Global building environmental performance assessment systems and their role in environmental conservation: Developing an environmental performance assessment system for the Saudi environment

Abstract

This paper discusses the principles of environmental performance for buildings and their direct effects on the depletion of environmental resources. The research is significant in proposing ways of reducing resource depletion and improving utilization by developing systems to assess buildings’ environmental performance and their feasibility for environmental, sustainable, and conservation development. The paper introduces an assessment system that can measure the environmental performance of buildings aiming to make them more efficient and address their impact. It starts with the theoretical approach, focusing on two areas. The first discusses the concept of the environment, defining its terms, identifying the environmental components and problems encountered and discussing the extent of the effect on the quality of human life. The second discusses buildings’ environmental performance, specifically their responsiveness and adaptation to the environment, studying the elements that influence the quality of buildings and their suitability given environmental and climatic conditions. The empirical analysis then examines and compares global environmental performance assessment systems—Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), and the Pearl Rating System (PRS)—and usage methodology. The paper concludes by proposing a new environmental assessment system adapted to the study area to assess buildings, thus making a contribution to knowledge.