This document provides an overview and comparison of major global green building rating systems including LEED, BREEAM, DGNB, and China's Three Star system and MOHURD standards. It outlines the key sustainable attributes each system evaluates such as energy efficiency, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and more. The document also discusses challenges in green building certification including lack of sustainable products and technical expertise as well as the need to decrease resource use and emissions. Finally, it outlines future trends like a focus on renewable energy, zero energy buildings by 2020 in Europe, and the growing importance of corporate social responsibility and people-focused cities.

1. Demystifying Global Green
Building Rating System
and Aligning your Product
Testing Strategies
Morna Hallsaxton, MFA
LEED AP BD+C, ID+C
Morna.hallsaxton@intertek.com

2. Agenda
• Sustainable Overview
• Comparison of Global Green Building Rating Systems
• Comparisons with product Energy Efficiency,
Chemicals, and Product Life (LCA/EPD)
• LEED-Homes vs. LEED Commercial
• Mexico Case Study
• What’s Next?
• Questions
MOHURD
2

3. Challenge Statement
“…sustainable-
to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
From the 1987, the United Nations,
Brundtland Commission
3

4. Definition: Triple Bottom Line
Promote processes to minimize environmental and social
impacts maintaining economic benefits.
From the 1987, the United Nations,
Brundtland Commission
4

5. Triple Bottom Line Statistics
Planet: Atmospheric CO2 for October 2015: 398.29 (ppm).
Causes GHG (China is the largest contributor using 40% world’s coal)
Oxygen decreased 30% Pacific Ocean 1980-today.
Energy (GHG), Waste, Air emissions and Waste Water
People: Per USGBC People in the U.S. spend about
90% of their time indoors where the level of pollutants may
be 10 times higher than outdoor levels, except China (lung
cancer is leading cause of death).
Neighborhood impacts, help non-profits,
employee health
Profit: Reduce energy and water consumption,
Increase employee health (Rick Fedrizzi USGBC CEO,
Greenthink)

6. Profit and Cost

7. Global Sustainable Rating Systems
USGBC LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
rating system started in the US in 1993 evaluating building attributes to reduce energy
and water use, lesser site impact,
a healthy internal environment
and a full building life cycle.
There are 110 possible points for
certification at four levels
Certified (>40),
Silver (>50),
Gold (>60) and
Platinum (>80).
More than 50,000 commercial
Projects have been certified.
Credit criteria is based on
ASHRAE standards, other US
and International legislation.
Robinson Nature Center Maryland LEED NC Platinum

8. Global Sustainable Rating Systems
Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) created in 2003 to expand
green building in Canada. CaGBC is a member of the World Green
Building Council and is dedicated to promoting LEED rating
system.
Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre LEED NC Gold

9. Global Sustainable Rating Systems
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental
Assessment Method) started in the UK in 1990 and has certified over
16,000 projects since 1998. There are 27 credits
Available. Trained assessors
evaluate the evidence against
the credit and then report the
Decision to BRE, who validate
and issue the certificate.
Credits are based on UK and
European legislation.
London’s One Embankment Place Outstanding

10. Global Sustainable Rating Systems
DGNB (Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Nachaltiges Bauren or German
Sustainable Building Council) founded 2008 in Germany to focus on a
holistic approach assessing the entire lifecycle of the building. This includes
evaluation
of about 50 criteria
including environmental,
economic, technological
and work processes
(organizational). There are
three possible achievement
levels for certificates in
bronze, silver, and gold.
Stuttgart: Certification for Sustainable Building awarded a category Silver by DGNB

11. Global Sustainable Rating Systems
China
Three Star System (GBEL-Green Building Evaluation Labeling)
• credits based for NEW residential and public buildings.
• Developed in 2006 for three different certification levels
• Different from LEED in that it includes “Operations and
Management” as one of the seven category groups (Land, Energy,
Water, Materials, IEQ, O&M, Preference).
MOHURD: (Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development)
• developed in 2008 as a building labeling program
• Mandatory in regulating energy efficiency of new government-
owned and large publically owned buildings.
• (MOHURD Building Energy Label) certifies the Star rating.

12. Global Sustainable Rating Systems
China
Franshion Green Building Exhibition Centre, Changsha, China
October 2014 for BREEAM and China’s 3 Star Green Building Assessment.

13. Canadian
Green
Building
Council
Online
questionnaire-­‐based
approach,
improvements,
then
verified
by
third
party
BREEAM
assessor
(Building
Research
Establishment)
Client
works
with
DGNB
auditor
(third
party)
for
project
registration
and
document
submission.
Formal
Examination,
Expert
committee
evaluation,
and
public
scrutiny.
Wait
one
year
for
energy
.
Same asUSGBC
Energy efficiency is based on modeling.
Compares to ASHRAE or local standards
Building LCA to determine building
performance and efficiency of
technology
Collection of absolute energy data at two
different times: inspection (thoretical) and 1
year operational (measured). Compare to
Chinese national standard.
Same asUSGBC
Requires feasibility stuyd for using local low or
zero carbon enregy sources.
Based in LCA of a building and
used materials: performance
Exceed 5% Renewable of total energy
consumption (today the largest investor of
renewable energy)
Same asUSGBC
No Asbestos and encourages Natural
ventilation (WHO guidelines for air quality)
Focus on user comfort and
wellbeing of occupant
(sociocultural) VOC emission
criteria Installation of IAQ monitoring device
Same asUSGBC Discourages use of refrigerants
Based in LCA of a building and
used materials Not Regulated
Same asUSGBC
Evaluates material LCA and calculates a
score (BREEAM Mat 01 Cal)
Based in LCA of a building and
used materials
70% of material produced within 500 km
and 10% of total material weight to be
recycled
Same asUSGBC None Mentioned
Sociocultural: occupant space,
public access, and design
considerations (LCA for cos) None Mentioned
8 10 6 7
4,000 plus 16,000 121 oraganizations have joined
2,965 (50% of buildings only for 17% of
population for new construction)
Constructing Neighborhoods for 250,00-
500,000
Sustainable
Building
Standards
Building
Research
Establishment
Environmental
Assessment
Methodology DGNB
Green
Building
Evaluation
and
Labeling
(GBEL)
Energy efficiency
LCA for material choices for triple
bottom line impacts
Forbids CFC- based refrigerants
Sustainable
Attributes
Energy efficiency based on
modeling to demonstrate 5%
improvement over Baseline or
ASHRAE 90.1(EPA DOE Energy
Star)
Green
Build
Certification
Institute
provides
certification
after
third
part
reviewers
evaluate
documents.Evaluation
Process
8
Projects Certififed
50,000 in over 22 countries (2,000
in China)
Renewable Energy
Credit for at least 1% of total
energy consumption
Total Categories
Corporate Social
Responsibility ISO 14001
No credits for this now, yet
realizes that this needs to be
included.
Indoor Environmental Quality
VOCs
Materials & Resources
Chemicals
GHG
Prohibits smoking on inside of
buildings. Ventilation meets
minimum ASHRAE 62.1

14. Challenges
• Not enough sustainable products (low VOCs hazards vs risk)
• Lack of technical staff that are qualified
• Higher up front costs for sustainable construction
• Decrease of global use of natural resources
• Population growing_ 7.3 billion
• Material transparency from the supply chains
• China and US consume 39% of the world’s energy and contribute to the
world’s highest carbon dioxide emissions (EPA, 2009)
14

15. What’s Next? (GreenBuild 2015)
• Transport- oriented development gains
• European Commission stated that by 2020 buildings will be zero energy use
• China wants 100 smart cities by 2040 to decrease carbon emissions
• Cities will have renewable energy
• Cities will focus more on people
• Focus more on climate change
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• GBCI will introduce WELL Building
Standard and CaGBC will
promote this
15

16. In Conclusion
• Reduce climate Warming
• Chemical Transparency
• Reduce energy use and GHG
• Collaborate with industry
• Resources are everywhere
16

17. Questions
17
(No question is too small!)