |
| Gold | ≥65% |
| Silver | ≥50% |
| Bronze | ≥35% (only for existing buildings) |

### Sweden

The Sweden Green Building Council introduced its own certification system in 2011 with Miljöbyggnad which is based on Swedish standards and legislations. It is currently in its 3rd iteration with Miljöbyggnad 3\.1 released in April 2020\. 
Miljöbyggnad has three levels of certification: Bronze, Silver and Gold. It is used to certify both new and existing constructions. It assesses 3 categories, namely:

1. Energy consumption
2. Indoor environment
3. Materials and chemicals.

Among these categories, there are 15 further sub\-categories which have its own set of requirements for each certification levels. For example, for the "Energy use" sub\-category, Bronze level requires energy use to be less than 65% of the requirements of the BBR, the Swedish Building Code. After 3 years, another follow\-up inspection is conducted to see that everything is in the correct order and the standards are still being met.

Besides Miljöbyggnad, the Sweden Green Building Council also administers the Swedish version of the British BREEAM adapted for the Swedish construction practices and standards, called BREEAM\-SE. It was first introduced in Sweden in 2013 and is used to certify new constructions.

### Taiwan

[EEWH](/wiki/EEWH "EEWH") is Taiwan's Green Building Label. EEWH is the abbreviation of "Ecology, Energy Saving, Waste Reduction, and Health" and is established in 1999 as the fourth green building label certification in the world. It is currently the only green building evaluation system independently developed in tropical and subtropical climates, and most especially for high\-temperature and high\-humidity climates. Apart from operating in Taiwan, there is also an international version of the EEWH certification for buildings abroad.

There are six types of EEWH, which are divided into "basic type, accommodation type, factory building type, old building improvement type, community type, and overseas version". Each type is based on the four major axes of "ecology, energy saving, waste reduction, and health". According to the standards of the nine indicators of "biodiversity, greening amount, base water conservation, daily energy saving, carbon dioxide reduction, waste reduction, indoor environment, water resources, sewage and waste improvement", to determine the "qualified grade, bronze grade, silver grade Level, Gold Level, Diamond Level" five certification levels, generally audit rewards if qualified level can get 2% volume, bronze level 4%, silver level 6%, gold level 8%, diamond level 10%.

### United Kingdom

The [Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM)](/wiki/BREEAM "BREEAM") is recognized as the first Sustainability Assessment Method for buildings. It was launched in 1990 by the UK\-based organization [Building Research Establishment](/wiki/Building_Research_Establishment "Building Research Establishment") (BRE).

[thumb\|BREEAM logo](/wiki/File:BREEAM_logo.svg "BREEAM logo.svg")

[thumb\|right\|upright\=1\.2\|A [BREEAM](/wiki/BREEAM "BREEAM") certification plaque in Poznan, Poland](/wiki/File:BREEAM_Poznan.jpg "BREEAM Poznan.jpg")

BREEAM certification is carried out on the basis of a scoring system where projects are assessed on the basis of 10 categories (with individual weightings differing by project type) as follows:

1. Management
2. Health and well\-being
3. Hazards
4. Energy
5. Transport
6. Water
7. Materials
8. Waste
9. Land use and ecology
10. Pollution
11. Surface water run\-off

Each category is sub\-divided into a range of assessment indicators, each having its own aim, target and benchmarks. When a target or benchmark is reached, the asset is given credits (or points) by a qualified BREEAM assessor. The category score is calculated according to the number of credits attained and the category weightings. Once the development has been fully assessed, the final performance rating is determined by the sum of the weighted category scores. The final performance rating is specified as:

| \+ BREEAM rating levels and percentage scores |
| --- |
| Rating Level | Percentage score |
| Outstanding | ≥85% |
| Excellent | ≥70% |
| Very Good | ≥55% |
| Good | ≥45% |
| Pass | ≥30% |
| Unclassified | \<30% |

A qualified assessor evaluates a building or project and ensures that it meets the quality and performance standards of the selected scheme. In some countries such as Netherlands, Germany and Sweden, there are national operators that officially certify for BREEAM adapted to that country's standards, processes and construction methods.

BREEAM certification has also been made mandatory for governmental construction projects in the UK. According to the Common Minimum Standards for governmental construction, an environmental assessment is required on all public projects and further states that, "where BREEAM is used, all new projects are to achieve an 'excellent' rating and all refurbishment projects are to achieve at least 'very good' rating."

### United States

In 1998, the US Green Building Council devised its own building certification system through the [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design](/wiki/Leadership_in_Energy_and_Environmental_Design "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design") (LEED) certification. It has its own set of criteria for assessment and utilizes the [ASHRAE](/wiki/ASHRAE "ASHRAE") codes and standards. Due to its simplicity and ease\-of\-use, the LEED quickly gained international recognition within a short period. Over the years, LEED has undergone many changes and is now currently in its fourth iteration, which was launched in late 2013\.

[thumb\|[Taipei 101](/wiki/Taipei_101 "Taipei 101"), the tallest and largest LEED Platinum certified building in the world since 2011\.](/wiki/File:Taipei101.portrait.altonthompson.jpg "Taipei101.portrait.altonthompson.jpg")

LEED rating systems differ according to the type of the project. The different types of rating systems fall under:

1. **Building Design and Construction**: For new construction or major renovations
2. **Interior Design and Construction**: For commercial interior fit\-out projects
3. **Building Operations and Maintenance**: For existing buildings undergoing improvement but with little construction work
4. **Neighborhood Development**: For new land development projects or redevelopment projects
5. **Homes**: For single family, low\-rise multi\-family or mid\-rise multi\-family homes
6. **Cities and Communities**: For entire cities or sub\-sections of a city. Assessment of a city's water consumption, energy use, waste, transportation etc.
7. **LEED Recertification**: For occupied and currently\-in\-use projects that have already received LEED certification but aiming to maintain and improve the building.
8. **LEED Zero**: For projects with net\-zero goals in carbon emissions and resource use.

LEED certification is voluntary and a qualified assessor evaluates the projects on the basis of various established categories. These categories are as follows:

1. Integrative process
2. Location and transportation
3. Sustainable sites
4. Water efficiency
5. Energy and atmosphere
6. Materials and resources
7. Indoor environmental quality
8. Innovation in design
9. Regional priority

[thumb\|right\|A plaque of [LEED](/wiki/Leadership_in_Energy_and_Environmental_Design "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design") Platinum certification.](/wiki/File:LEED_Certification_%289578633104%29.jpg "LEED Certification (9578633104).jpg")

The four levels of LEED certification are: Platinum, Gold, Silver and Certified.

| \+ LEED rating levels and points required |
| --- |
| Rating level | Points required |
| Platinum | 80\+ points |
| Gold | 60–79 points |
| Silver | 50–59 points |
| Certified | 40–49 points |


What are the categories on which LEED certification is based?