Green Assessment Tools Research Articles

Ultrasound assisted upper critical solution temperature type switchable deep eutectic solvent based liquid-liquid microextraction for the determination of triazole in water

BackgroundThe use of pesticides to protect crops has long been an important measure to provide healthy and safe agricultural products, but excess pesticides flow into fields and rivers, causing environmental pollution. Earlier methods utilizing organic solvent liquid-liquid microextraction for pesticide residue detection were not environmentally friendly. Therefore, it is significant to find a greener and more convenient detection method to determine pesticide residues. ResultsA new method was established to detect three triazole fungicides (TFs), including myclobutanil, epoxiconazole and tebuconazole, in environmental water samples. And the determination was conducted using a high-performance liquid chromatography with the ultraviolet detector (HPLC-UV). The switchable deep eutectic solvent (SDES) can be reversibly switched between hydrophilic and hydrophobic states through temperature modulation. Additionally, the method exhibited excellent linearity for all target analytes within the concentration range of 10–2000 μg L−1, with satisfactory R2 values (≥0.9975). The limits of detection (LODs) ranged from 2.3 to 2.6 μg L−1, and the limits of quantification (LOQs) ranged from 7.8 to 8.7 μg L−1. The accuracy of the method was assessed through intra-day and inter-day precision tests, yielding relative standard deviations (RSDs) in the ranges of 2.8%–6.7% and 2.2%–7.5%, respectively. Density functional theory (DFT) results indicated that hydrogen bonding is a significant factor affecting the binding of DES with triazoles. Three different green assessment tools were used to prove that the SDES-HLLME method had good greenness and broad applicability. SignificanceThis is a homogeneous liquid-liquid microextraction (HLLME) method based on the upper critical solution temperature (UCST) type switchable deep eutectic solvent program, which can complete the extraction within a few minutes without dispersant. In terms of pesticide detection, the analytical method is simple and more conducive to environmental protection.

Adsorption separation of oxytetracycline hydrochloride using natural and nanostructured clay mineral of silica in synthetic solution: Integration to white and green chemistry metrics

As emerging water pollutants, oxytetracycline (OTC) and its derivatives are detrimental to humans, organisms, and aquatic ecosystems. Oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTCH) was effectively absorbed from water by silica (SiO2) and metakaolinite (MK). In this study, we employed a unique metric known as BAGI to evaluate the suggested analytical method's suitability effectively. Blue applicability grade index (BAGI) complements green assessment tools such as the Green analytical procedure index (GAPI), Complex green analytical procedure index ComplexGAPI, Analytical GREEnness (AGREE), Analytical greenness for sample preparation (AGREEprep), and Analytical eco-scale (ESA). The BAGI metric focuses on the practical aspects of white analytical chemistry, especially those related to “blue.” The optimal parameters for adsorbing OTCH were determined by a study (pH, OTCH concentration at the beginning of the reaction, sorbent dose, and reaction duration). This study of sorbent properties was conducted via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The highest levels of OTCH adsorption were seen at pH 5–6 for MK and at pH 7 for SiO2. The most desirable clay minerals are those with smaller quantities. The Langmuir model accurately characterizes the results, showing a strong correlation between OTCH sorption onto MK with a maximum capacity of 165.04 mg/g and a moderate correlation for SiO2 with a maximum capacity of 25.3 mg/g. Therefore, these findings regarding the effectiveness of adsorption and the analysis of properties offer supplementary insights into the potential use of clay minerals as cost-effective and eco-friendly sorbents for treating wastewater.

An Ecologically Sound RP-HPLC Method for Estimating Citicoline using AQbD with Degradation Studies

Background: Citicoline is widely used for neurological complications. This research work was carried out using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) employing green analytical chemistry principles. Materials and Methods: The method was completely developed with ethanol:water (20:80 v/v) as the mobile phase, 0.1% orthophosphoric acid was used to adjust the pH to 3.5, and an Inertsil ODS 3 (250 x 4.6 mm, 5 μm) column as the stationary phase, the flow rate was set at 1-mL/min. The column temperature was maintained at 35ºC, and an injection volume of 10 μL was used for detection at a wavelength of 250 nm. Results and Discussion: The peak was eluted with isocratic elution with a retention time of 3.996 minutes. The linear concentration range for this method was 10 to 50 μg/mL, and the correlation coefficient R2 was 0.999. The forced degradation studies have shown that 3.5% w/w degraded in acid, 1.35% w/w in alkali, and 0.2% w/w in oxidation. The products formed during degradation were characterized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Conclusion: The International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines were followed in the development and validation of the method optimized by the use of central composite design, and the method’s greenness was assessed through the use of AGREE, AES, GAPI, and AMGS, among other green assessment tools.

Combined green analytical principles and quality by design for ultraperformance liquid chromatography analytical method development, the characterization and in-silico toxicity prediction of Ixazomib degradation products using mass spectrometry

Ixazomib citrate (IC) is the first oral selective proteosome inhibitor for treating multiple myeloma. IC is prone to degradation due to its oxidative deboronation and the amide bond, affecting patient health, drug quality, and efficacy. The stability of IC is crucial during drug development as it guides the inherent stability of the molecule, its degradation pathways, packing materials, and formulation development. Following the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) Q1A (R2) and Q1B, a stability study were performed for both solution and solid-state stress studies. Under oxidative and alkaline conditions, 3 degradation products (DPs) were identified, separated, and method-validated according to ICH Q2 (R1) guidelines. From the Design Expert statistical tool, the Central Composite Design was used to optimize the final analytical method conditions, where the p-values for the model are < 0.05%. Green analytical chemistry has significantly reduced the use of hazardous organic solvents without losing chromatographic performance. The green separation and quantification of DPs and IC on Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) using an Inert-Sustain C8 (50×3.0) mm 2.0 µm column with gradient elution using 10 mM ammonium acetate buffer (pH 5.0) and ethanol at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min and detection at 230 nm. The results of green assessment tools like GAPI, AGREE, and Analytical eco-scale found that the method is excellent for the greenness of utilizing ethanol as a solvent, shorter runtime, and lesser waste. The method was validated as per ICH Q2 guidelines, and the results found it is sensitive, precise, accurate, robust, and linear for its intended use. The method is suitable for quantifying IC and its DPs from 2.0 to 150 µg/mL with R2 values of 0.9996 with a detection limit of 1.0 µg/mL. The plausible degradation structures and pathways of DPs were outlined using tandem mass spectra employed on LC-QTOF-MS/MS in both ESI positive and negative modes. The mechanistic explanation for establishing DPs was explained in detail. The ADMET Predictor™ software predicted the physicochemical and ADMET properties. The toxicity profile reveals that DP2 and DP3 are teratogenic, while D1 and D3 show phospholipidosis.

Ecofriendly single-step HPLC and TLC methods for concurrent analysis of ternary antifungal mixture in their pharmaceutical products

Two accurate, sensitive, and selective methods for simultaneous determination of miconazole nitrate (MIC), nystatin (NYS), and metronidazole (MET) in pure state or drug product were established and verified. First, RP-HPLC-DAD was designed. Separation was accomplished using a ZOBRAX Eclipse Plus RP-C8 column that was running under an isocratic elution of methanol: 0.05% aqueous solution of sodium dodecyl sulphate (40: 60 v/v), with a flow rate that was regulated at 0.8 mL/min. The column temperature was adjusted at 25 °C and diode array detector was monitored at 220 nm. The linearity range of the proposed method was achieved at the concentration of 5–50, 4–50, and 4–40 µg/mL and the attained retention time for the studied drugs was 2.52, 3.52 and 4.99 min for MIC, NYS, and MET, correspondingly. Second, a TLC-densitometric approach was used to resolve the three compounds. Resolution of the three cited drugs was carried out using TLC aluminum plates pre-coated with 0.25 mm silica gel 60 F254. A developing solvent comprised ethyl acetate: toluene: methanol: triethyl amine: formic acid (3: 1: 7: 0.3: 0.1 by volume) (pH = 5.5) was utilized and scanning of the resolved bands at 215 nm. Linearity of the developed TLC method was evaluated and evident to be 0.4–2, 0.4–2.2, and 0.4–2 μg/band for MIC, NYS, and MET, in that order. The suggested chromatographic methods were verified according to ICH directives. The findings of the developed chromatographic procedures were statistically compared with the results of the reported ones using student’s t-test and F-test. Furthermore, two green assessment tools evaluated the indicated methods' level of greenness (GAPI and AGREE).

Deep Eutectic Solvent-Based Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction Coupled with LC-MS/MS for the Analysis of Two Ochratoxins in Capsicum.

Ochratoxins, a common class of mycotoxin in capsicum, and techniques and methods for the determination of mycotoxins in spices have been increasingly developed in recent years. An innovative and eco-friendly method of dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) was demonstrated in this study, based on a synthesized deep eutectic solvent (DES) combined with LC-MS/MS, for the quantification and analysis of two ochratoxins in capsicum. The DES-DLLME method parameters entail selecting the DES type (thymol:decanoic acid, molar ratio 1:1) and DES volume (100 μL). The volume of water (3 mL) and salt concentration (0 g) undergo optimization following a step-by-step approach to achieve optimal target substance extraction efficiency. The matrix effect associated with the direct detection of the target substance in capsicum was significantly reduced in this study by the addition of isotopic internal standards corresponding to the target substance. This facilitated optimal conditions wherein quantitative analysis using LC-MS/MS revealed a linear range of 0.50-250.00 µg/mL, with all two curves calibrated with internal standards showing correlation coefficients (r2) greater than 0.9995. The method's limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) fell in the ranges of 0.14-0.45 μg/kg and 0.45-1.45 μg/kg, respectively. The method's spiked recoveries ranged from 81.97 to 105.17%, indicating its sensitivity and accuracy. The environmental friendliness of the technique was assessed using two green assessment tools, AGREE and complexGAPI, and the results showed that the technique was more in line with the concept of sustainable development compared to other techniques for detecting ochratoxins in capsicum. Overall, this study provides a new approach for the determination of mycotoxins in a complex food matrix such as capsicum and other spices using DES and also contributes to the application of green analytical chemistry methods in the food industry.

Greener and Whiter Analytical Chemistry Using Cyrene as a More Sustainable and Eco-Friendlier Mobile Phase Constituent in Chromatography.

Cyrene (dihydrolevoglucosenone) was evaluated for the first time as a potential sustainable mobile phase solvent in reversed-phase chromatography. As a benign biodegradable solvent, Cyrene is an attractive replacement to classical non-green organic chromatographic solvents such as acetonitrile and a modifier, co-eluent to known green solvents such as ethanol. Compared to ethanol, Cyrene is less toxic, non-flammable, biobased, biodegradable, and a cheaper solvent. A fire safety spider chart was generated to compare the properties of Cyrene to ethanol and show its superiority as a greener solvent. Cyrene's behavior, advantages, and drawbacks in reversed-phase chromatography, including the cut-off value of 350 nm, elution power, selectivity, and effect on the column, were investigated using a model drug mixture of moxifloxacin and metronidazole. A monolithic C18 (100 × 4.6 mm) column was used as a stationary phase. Different ratios of Cyrene: ethanol with an aqueous portion of sodium acetate buffer mobile phases were tested. A mobile phase consisting of Cyrene: ethanol: 0.1 M sodium acetate buffer pH 4.25 (8:13:79, v/v/v) was selected as the most suitable mobile phase system for separating and simultaneously determining metronidazole and moxifloxacin. The greenness and whiteness of the method were evaluated using the qualitative green assessment tool AGREE and the white analytical chemistry assessment tool RGB12. Further potentials of Cyrene as a solvent or modifier in normal phase chromatography, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and supercritical fluid chromatography are discussed.

Utility of the food colorant erythrosine B as an effective green probe for quantitation of the anticancer sunitinib. Application to pharmaceutical formulations and human plasma.

Sunitinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor used for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. In this study, two spectroscopic methods, spectrofluorometric and spectrophotometric, were utilized to quantify sunitinib in different matrices. In method I, the native fluorescence of erythrosine B was quenched by forming ion-pair complex with increasing quantities of sunitinib. This approach was utilized for measuring sunitinib in its dosage forms and spiked plasma. After excitation at 528 nm, the quenching of fluorescence is linearly related to the concentration across the range of 0.05-0.5μg mL-1 at 550 nm in Britton-Robinson buffer (pH4.0), with a correlation value of 0.9999 and a high level of sensitivity with detection limit down to 10ng mL-1 . Method II relies on spectrophotometric measurements of the produced complex at 550 nm across a range of 0.5-10.0μg mL-1 , with good correlation value of 0.9999. This method has a detection limit down to 0.16 μg mL-1 . The proposed methodologies were validated according to International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines with satisfactory results. The stoichiometry of the reaction was determined through the application of Job's method, while the mechanism of quenching was investigated by employing the Stern-Volmer plot. The designated methods were used to estimate sunitinib in its capsules and in spiked human plasma. Additionally, the statistical analysis of the data revealed no substantial differences when compared to previous reported spectroscopic method. Green assessment tools provide further details about the eco-friendly nature of the methods.

Development of a detection method for 10 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs residues in four swine tissues by ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

The ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) detection method was developed for the residues of 10 NSAIDs (salicylic acid, acetylsalicylic acid, acetaminophen, diclofenac, tolfenamic acid, antipyrine, flunixin meglumine, aminophenazone, meloxicam, metamizole sodium) in swine muscle, liver, kidney, and fat. Swine tissue samples were extracted by phosphorylated acetonitrile with the addition of an appropriate amount of internal standard working solution, defatted with acetonitrile-saturated n-hexane, and purified by Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance (HLB) solid-phase extraction column, then separated by UPLC BEH shield RP18 column with 0.1% formic acid in water/0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile with gradient elution, which was detected in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) modes. The correlation coefficient of the standard curve equation is greater than 0.99, and the coefficient of variation within and between batches is less than 14.4%. We evaluated the analytical method using two green assessment tools. The method established in this study met the requirements of NSAID residue analysis and provides analytical tools for determining and confirming NSAIDs in swine tissue samples. This is the first report on the simultaneous determination of 10 NSAIDs in four swine tissues by the UPLC-MS/MS method and accurate quantification using deuterated internal standards.

Building rating tools integration in building information modeling (BIM)

Building Information Modelling (BIM) has a high potential to assist in designing a green building. Integrating BIM and building rating tools can help designers design buildings that fit the minimum requirements of green certification. Without BIM, green certifications are performed manually and after project completion. Incorporating BIM and building rating tools in the early decision-making process of a project is more significant to enhance building sustainability. The study aims to review the extent of integration of building rating tools with BIM for green certification in the current research. Upon screening the relevant publications, it is discovered that only a small number of studies have been conducted that link BIM and green assessment tools. Only a total of 19 studies are eligible for the review process. The content analysis results of these studies point out that LEED is the most used building rating tool for integration with BIM. The integration is mostly made by using Autodesk Revit and Dynamo. The major focus for the integration is on the energy and atmosphere sub-category as the credit allocation is the highest. More studies integrating the BIM-building rating tool are needed to automate the green certification process.

What we learn is what we earn from sustainable and circular construction

Sustainable and circular construction entails emissions and wastes reduction through the reuse and recycling of materials to achieve economic gains and save resources for future generations. This work aims to map the academic research on sustainable and circular construction from different imperative angles on the Web of Science (WoS) database. In this line, we classified and reviewed the existing research using a bibliometric and network analysis approach into the following themes: life cycle assessment (LCA), green assessment tools, technologies and methods, quantification of recycling of waste and energy, building information modeling (BIM), greenhouse gas emissions in construction, and greenhouse gas emissions in the specific case of novel construction types. The study provides a bird-eye-view of existing qualitative and quantitative research findings within the themes above. Subsequently, the study highlights the future research avenues within each theme to develop the domain further. The work will assist practitioners and policy-makers in understanding the current status of sustainable and circular construction and suggest necessary actions to attain environmental sustainability.

Simultaneous estimation of crotamiton and hydrocortisone by RP-UPLC using green analytical principles embedded analytical quality by design (AQbD) method

Analyzing varied concentrations of pharmaceutical active drug substances in dosage forms without any interferences using eco-friendly principles is more challenging. Hence, the aim of the present study is used to estimate Crotamiton (CTM) and Hydrocortisone (HCS) simultaneously by applying green analytical principles together with Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD)- rotatable central composite based approach using RP-UPLC based method development and validation. The study was intended to enhance efficiency and reduce environmental consequences, by reducing the toxic solvents/chemicals usage and waste emission. The separation was carried out through the aid of a Waters X-Bridge (C18 50 × 2.5 mm i.d, 1.7 µm) column with an optimized mobile phase for the determination of two drugs were ethanol:0.01 M ammonium acetatebuffer (pH 3.0) 30:70v/v at a flow rate of 0.3 ml/min. The measurement was made at aconcentration of 70–130 µg/ml for CTMand 1.75–3.75 µg/ml for HCS(R2 = 0.9998–0.9995). The results of the degradation study revealed that the drugs degraded under stressed conditions and the degradation products were identified using MS, and the proposed structures were depicted. The suggested methodology’s linearity, accuracy, and precision have been verified using ICHcriteria and green assessment tools, with environmentally acceptable results. This novel eco-friendly AQbD-based analytical approach could be readily adaptable by chemical and pharmaceutical industries for regular analysis without any regulatory barriers.

Comparative Study of Green Rating Systems in India

Indian construction industry is highest growth rate from last years, which is having a negative impact on the environment and natural resources available for construction. Following this problem of carbon imprint, concept of sustainable development in construction industry is the need of an hour. With increase in demand of sustainable buildings or green buildings demand of green rating and assessment tools is also increasing. Rating tools set benchmark for green building measurement, which are helpful in reducing negative impact on environment by promoting quality green building. India has two main building environment assessment tools i.e., Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) and Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA). The former is benchmarked with global standards while later is indigenously developed. This paper aims to focus on comparative study of IGBC (LEED India) and GRIHA rating system and compare both with regards to their certification-cost, influence and popularity, performance criteria and benchmarks 9rating score). Through this study, an attempt is made to make clear understanding of IGBC and GRIHA rating system assessment criteria that need to be considered before certification.

Environmental benign AQbD based estimation of ketoconazole and beclomethasone by RP-HPLC and multi-analytical UV spectrophotometric method

Hazardous chemicalsare one of the most significant adverse effects of drug analysis. Chemicalwaste generatedat every stage of the analysisfound to bein significant concentrations during quality testing. Green analytical chemistry provides a safe environment for drug analysis. Three simple and environmentally sustainable UV spectrophotometric andliquid chromatographic techniques were established to simultaneously measure Ketoconazole and Beclomethasone dipropionate in their bulk and cream formulation. Firstly, the spectrophotometric estimation deals with three green methods: absorption ratio, the first-order absorption ratio, and the area under curve methods. The second approach was green rotatable centralcomposite analytical quality by design-based RP-HPLC method with an optimized mobile phase of ethanol: 0.1 M potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer (pH 2.5) 33: 67 v/v. The separation was accomplished using an ODS reversed-phase column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) operating at a 1.0 mL/min flow rate. The determination was performed using the concentrations ranging for Ketoconazole 140–260 µg/mL and Beclomethasone 1.75–3.75 µg/mL (R2 = 0.9991–0.9999). The results showed that the Forced degradation experiments indicate that the drugs degrade under their intended circumstances. Green solvents were utilized in the developed techniques since they significantly impact environmentally benign analytical methods. The proposed techniques have been validated in linearity, accuracy, and precision based on International Council on Harmonization guidelines and green assessment tools, with acceptable results. These techniques shall be employed in place of methods that utilized toxic chemicals for determination and are easily adaptable for routine analysis.

Implementing Green Analytical Methodologies Using Solid-Phase Microextraction: A Review.

Implementing green analytical methodologies has been one of the main objectives of the analytical chemistry community for the past two decades. Sample preparation and extraction procedures are two parts of analytical method development that can be best adapted to meet the principles of green analytical chemistry. The goal of transitioning to green analytical chemistry is to establish new methods that perform comparably—or superiorly—to traditional methods. The use of assessment tools to provide an objective and concise evaluation of the analytical methods’ adherence to the principles of green analytical chemistry is critical to achieving this goal. In this review, we describe various sample preparation and extraction methods that can be used to increase the greenness of a given analytical method. We gave special emphasis to modern microextraction technologies and their important contributions to the development of new green analytical methods. Several manuscripts in which the greenness of a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) technique was compared to other sample preparation strategies using the Green Analytical Procedure Index (GAPI), a green assessment tool, were reviewed.

Evaluation of assay and in-vitro dissolution profile of certain fixed-dose combination using green analytical method

The pharmaceutical industry and the National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) are now focusing on the dissolution of multi-component drugs for quality control testing and predicting in vivo results to further consolidation of the biowaiver concept. The mixed formulation of Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CIP) and Metronidazole (MET) have been used as a model for simultaneous determination and obtaining in vitro dissolution profiles by using green analysis method namely (UV-CWT(Db4, a=490)). The proposed method (UV-CWT(Db4, a=490)) includes UV detection combined with Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) with Daubechies family and the order of fourth at the scaling factor (a=490) has been used and validated for analyzing and obtaining the dissolution profiles of the fixed-dose combination (CIP-MET). The proposed method (UV-CWT(Db4, a=490)) has been validated effectively in accordance with ICH rules, regarding linearity, specificity, rigor, and preciseness of the working range (3.0-16.0μg/mL) for both (CIP) and (MET), respectively. As well as figures of merit were concluded. The dissolution profiles of CIP-MET tablets were acquired by the proposed (UV-CWT (Db4, a=490)) and HPLC reported methods were conveniently compared using the indicators f1 and f2 ("difference" and "similarity") the results ensured that there were no statistically differences between the methods. In addition, the green assessment tool, namely analytical eco-scale, evaluated and compared the greenness of the suggested method (UV-CWT(Db4, a=490)) and HPLC reported one. The suggested process (UV-CWT(Db4, a=490)) was considered as an excellent green, rapid, accurate, economical and minimum-steps method for simultaneously resolve and construct the dissolution curves of a fixed-dose combination drug (CIP-MET)in a short time and without the use of organic solvents, enabling significant labor and resource savings.

Improving Green IT Assessment Tool Using Case-Based Reasoning Concept

In order to know how to measure their level of green practices, green assessment tool is there to act as a guide or as some might called it as a bench marker. Although, there are existing green assessment tools but there is inadequate existing green assessment tool with a recommendation feature. Recommendation feature is meant to aid users especially new user with their green practices. In this paper, case-based reasoning concept is chosen to produce this recommendation features. Besides that, Rapid Application Development Model is used in this research. The expected result of this research is to improve an existing green assessment tool to provide recommendation to user. With this paper, it can help raise user’s level of green awareness and improve their practices.

The Sustainability Narrative in Contemporary Architecture: Falling Short of Building a Sustainable Future

Sustainability has emerged, arguably, as the premiere mission of contemporary architecture. Green assessment tools abound, consultancy services flourish, buildings are marketed on the basis of sustainability performance, and government, media, and corporations seem preoccupied with assessing the quality of the built environment through a green lens. Yet for all the effort, and indeed for all the progress made, fundamental issues resistant to the structural change that is essential for genuine sustainability remain. This paper reviews the state of play of sustainability across the urban landscape. It considers the road travelled so far, and points out some of the major challenges that lie ahead.

Proposal of a methodology for achieving a LEED O+M certification in historic buildings

Nowadays resources are running out quickly, it’s necessary to consider how the construction industry influences the environment using different materials and sources during all the building’s life cycle. For this reason, in every transformation phases it’s necessary to consider concepts as sustainability and green buildings. These are diffused from hundreds kind of green assessment tools, developed to measure sustainability goals in building sector and to compare the project with possible best practices or other green buildings.In this background, the rating system LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) aims to examine and classify buildings according to energetic and environmental requirements. The particular LEED O+M (Building Operations and Maintenance) is developed for existing buildings undergoing improvement work or little to no construction and is based on the operative and management aspects.The certification process results, at a first analysis, hard to follow due to the complexity of internal parameters and the documentation required. The paper consists in a methodology and in an univocal work program of LEED O+M, trying to obtain the minimum requested certification score with optimization of the technical resources and documents. This methodology has application in a case study of historic building: the Ca’ Rezzonico Museum, in the center of Venice.

Are green offices better than conventional?

PurposeGlobal warming and climate change is one of the biggest issues facing humanity in this century; its effects are felt on the highest peaks of Mount Everest to the low-lying islands in the India Ocean. This century marked the highest amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted, breaking records of the past 650,000 years, and we have pushed the climate to “a point of no return”. Much of the climate contribution has been linked to humanity’s thirst for higher living standards and lifestyle, which has led to higher consumerism, depletion of earth’s resources, production of massive waste and carbon emissions. Fast forward from the sustainability agenda of Brundtland set in 1987 and the increasing demand for energy consumption to cater for the current global inhabitants, many “green” efforts have been taken by the building industry to reduce the overall environmental impact. This purpose of this study is to compare energy performance of a conventional office building with a green certified building.Design/methodology/approachThis paper tries to bridge the performance gap by comparing measured operational energy consumption and carbon emission of Green Building Index (GBI)-certified office buildings in Kuala Lumpur, to determine whether “green buildings” are performing as intended in reducing their environmental impact.FindingsThis paper highlighted and compared operational energy consumption and carbon emissions of a GBI-certified office with a conventional office building in Malaysia. The paper also discusses the performance gap issue and its common causes, and aims to compare predicted energy and operational energy performance of buildings.Originality/valueInitiatives such as “green” or “sustainable” design have been at the forefront of architecture, while green assessment tools have been used to predict the energy performance of a building during its operational phase. There is still a significant performance gap between predicted or simulated energy measurements to actual operational energy consumption. The need to measure actual performance of these so-called “green buildings” is important to investigate if there is a performance gap and whether these buildings can perform better than conventional buildings. Understanding why the performance gap occurs is a step in reducing actual and predicted energy performance in buildings.