Green Building Certification Systems Research Articles

Development of building materials embodied greenhouse gases assessment criteria and system (BEGAS) in the newly revised Korea Green Building Certification System (G-SEED)

Abstract This study aims to develop a Building materials Embodied GHG Assessment Criteria and System (BEGAS) in the newly revised Korea Green Building Certification System (G-SEED). For this purpose, green building certification systems and supporting assessment systems were analyzed in order to grasp the current trend of the GHG emission assessment on building materials. The evaluands were selected by identifying the major building materials in the GHG emission assessment that meet the cut-off level of ISO 14040 for GHG emission assessment. In addition, standard quantity of GHG emissions were calculated for the G-SEED and BEGAS. An auto quantity input technique was presented using pure resource code, composed of standard work codes of the Public Procurement Service (PPS), as a medium, in order to support the easy assessment of GHG emission. Korea LCI DB, the Korean DB of environmental information on building materials, and the Korea carbon footprint labeling certificate were adopted to the database for analyzing the social features of Korea. As a result, based on the aforementioned database, the criteria of GHG emission assessment for building materials in Korea׳s G-SEED were proposed, and a web-based BEGAS was developed.

녹색건축 전문가 자격제도 개발 연구

In an effort to resolve environmental pollution problems, developed countries enforce green building certification systems. The same is true in Korea. However compared professional accreditation system to certification systems did not systematically in Korea. Therefore, in accordance with development of green building related systems and technology the requirement for foster green building professionals is urgent. Accordingly this study is purposed to analyze and propose that green building professional accreditation system development and operation of the direction. Through data analysis domestic and international green building professional accreditation system for draw a development plan. And then conduct an expert Delphi survey reflected in the survey results to development plan.

Environmental Performance of Green Building Code and Certification Systems

We examined the potential life-cycle environmental impact reduction of three green building code and certification (GBCC) systems: LEED, ASHRAE 189.1, and IgCC. A recently completed whole-building life cycle assessment (LCA) database of NIST was applied to a prototype building model specification by NREL. TRACI 2.0 of EPA was used for life cycle impact assessment (LCIA). The results showed that the baseline building model generates about 18 thousand metric tons CO2-equiv. of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and consumes 6 terajoule (TJ) of primary energy and 328 million liter of water over its life-cycle. Overall, GBCC-compliant building models generated 0% to 25% less environmental impacts than the baseline case (average 14% reduction). The largest reductions were associated with acidification (25%), human health-respiratory (24%), and global warming (GW) (22%), while no reductions were observed for ozone layer depletion (OD) and land use (LU). The performances of the three GBCC-compliant building models measured in life-cycle impact reduction were comparable. A sensitivity analysis showed that the comparative results were reasonably robust, although some results were relatively sensitive to the behavioral parameters, including employee transportation and purchased electricity during the occupancy phase (average sensitivity coefficients 0.26-0.29).

Analysis and comparison of lighting design criteria in green building certification systems —Guidelines for application in Serbian building practice

Green building assessment is currently being introduced into Serbian building practice. Since there is no Serbian certification system which could support building assessment, and especially lighting design evaluation, this paper analyzes and compares the lighting design criteria of three international certification systems, LEED, BREEAM and CASBEE. Specific requirements for each considered criterion, as well as the grading structure and stringency of these systems, are also analyzed. Based on the conclusions of these analyses, a new set of criteria, some of which are original, are offered in order to be incorporated into the future Serbian certification system. Taking into account that the structure of the future system is unknown, the basic applied principle was simplicity for application and, therefore, a single requirement is defined for each criterion. Finally, a hierarchy within the new set of criteria is established for both indoor and outdoor lighting. Mandatory criteria are selected first, while the remaining criteria are divided into two groups based on their relevance. Although predominantly intended for the improvement of Serbian building practice, the proposed set of assessment criteria is general and can be used throughout the world.

THE DAVID LAWRENCE CONVENTION CENTER: HOW GREEN BUILDING DESIGN AND OPERATIONS CAN SAVE MONEY, DRIVE LOCAL ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, AND TRANSFORM AN INDUSTRY

INTRODUCTION When the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh was completed in 2003, it was one of largest green buildings in the country. Its success proved that sustainability principles could be integrated into a breathtaking and high-performing design. Using almost a decade of performance data, this study, led by evolveEA, was commissioned to understand the level of building performance and the return on the initial investment in sustainability. With input from Carnegie Mellon University's Center for Building Performance and Diagnostics, CJL Engineering, and Civil and Environmental Consultants, the Buildings-in-Operation (BiO) study demonstrates that: investment in high performance systems can yield direct savings and improved sustainability operations and maintenance practices; green building projects can accelerate broader organizational sustainability efforts; green buildings can create major benefits for a region, including additional commerce and an increased uptake of green building de...

Evaluation of green roof characteristics in green building assessment

Methodology of building evaluation based on green building characteristics is rapidly gaining momentum, mainly in foreign, but also in domestic building practice. This methodology is being carried out through different Green Building Certification Systems, which are complex evaluation mechanisms based on numerous criteria of sustainability, addressing both ecological issues, but also economic and social ones. Green roof represents one of the 'must have' features of contemporary buildings aiming to gain green label. This paradigm is based on their numerous characteristics which contribute to different aspects of building sustainability, among which are savings in energy and water consumption, but also ecological balance and quality of built environment. Criteria used for evaluation of green roof solutions and their overall contribution to the building, are integral part of all of the mentioned certification systems, but the way they are structured and formulated inside each system varies significantly, hence causing differences in evaluation results. This paper presents the analysis of green roof related criteria of three characteristic green building certification systems: LEED, BREEAM and CASBEE. These systems are chosen primarily because of the different evaluation methodology, but also because of their market prevalence and perspectives of usage in the domestic practice. Conclusions driven from these analyses and comparisons provide insight into main aspect of green roof planning and construction which are relevant for the overall building sustainability assessment.