Comparison of Sustainable Sites Category in Various Versions of LEED Certification System

Abstract

The emergence of factors, such as environmental pollution, global warming, etc. caused by industrialization, increasing population, and unsystematic urbanization, which threatens human and environmental health, has resulted in the introduction of the concept of sustainability with the Brutland Report in 1987. In order to reinstate the ecological balance, the efficient use of energy has gained importance all over the world. Since then, this approach has emerged in every field possible. It has also emerged in the construction industry with various names such as green, sustainable and ecological, and in order to minimize the negative effects, some countries have developed various certification systems. Green buildings aim to maximize energy, water and materials savings while minimizing resource usage. Certification systems that have been developed are used for performing objective analysis based on preset evaluation criteria. Although categories in the certification systems vary, they are generally based on similar properties. In this study, the concept of sustainability, green buildings, BREEM, SBTool, Green Star, CASBEE, and LEED certification systems have been evaluated via a literature review. Following, the sustainable sites category of the LEED certification system’s latest three versions i.e. v3, v4 and v4.1 have been compared. Keywords: Sustainability, Green Building, LEED, Sustainable Sites, Location and Transportation DOI: 10.7176/JSTR/6-11-06