Building Certification System Research Articles

Indoor environmental quality in WELL-certified and LEED-certified buildings

International building certification systems, such as the WELL and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, play a pivotal role in the design of healthy and sustainable buildings. While LEED adopts a holistic approach to designing healthy and sustainable buildings, the WELL standard has a strong emphasis on human health, comfort, and well-being. Although prior research has revealed inconsistent results for occupant satisfaction in office buildings with WELL certification compared to buildings without WELL certification, or are certified using another certification system (e.g., LEED), most of these comparisons tend to lack methodological rigor. This study used a statistical procedure to match and compare 1634 occupant surveys from LEED-certified buildings to 1634 surveys from WELL-certified buildings. Six important architectural and experiential parameters were matched, masking their influence on the outcome. Overall building and workspace satisfaction was high in both WELL-certified buildings (94% and 87%) and LEED-certified (73% and 71%). We found that there is a 39% higher probability of finding occupants who are more satisfied in WELL-certified buildings compared to LEED-certified buildings, indicating occupant satisfaction is higher in buildings with WELL certification. Although we were unable to pinpoint the reason for higher occupant satisfaction in WELL-certified buildings, the results consistently showed that perceived indoor environmental quality was enhanced across all parameters except for the amount of space.

Land management criteria for green building certification systems in Turkey.

The issue of energy holds significant implications for nations heavily reliant on it, such as Turkey. In recent times, legislative measures, including the Energy Efficiency Law and the Energy Performance Regulation of Buildings, have been enacted in Turkey. Despite the implementation of the Energy Performance Certificate for buildings, the absence of a national green building certification system remains conspicuous. To address this gap, an examination of globally recognized certification systems and relevant components concerning land management, pertinent to Turkey's context, was undertaken. This involved a comprehensive literature review to establish the foundation for survey inquiries. Subsequently, interviews were conducted with subject matter experts in Turkey to glean valuable insights and perspectives. Utilizing the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology, the responses from these experts were collated and analyzed to delineate the criteria and sub-criteria germane to land management. This study delves into the discourse surrounding the establishment of a green building certification system within Turkey, specifically within the domain of land management, a sector of paramount importance, particularly within the purview of survey engineering. Through a structured survey, the criteria pertinent to land management were identified and subjected to rigorous analysis. Furthermore, the sub-criteria within the land management category were delineated, and their respective weights were computed, thereby providing a comprehensive framework for the envisioned green building certification system in Turkey.

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF “LEED” CERTIFIED SCHOOLS WITH “YES-TR” IN THE CONTEXT OF “GREEN CERTIFICATION”

With the emergence of green building concept in the construction sector, the increase in green building production has resulted in green building certification systems. It is important to establish these certification systems on a national scale for reasons such as the compatibility of sustainable architecture with local conditions and differences in the legislation of countries. It is inevitable to change the criteria of the certification system in accordance with the function of the building. As the schools are directly related to learning as well as providing the health and comfort to the users, there are internationally specialized certification systems for green schools. In this study, some of the LEED-certified schools in Turkiye were compared; these buildings were evaluated within the framework of the “Green Certificate (YeS-TR)” introduced by the Turkiye’s Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change in 2022. The main categories of “LEED v2009 for Schools” and “Green Certificate” were compared; while “sustainable sites” and “regional priority” categories in “LEED v2009 for Schools” are not included in the “Green Certificate”, the main category of “integrated design, construction and management” and “life cycle assessment” were not met in “LEED v2009 for Schools”. As a result of the study, various suggestions were made for the development of certificates in this context.

BIM to BREEAM: A workflow for automated daylighting assessment of existing buildings

By conducting an assessment of the existing building stock from the perspective of the Green Building Certification System (GBCS), it is possible to contribute to the improvement of energy utilization and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as promoted through the Renovation Wave strategy by the European Union. These aspirations will simultaneously contribute to enhancing human well-being, indoor environmental quality, and comfort. This paper describes a novel methodology for enhancing the renovation of existing buildings at the design stage using automation within the Building Information Modeling (BIM) environment. By parameterizing the requirements of GBCS using a visual programming tool, real-time insight into the number of achieved certain issue credits in the certification process is enabled. It was also created to enable designers in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations (AECO) sector to continuously monitor the development of design and make modifications as early as possible in the design process. Thus, cost overruns in design projects, as well as later renovations and building maintenance, are prevented. This research has utilized the capability of BIM to perform rapid compliance simulations with Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) requirements without the need for manual calculations and/or computer simulations in other software, which would increase the time required for analysis due to additional modeling requirements. The methodology is demonstrated using the automation of the Daylighting section of the issue Hea01 Visual Comfort from the Technical Manual SD225 1.4 − BREEAM International Non-Domestic Refurbishment 2015, and the validation was performed on a BIM model of an existing building belonging to the educational sector. The application of the described methodology in the case study reduced the time required for assessing the number of achieved daylighting credits by 40%, with potential savings extending up to 80% depending on the chosen criteria for analysis. The tool is designed to be applicable to other GBCS, building types, and newly designed buildings as well.

Sustainable Energy Use in Buildings: A Leadership Opportunity for Gardens and Zoos

Cultural institutions hold a unique position of influence, serving as hubs of education and knowledge dissemination for the people they serve. Embracing sustainable energy use in buildings in zoos and botanical gardens is a commitment to environmental responsibility that reinforces these institutions as trusted sources of information and community leaders on climate change, one of the most vital issues of our time. Sustainable energy solutions can synergize operations with educational missions, allowing zoos and botanical gardens to lead by example and inspire visitors to adopt eco-friendly practices in their own lives. In this opinion paper, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens President and CEO Richard Piacentini discusses key elements in developing a sustainable building energy plan, reviews potential barriers to implementation, and makes a case for adopting regenerative thinking and new metrics for measuring success—citing example cases from Phipps’ Center for Sustainable Landscapes (CSL) project. Additionally, the paper demonstrates how green building certification systems and peer-based resource networks like The Climate Toolkit can help guide institutions in the process.

The BREEAM, the LEED and the DGNB certifications as an aspect of sustainable development

Some of the most significant problems of industrialised countries are increasing consumerism, the growing demand for more and more energy and other natural resources, and the depletion of non-renewable sources. The visible consequences are environmental pollution and global warming. To address these issues, there is growing pressure on the use of alternative energy sources, the use of natural resources and the introduction of new technologies. The use of multi-criteria building certification systems, which evaluate their performance, is becoming increasingly common in the building industry. The BREEAM, the LEED, and the DGNB are among the most popular methods for assessing sustainable architecture, and they project management tools. The main task of the article was to define and describe the impact of documents related to sustainable development certificates on contemporary design and living and working conditions, as well as to demonstrate the relationship between the quality of architecture and environmental protection. Another goal is to indicate how dynamically the number of certificates issued in Poland is increasing. The study used the necessary research methods: analysis and criticism of applicable documents and literature, as well as an intuitive method based on personal experience. The scope of the work includes a discussion of the most frequently obtained certificates: the BREEAM, the LEED, and the DGNB, the achievements of which prove the use of solutions conducive to sustainable development.

BIM and Sustainable Design: A Review of Strategies and Tools for Green Building Practices

Building Information Modeling (BIM) provides a robust foundation for driving sustainability across architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) practices. This paper presents a systematic review of literature elucidating the confluence of BIM tools and processes with accelerated performance simulations and green building certification systems needed to guide environmentally sensitive design. Integrated Revit-Insight 360 is shown to enable 21% lower energy use intensity (EUI) and 8.5% reduced lifecycle costs over baseline for an office building through rapid multi-objective optimization spanning orientation, envelope and HVAC properties. Enhanced integrated platforms perform detailed thermal zoning analysis capturing realistic solar gains and heat storage effects, right-sizing heating equipment by 7.2% over conventional workflows. Further, BIM automation mitigates nearly 50-80% of manual calculations for BEAM Plus, LEED prerequisites and accelerates documentation for certification. However, interoperability issues inhibiting holistic sustainability evaluations persist due to lack of modeling standards. Emerging tools exemplify modular green assessment connecting multi-vendor engines to resolve underlying technical barriers. As BIM object definitions and seamless analytical integration matures, widespread mainstreaming for sustainability is foreseeable. While current measured metrics revolve around energy use, emissions and green certification, future work needs to address social and economic indicators also enabled by data-rich BIMs. Nevertheless, coupled with continuous monitoring for validation, BIM provides the foundation for the AEC industry to progress towards comprehensive sustainable building lifecycles.

Towards net zero carbon buildings: Accounting the building embodied carbon and life cycle-based policy design for Greater Bay Area, China

Carbon mitigation of buildings is critical to promote a net-zero society. The international society has vigorously promoted “Net Zero Carbon Buildings” across the globe, and accounting for building carbon emissions is critical to support this initiative. Embodied carbon, which represents carbon emissions from the entire lifecycle of the buildings, is fundamental for realizing the idea of zero carbon. However, only limited studies have been conducted so far that take into account the city scale. This paper aimed to act as a first try to account for the embodied carbon emissions in buildings in 2020 for the Guangdong-Hong Kong Macau Greater Bay Area in China (GBA). We integrated remote sensing techniques such as night-time light data (NLT) and building material flows analysis to calculate and spatialize the newly generated building material stocks (MS). Based on the MS data, we further applied life cycle assessment (LCA) to assess the embodied carbon in the buildings. The results highlighted that over 163 million tons of embodied carbon in buildings of GBA are expected to be generated, from 497 million tons of newly generated building MS in 2020. The embodied carbon in each life cycle stage is valuable for further lifecycle-based policy designs for: (i) supporting the updating of the green building certification system with consideration of the embodied carbon; (ii) promoting the green building material application and certification; and (iii) reducing the embodied carbon intensity from compact urban planning policy, such as the urban agglomeration policies in GBA. The goal of this paper was to shed a light on reducing carbon emissions from the perspective of the entire lifecycle and promote the development of net zero carbon buildings in China and Asia-Pacific.

Zero Carbon Ready Metrics for a Single-Family Home in the Sultanate of Oman Based on EDGE Certification System for Green Buildings

A single-family house was designed as a new middle-income green residential building in the Sultanate of Oman, according to criteria defined by the green building certification system EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies), developed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which is a member of the World Bank Group (WBG). The design was accomplished through the free cloud-based tool of EDGE. With respect to a base design for the Sultanate of Oman, the green home design achieved savings of 40.86%, 20.22%, and 26.39% in energy, water, and materials (Embodied Energy), respectively. In addition, a saving of 35.48% in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions was estimated. Based on the completed green building design, four green building-normalized metrics were used to quantify the efficiency of the base case and the design case in terms of the consumption of resources and polluting emissions. These efficiency metrics are: Carbon Emission Index (CEI), Energy Performance Index (EPI), Water Consumption Index (WCI), and Embodied Energy Index (EEI). Out of these green building performance metrics, the EPI is directly provided by EDGE, while the other three are introduced here as additional useful indicators that allow fair evaluations and comparison with other buildings, due to their less stringent dependence on the floor area or the number of occupants.

LEED and BREEAM Green Building Certification Systems as Possible Game Changers in Attaining Low-Cost Energy-Efficient Urban Housing Projects

LEED and BREEAM Green Building Certification Systems as Possible Game Changers in Attaining Low-Cost Energy-Efficient Urban Housing Projects

Developing Indicators for Healthy Building in Taiwan Using Fuzzy Delphi Method and Analytic Hierarchy Process

Healthy buildings are the future of industrial development and a global trend. This study is based on the local demand in Taiwan for the certification of healthy building assessments. It consolidates fifteen relevant assessment indicators and the literature on healthy buildings and green buildings from both domestic and international sources. Through expert questionnaires, the study investigates the importance and weight values of assessment items, selecting seven assessment indicators (air, water, light, exercise, comfort, materials, and mental well-being), seventeen assessment items, and 65 assessment sub-items. The weight values of each indicator are statistically analyzed. Based on the expert questionnaires, a rating system and scoring criteria are formulated, ultimately constructing the “Taiwan Healthy Building Assessment Indicators.” The aim is for this framework to serve as a reference for the government in establishing a healthy building certification system as well as to enhance public awareness and emphasis on human health.

업무용 건축물 LCA 분석을 통한 녹색건축 인증제도 개선방안 연구

In this study, a study was conducted to identify problems with the "building LCA" evaluation items in a domestic green building certification system(G-SEED), and to prepare improvement plans. To this end, domestic and foreign green building certification systems were compared, and the evaluation items of G-SEED were analyzed and LCA case studies were conducted for Business facilities buildings, and the results were analyzed. As a result of the case analysis, it was analyzed that each environmental load impact category affects the environment in the order of 48.5% global warming, 37.3% resource depletion, 5.8% photochemical oxide production, 4.7% human toxicity, 2.0% acidification, 1.1% eutrophication, 0.4% ecotoxicity, and 0.3% ozone layer destruction. In addition, improvement plans were presented through the results of case analysis.

고온다습기후 지역 건축물의 외피 계획에서 드러나는 친환경성 분석 : 대만 지역의 EEWH 인증 녹색도서관을 중심으로

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the eco-friendly elements of the building skin in a hot and humid region and to propose feasible eco-friendly planning elements (in Korea). Method: Categorizing external environmental factors that can affect interior space. Identifying the elements of eco-friendly architectural planning from building life cycle perspective. Visiting for field observation about 5 public libraries certificated by Taiwanese Green Building Certification System (EEWH). Characterization planning features by external environmental factors of hot and humid region’s green buildings. Result: Above all, it is extremely important to actively utilize and develope passive air conditioning design skill that can replace mechanical facility-oriented air conditioning systems in modern architecture. Because controlling daytime solar radiation and outside air access at the building skins are directly related to indoor temperature and eventually determines air conditioning system operation. Additionally, when the building can be the part of site and eco-system, it can create a greater synergistic effect by harmonizing with passive air conditioning systems. The vitality of soil and plants ultimately enhances air conditioning by improving air quality and circulation. Lastly, it was empirically confirmed that finding contribution at every stage of building life cycle can be a practicable means of defining the environmental impact of buildings.

The Building Certification System - A Tool of Sustainable Development of University Campuses

Abstract The study is part of humanity's current concerns of tempering climate change for sustainable development, in the context where the construction sector is responsible for a significant percentage of greenhouse gas emissions. In the present work, through a rigorous documentation, the authors synthesize several existing green and sustainable building certification systems. Extending the study from buildings to green neighbourhoods, to university campuses and even to green cities, models of their sustainable development are highlighted. The authors summarize the results of the various "green" ratings, initiating "Top 10 Greenest Universities in the world", demonstrating the interest of certification and classification. The paper presents the case study of the University of Oradea. From this perspective, participation in a rating of green campuses, as well as certification of buildings, are stimulating elements for approaching a sustainable development strategy. Thus, with the registration in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings, the University of Oradea is set to rise in the ranking, which actually led to the improvement of the green criteria and implicitly to an orientation towards a sustainable development of the university campus. At the same time, the paper demonstrates that the energy certification of old buildings engaged in the "wave of renovations" is a tool for the sustainable development of university campuses.

Assessing the Role of Sustainable Construction Practices in the One Belt One Road Initiative: A Comparative Analysis of China and Southeast Asian Countries

This conceptual paper examines the role of sustainable construction practices in the One Belt One Road Initiative, with a focus on the comparative analysis between China and Southeast Asian countries. The study explores policy frameworks, technological advancements, market trends, and institutional capacities in promoting sustainable construction within the context of the initiative. The analysis reveals that both China and Southeast Asian countries have demonstrated a commitment to sustainable development through the implementation of green building standards and certification systems. China has showcased advancements in integrating renewable energy technologies and adopting innovative construction techniques, while Southeast Asian countries are gradually adopting advanced technologies. The market trends indicate a growing demand for green buildings and sustainable infrastructure in both regions. Institutional capacities vary, with China establishing research institutions and certification bodies, while Southeast Asian countries are in the process of strengthening their institutional frameworks. The findings suggest opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing within the initiative. The implications highlight the potential for environmental protection, economic growth, and social development through sustainable construction practices. The paper concludes with recommendations, including fostering international cooperation, providing capacity building programs, and promoting policy incentives to maximize the potential of sustainable construction in the One Belt One Road Initiative.

Study on Certification Criteria of Building Energy and Environmental Performance in the Context of Achieving Climate Neutrality

Increased greenhouse gas emissions have led to a global warming threat. As a result, countries have tended to focus their decision-making attention on energy-saving strategies. Specifically, the concept of green building has been developed for the construction sector. It aims to create energy-efficient structural activities (new constructions, repairs, or renovated constructions) that will be carried out in line with the determined criteria. With the concept of green building and the need to establish criteria and standards to ensure energy efficiency, green building certification systems have come to the fore. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) certification systems have been developed. This article investigates the achievements of the Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) category of LEED-certified projects in Türkiye and Europe. A comparison study of countries was carried out, based on the fourth version of the LEED BD+C framework that was developed for new green building projects. The study’s primary goal is to show the linear correlation between market value and IEQ. It was revealed that the gross domestic product does not affect IEQ applications. Although Türkiye was ranked first in applying for IEQ credits, its economic development level is lower than that of other European countries.

Indonesia MICE green building project with value engineering and its influential factors: an SEM-PLS approach

The MICE industry is considered one with high economic attractiveness for investors. Regulations and user requests for a new building are required to meet green building standards. The Green Building Council Indonesia issues Greenship's green building certification system. A minimum of 56 points is required for additional investment costs but will result in savings in operations to get a platinum rating. This paper aims to determine what factors are influential in optimising construction costs through the value engineering method to achieve a green building rating tool with life cycle costs using Structural Equation Modelling. The finding is that energy is the most influential factor in obtaining platinum rating certification, which requires value engineering and lifecycle cost analysis to achieve optimal investment costs with additional costs from 7,494% to 4,689%. The novelty of this research is that the selection of materials/machines and working methods of the green concept that saves energy needs to be carried out from the beginning of the design to achieve a feasible payback period for new investments, which will be the commitment of the owner to build a green MICE.

Investigation of building certification systems in terms of sustainable preservation: the case of Mardin city in Turkey

The global threats that arise due to the changing needs as a result of the advancement of technology cause the rapid depletion of natural resources. This situation necessitates studies to protect resources and reduce energy consumption. Recent studies have particularly emphasized the concept of “sustainability”. Today, as a result of the emergence of sustainability in buildings, certification systems have been developed in which the features of buildings are revealed. In this study, 4 certificate systems frequently used in different countries were discussed. First of all, these systems were examined, and their current data were revealed. The study aims to reveal the sustainability of a historical building located in an important historical city in Turkey according to criteria of the determined certification system. For this aim, the Old Government House in Mardin was discussed as a study area. The historical features of the building and plan features were included in the study area. In the findings of the study, the features of the historical building were determined according to the criteria of certification systems. In the evaluation of the features revealed, suggestions were made especially for the use of energy and water. At this point, to use simple renewable energy sources and systems will support the efficient and recycling of water in the building. This situation will contribute to the sustainable use of the faculty to a great extent. As a result, the sustainable preservation of historical buildings can be achieved in the long term by producing its own energy and using recyclable systems.

A Study on Indoor Environmental Quality

Günümüzde insanlar zamanlarının büyük bölümünü konut, ofis, okul gibi kapalı mekânda geçirmektedir. Son yıllarda yaygın olarak görülen hasta bina sendromu, bina kaynaklı hastalıklar, okullarda öğrenim performansının ve ofis ortamlarında çalışanların verimliliklerinin azalması gibi sağlık ve verimlilik sorunları iç ortam kalitesi ile ilişkilendirilmektedir. Bu çalışmada iç ortam kalitesi ve sürdürülebilir bina kavramları ilişkilendirilerek, insan sağlığı ve verimliliği konularında iç ortam kalitesinin (iok) önemine dikkat çekmek amaçlanmaktadır. Bu çalışma kapsamında iok’ni belirleyen parametrelerden aktif olarak ölçülebilen ve kontrol edilebilen ısıl konfor, iç hava kalitesi, aydınlatma ve görsel konfor, akustik konfor ele alınmıştır. İok ile ilgili standart ve literatür taraması ile elde edilen bulgular sonucunda bu parametrelerin tanımları, kullanıcı üzerindeki etkileri, ölçülme yöntemleri ve yeşil bina sertifikasyon sistemleri ile ilişkileri ele alınmıştır. Sonuçta, iok'nin çalışmada ele alınan temel parametrelerinin, bina kullanıcılarının sağlığı ve üretkenliği ile ilişkili olduğu; dikkate alınmasında önemli sağlık ve finansal yararlar olduğu; iç ortamdaki fiziksel koşulların, uygun tasarım ve bina işletim sistemleri ile karşılanabileceği, yeşil bina sertifika sistemlerinin binalarda iok’nin gelişimine katkı sağladığı sonuçlarına ulaşılmıştır.

Computational LEED: computational thinking strategies and Visual Programming Languages to support environmental design and LEED credits achievement

Since environmental and energy issues and challenges continues to emerge as key global concerns, Green Building Certification Systems are becoming increasingly relevant in the construction industry.In this regard, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is considered one of the most widely recognized environmental assessment methods used globally in the construction industry today.However, due to the high level of complexity of the LEED system, the tools usually used to verify the achievement of the credits lack of “design friendliness” and hardly communicate effectively with the conventional tools used by architects and engineers (e.g. CAD, BIM). This makes difficult to fully take into account, especially at the early design stage, the many interconnected aspects that contribute to the green certification, with consequent issues often arising in the design validation and/or construction phases, resulting in time delays and cost increments.The application of innovative problem-solving methods, such as computational thinking, together with coding techniques, represents an effective way to deal with this issue. This kind of methodology, in fact, allows the requirements of a specific LEED credit to be digitally parametrised and flexibly incorporated into a “designer friendly” working environment.In particular, Visual Programming Languages (VPLs), due to their high simplicity of usage, allow architects and engineers to develop algorithms and thus implement their technical knowledge in the field of environmental design with computer programming skills, useful to improve their tools and keep them constantly updated.The aim of this paper is to illustrate a methodology through which, by merging computational thinking strategies with VPL tools, is possible to keep under control, in the same working environment, all the parameters required to verify in real time the achievement of LEED credits. To demonstrate the flexibility of the approach, dedicated tools developed for the verification of some specific credits at different scales – neighbourhood and building – are illustrated as operational examples of the proposed methodology.