Green Building Rating Systems (GBRSs)

Green Building Rating Systems (GBRSs) are typically third-party, voluntary, and market driven standards that measure buildings’ sustainability level by multi-criteria assessment, encourage the adoption of environmentally, socially economically sustainable practices in design, construction operation buildings (or neighborhoods). GBRSs aim at guiding assessing project throughout all its life cycle, thus limiting negative impact on environment, as well building occupants’ health well-being, even reducing operational costs. Hundreds now available worldwide, varying approaches, application processes, evaluation metrics. BREEAM, CASBEE, Star LEED among most applied worldwide. Despite some differences, they adhere to same general structure: performances ares measured using a set relevant indicators, grouped per topics such water management, energy use, materials, site qualities. Each assessed requirement is assigned score/judgment, total which determines achieved. In addition regular updates, current trend improve effectiveness protocols, making them more comprehensive accurate, while keeping easy use.