Buildings and homes stand at the center of the burgeoning green revolution. As homeowners and architects strive to make more environmentally friendly decisions, understanding and leveraging green building certifications has never been more crucial. These marks of distinction not only certify the ecological impact of buildings but also confer value to homeowners, both in terms of financial saving and moral satisfaction. Herein we explore some green building certifications homeowners should become familiar with, discussing their meanings, significance, and procedural requirements.
Starting with a strong player in the green building certification landscape: Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council in 1994. This rating system, recognized globally, creates a set of sustainability criteria across several categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation in design. LEED promotes performance-oriented approach in five key areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.
Homeowners seeking LEED certification file for it after construction. A LEED accredited professional typically manages the application process, which involves documentation of sustainability features and completion of a checklist. Following review, the home earns a rating – Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum – depending on the number of points it accrued.
The National Green Building Standard (NGBS) offers a route specifically tailored to residential projects in the US. The NGBS emerged from the collaboration of the National Association of Home Builders and the International Code Council. It covers single-family homes, apartments and condos, remodeling projects, and land development projects. Homes are judged based on six areas: site design, resource efficiency, water efficiency, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and building operation and maintenance.
To initiate the certification process, a homeowner contracts an accredited verifier who checks the design plans, inspects the site, and compiles a report. Following a technical review, the home receives a Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Emerald certification.
A lesser-known but important player in this field is Passive House Institute U.S. (PHIUS). PHIUS focuses on designs that drastically limit buildings’ energy requirements. The certification aims at houses with minimal, passive energy use, achieved by smart design – high-quality insulation, energy-recovering ventilation systems, and highly efficient windows. To achieve certification, the house’s performance is verified by a design and energy model, and, after completion, a blower door test for airtightness.
Energy Star, the joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Department of Energy, targets energy efficiency. This primarily performance-based program requires certified homes to be at least 15% more energy-efficient than those built to the International Residential Code (IRC). Homeowners keen on Energy Star certification apply via a partner organization, which will assist in setting energy efficiency criteria appropriate for their locality.
The Living Building Challenge, a program of the International Living Future Institute, is arguably the most rigorous green building certification. It’s structured around seven performance areas, imperatives: site, water, energy, health, materials, equity, and beauty. To be certified, a building must fulfill all criteria, essentially achieving net-zero energy, water, and waste. Notably, the building has to have been operational for at least a year before it can be certified.
Green Globes, a product of Green Building Initiative, offers flexibility and customization while providing best practice and standards for green building. It consists of a questionnaire-based assessment, which a third-party assessor reviews. It covers seven areas: management, energy, water, materials and resources, emissions, indoor environment, and environmental management. Homes can achieve one to four Globes, depending on the points earned.
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is the oldest and one of the most widely used green building certification schemes, originating from the UK. BREEAM certification targets a variety of sustainability categories including energy, health and wellbeing, materials, management, pollution, transport, waste, water, and land use. Accredited professionals conduct an assessment, and the building may receive a rating ranging from Pass to Outstanding.
These green building certifications offer homeowners not only a roadmap towards greener abodes but also tangible benefits. They enhance the property’s value, reduce operating costs, and service the broader environmental responsibility of our times. The movement towards green buildings is about more than saving money or feeling good about one’s environmental impact; it is a holistic approach towards a sustainable future. Embracing these certifications places homeowners at the vanguard of this ecological revolution, reaping the rewards while safeguarding our collective future.
