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8/7/2019 Green Real Estate Certifications
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BUILDING CERTIFICATIONS
LEED
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is an internationallyrecognized green building certification program designed to provide guidelines
for implementing practical green building solutions. Created and ran by the U.S.Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Green Building Certification Institute(GBCI), LEED consists of nine rating systems for the design, construction, andoperation of buildings, homes, and neighborhoods. These include:
LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations
LEED for Core & Shell Development
LEED for Schools
LEED for Retail New Construction
LEED for Commercial Interiors
LEED for Retail Interiors LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance
LEED for Neighborhood Development
LEED for Homes
Each of these systems operates though a point system to gain Certified (4049points), Silver (5059 points), Gold (60-79 points), or Platinum Certification (80+points). Points are based on water efficiency, sustainable sites, materials andresources, indoor environment, energy and atmosphere, and regional priority.The certification relies on documentation as opposed to on-site testing, and lastsforever (except Operations & Maintenance).
ENERGY STAR
This program is primarily focused on energy use; setting standards that arerecognized internationally for energy efficient consumer products. Ran by theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency in conjunction with the U.S. Department ofEnergy, Energy Star compares homes to certify those that are at least 15% moreenergy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code(IRC) and include additional energy saving features to be 20-30% more efficientthan standard homes. Energy Star also provides an energy performance ratingsystem applied to buildings, and recognizes top performing ones with the
ENERGY STAR. This certification lasts one year, and not all building types areeligible.
GREEN GLOBES
This certification program follows an online assessment, rating system, andoutline for green building design, operation, and management. Adopted from aCanadian protocol, Green Globes operates in the US by the Green Building
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Initiative. This program is unique in the fact that it is both easy to use andaffordable, while being comprehensive in the following seven categories:
Energy
Indoor Environment
Site Water
Resources
Emissions
Project Management
Green Globes relies on certified assessors to verify compliance, and introducesuses to the idea of incorporating Life Cycle Assessment tools into material andresource selection. It is available for new construction, existing buildings, andresidential homes.
NATIONAL GREEN BUILDING STANDARD
This certification, developed and administered by the National Association ofHome Builders (NAHB), establishes green building, construction practices, andperformance levels for residential areas. It covers both new construction andrenovations of all residential types; including single-family homes, multi-familycomplexes, and mixed-use buildings. Homes with this certification mustincorporate the following six categories:
Lot Design
Resources Efficiency
Energy Efficiency
Water Efficiency
Indoor Environmental Quality
Operations/ Maintenance/ Education
There are four levels of certification available including Bronze, Silver, Gold, andEmerald. The standard can also be applied to land developments in the form ofOne, Two, Three, or Four Stars. Certified assessors are required to verifycompliance.
GREENGUARD
This certification program focuses greatly on indoor air quality, promoting low-emitting building materials, paints and finishes, cleaning products, furnishings,electronics, and other consumer products. Developed and ran by the GreenguardEnvironmental Institute, certification is available for new commercial andresidential buildings as well as major renovations. There are four programsavailable, including:
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required as the system evolves, and certification must be renewed every twoyears.
GREEN ADVANTAGE
This program offers certification for professionals knowledgeable in greenbuilding principles, materials, and techniques. There are three types available:
Commercial
Residential
Commercial/Residential
Green Advantage is primarily aimed at the building industry, providingcertification for green builders and building-related practitioners to help them gainemployment while allowing building occupants to enjoy healthier, high-efficiencyhomes. While training is available, it is not required to take the open book exam.
If passed, the certification is good for three years.
COMPANY CERTIFICATION
B CORPORATION
This company certification was created to help businesses address social andenvironmental problems through performance standards, accountability, andbuilding constituency for good business. In order to become a B Corporation, a
company must do the following:
1. Pass the B Impact Ratings System test2. Adopt the B Corporation Legal Framework3. Sign a Term Sheet
Certifications are done by B Lab; a non-profit whose mission is to help thegeneral public tell the difference between good companies and good marketing.After achieving certification, B Corporations must present supportingdocumentation of their adoption of the B Corp Legal Framework, and are subjectto on-site review during each two-year term.