Green Building Certifications: What They Mean and Why They Matter
Green building certifications have gained considerable attention in the past two decades as more and more parties involved in construction, architecture, and property development pursue environmental certifications for their buildings. But first, let’s find out what these certifications are and why they are important to the construction of commercial and residential buildings. In this article, details about some of the well-known green building certifications, the details of what the certifications involve, and their significance will be included.
Green Building Certification is a process that is designed to certify the sustainability of a structure and ensure that it is environmentally friendly and efficient in the use of natural resources.
Green building certification refers to the assessment and verification that a building has been designed and constructed to specific environmental standards. Several primary green building certification programs are in place with specified standards that target various aspects for instance energy and water efficiency, emissions reduction, use of sustainable materials, and indoor environment quality..
To obtain a certification, there is a set of requirements that the electrical estimating must meet, as well as gaining points to reach different levels of certification. The compliance of the building is confirmed by a third-party assessor through an assessment involving physical visitation of the building and documentation checks. Some of the certifications are therefore considered to be the most credible evidence that a building conforms to green standards.
Several major green building certifications have been developed to enable buildings to be certified on the level of greenness that they have attained.
There are three major global green building certification programs:
LEED
LEED is a green construction estimator standard that operates through the non-profit body of the US Green Building Council and is currently the most popular Green Building Rating System in use globally. LEED has a variety of categories considered depending on the type of building, new construction, existing buildings and site, interior spaces, homes, neighborhoods, cities, commercial buildings and communities, and finally operations and maintenance.
BREEAM
The assessment method that was specifically designed to rate buildings’ sustainability originated in the United Kingdom and is known as the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) and can be applied to both newly constructed buildings, building renovations, and infrastructure projects. BREEAM certifications are obtainable cross-border and there are international versions that have different forms in various countries.
Living Building Challenge
The Living Building Challenge is another recognized certification standard, managed by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), and it is deemed to be the world’s toughest green building standard. It also requires strict guidelines on net positive energy, water, and waste, among other rigorous benchmarks that ensure regenerative design.
Green building certifications: stabilizing the future As the prices of green building certifications are stabilizing, organizations and governments are exploring numerous benefits that come from them.
It is also clear that many benefits are associated with green building certifications, and these are both direct and indirect. Here are some of the top lumber takeoff services benefits:
Financial Savings
That shows that the process of creating an eco-friendly building and having a green accreditation frequently leads to reduced expenses throughout the life cycle of construction. Given the fact that energy and water savings recoup the initial costs of green products and systems in a short time.
Healthier Indoor Environments
The green-certified buildings enhance a better supply of fresh air, natural lighting, safer content, and moisture and pollutant control which makes it a healthier environment for the occupants.
Higher Property Values
Green building returns higher value on a building and sometimes command higher rent/lease prices as compared to noncertified buildings. The advantage of having a certification is its prestige and its tendency to increase the asset value.
Risk Mitigation
Compliance with the standards of a green building certification also decreases risks for the enterprise since it decreases product failures, callbacks, and other losses that affect profitability.
Environmental Stewardship
“Green certified buildings” – the construction of such buildings reduces the effect of destructive construction activities on the habitat and the people living nearby; and, ‘the carbon footprint of a building’ is reduced. In one respect, it is a meaningful way that the building industry can deal with climate change.
Reputational Enhancement
Third-party accreditation helps attract the attention of the tenants, investors, and the public and provides independent confirmation of a building project’s green credentials.
Conclusion
Due to climate change affecting the standards of building design and construction, green certifications are set to expand their relevance and applicability for different industry sectors and residential buildings shortly. Through the certification processes that focus on the alteration of the construction and management of buildings, the property industry is set to promote sustainable construction and management to foster the sustainability of the environment and promote healthy living.
