Relative weight of water efficiency credits: as an indicator to enhance buildings’ environmental assessment tools performance

Abstract

ABSTRACTTo assess buildings' environmental performance, many governments, associations and organizations have adopted what is generally known as environmental assessment tools to achieve this assess. The tools- especially- the universal tools as LEED, BREEAM and GREEN STAR have proven their efficiency in many parts of the world. This paper argue that there is no tool could be applied to rate the environmental performance in every part of the world with the same trustworthy results. Tools need adaptation, modification and maybe aggregation with other tools to reflect the trustworthy performance. The categorization and credits awarded to environmental performance of buildings vary from tool to tool. When classifying a building as friendly environmental, gold or green ….etc. according to the overall rating system, it seems to be a vague assessment. As it might score a very high credit in some categories and failed in others, which could be more important to the region and local environment. The study concluded with a proposed reference baseline to “water efficiency” indicator as one of the main indicators of environmental assessment tools applicable in the ME region. Some environmental assessment and ranking tools will be preferable than the others.