Sustainable Building Certification Research Articles

Holistic Approach for Assessing Buildings’ Environmental Impact and User Comfort from Early Design: A Method Combining Life Cycle Assessment, BIM, and Active House Protocol

Due to our increasing dependence on resources and energy, climate change is among the most tangible issues we are facing today. The construction industry has been identified as a key sector to intervene in, but mitigation strategies must focus on more than just operational energy. As current climate policies recommend, designers should consider the broader framework of environmental impacts characterizing the entire building lifecycle. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) considers the mentioned aspects. Nevertheless, the complexity of LCA and the criticalities of related tools prevent the application of the approach during decisive early stages. Additionally, LCA allows the estimation of environmental issues, but fails to describe other dimensions of sustainability. The article proposes an evaluation method to support decision-making during the design of sustainable buildings. The method exploits the LCA tool and the assessment framework provided by a Green Sustainable Building Certification (Active House) integrated with BIM. The approach was applied and proven through a case study: a residential single-family building in northern Italy, comparing two technological options. The study confirmed the effectiveness of the multicriteria evaluation framework that, from the early design stage, can be used to measure the environmental impact of buildings alongside implications for the final users’ comfort.

Computational BIM tool for automated LEED certification process

Building information modeling (BIM) and sustainable building certification integration have been the focus of several studies in recent years, aiming to create a simpler and more effective building certification process. This paper describes a novel computational tool for architects and engineers, considering that the certification process takes place in a work environment that is familiar to them. The goal is to present a method for developing a computational tool that will automate the process of verifying the achievement of certain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credits using visual programming in a BIM environment. In this way, designers can have an insight into the achievement of certain LEED credits at any phase during the design process. Considering the complexity of the digital parameterization of LEED credits, this method includes the achievement of three credits listed in the Material and Resources chapter of the LEED for Building Design and Construction protocol. Apart from similar research, the presented tool enables visibility of real-time LEED credits achievement at every moment of the design, from the building concept development to the final stage. The presented method creates space for the elaboration on the other LEED credits, as well as research in the area of applicability to other green rating certification programs and evaluation of existing building stock.

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.

Sustainable Building Standards, Codes and Certification Systems: The Status Quo and Future Directions in Saudi Arabia

Sustainable building practices are a response to environmental issues. Businesses and industries are assessing how their activities affect the environment. The architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industries have significant impacts on the environment and economy, while the industry is considered one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and has, therefore, been highlighted by researchers as a key area of intervention with a great potential to reduce environmental impacts. This paper critically reviews and evaluates the current state of sustainable building certification systems with the purpose of having a good understanding of the status quo and possibilities for future directions in Saudi Arabia. It reviews the academic literature on Saudi Arabia’s green/sustainable building codes, standards, certification systems, methods and tools. It starts by addressing sustainability in the broadest sense. Then, it investigates sustainability strategies and evaluates the building certification systems in Saudi Arabia, followed by an introduction to the new practice of sustainable healthcare building assessment. Life cycle assessment (LCA) and building information modelling (BIM) techniques have also been investigated. The paper introduces the updated Saudi Building Code (SBC) with further evaluation of the Saudi Green Building Code (SBC 1001-CR). Finally, the paper clearly highlights the key role of sustainable building practices and the need to develop a certification system that considers the new trends and the local context.

Evaluation of thermal comfort standards in office buildings of Chile: Thermal sensation and preference assessment

Currently, there are few studies aimed at evaluating the indoor thermal comfort of specific contexts such as that of Chile, where national standards are based on international references and are not mandatory. For this research, a field study was conducted in 19 buildings in Chile: 10 in Concepción and 9 in Santiago. Thermal comfort surveys and simultaneous measurements were carried out to calculate users' comfort temperatures according to their thermal sensation and thermal preference. The comfort temperatures obtained are compared with the comfort ranges defined by national standards and differentiated by the modes of operation of the case studies: Heating Only (HT); Mixed Mode (MM); and Heating, Ventilated and Air Conditioned (HVAC). The results show that in general, occupants adapt themselves to the indoor operative temperatures, especially with regard to their thermal preference. The neutral temperatures range from 19.5 °C to 24.6 °C and the preferred temperatures range from 19.9 °C to 24.6 °C amongst all cases studied. With regard to the national thermal comfort standards, the Sustainable Building Certification system (CES), which is based on ASHRAE 55, and the Terms of Reference on Environmental Comfort and Energy Efficiency (TDRe), their adaptive method is applicable in HT and MM buildings when occupants have adaptive opportunities. The findings of the summer fieldwork in HVAC buildings do not match the steady-state method of ASHRAE 55 (0.5 Clo) since the neutral and preferred temperatures, as well as the operative temperatures, are below the range stipulated, although they do match the TDRe comfort range.

Sustainable Building Certification in Chile

Members of the Chilean Chamber of Construction CChC, participated in the conferences called “Green Building Challenge, GBC” 1998-2001, and then 2001 in the foundation of the “International Initiative for a Sustainable Built Environment – iiSBE” to create a common methodology to assess the environmental performance of buildings GBTool/SBTool. CChC representatives participated in the Board of iiSBE and its International Framework Committee IFC with members from many countries that held meetings every 6 months 1999-2008 in several countries including Chile 2001 with the first local seminar on sustainable building. The Chilean GBC Team participated in world and regional iiSBE Conferences in Canada 1998, Netherlands 2000, Norway 2002 and Japan 2005, with buildings in Chile assessed with the GB/SBTool and conferences in Brazil 2004, Finland 2010, Brazil 2016 and Hong Kong 2017. The CChC signed in 2001 an “Agreement of Collaboration” with the Ministries of Public Works MOP and Housing and Urban Development MINVU, with the objective to develop sustainable buildings. In January 2008 the Instituto de la Construcción (Construction Institute) created a Committee of Certification of the Environmental Quality of Buildings, initially formed by 7 and later by 20 institutions; the activities were to review national and international methodologies of certifications and comparing their requirements; review 165 variables possible to assess and its weightings, considering local variables for our climate zones of the country, classification of buildings for public use in Chile, its sizes and characteristics. And finally the segment of buildings to be initially certified. In June 2014, by and agreement between CChC, MOP, Chilean Institute of Architects and Building Institute, it was created the national system Certificación Edificio Sustentable, CES (Sustainable Building Certification) for buildings of public use (everything but housing); the Ministry of Energy and MINVU joined later the board of CES. To date, 30 buildings have been certified, 81 have been pre-certified, and 153 buildings are in process.

Categorizing Building Certification Systems According to the Definition of Sustainable Building

The availability of sustainable (or green) building certifications schemes is constantly increasing and it is not always easy to understand how the schemes on the market differentiate from each other. The purpose of this study is to create a better dialog between client and consultant in relation to building certification systems. Here it is relevant to give an overview and understanding of selected certification systems, and how they fulfil the definition of sustainable buildings. There is a great variation of how certification systems are structured and evaluated. Furthermore, “sustainability” is a word with many meanings and definitions, which is why sustainable certifications will also vary. In this study, certification schemes are categorized using a definition of sustainable buildings. This definition consists of a social, environmental and economic dimension of sustainability and in total 13 subcategories. The subcategories are based on recent years’ publications concerning sustainable buildings from the Danish Building Research Institute and the Danish Transport and Construction Agency, which leans on the European CEN TC/350 standards for sustainable buildings. The certification schemes analysed are both of international, regional and local scale (Active House, BREEAM, DGNB, Green Star, HQE, LEED, Living Building Challenge, Miljöbyggnad, Nordic Ecolabel and WELL). The results show a large variation of the weight on the dimensions of social, environmental and economic sustainability within the 10 certification schemes included in the analysis. To be defined as a sustainable building certification, the three dimensions should be given equal weight according to the definition of sustainability. However, this is only the case for the DGNB certification scheme. A majority of the building certifications have the largest focus on criteria within the environmental dimension. Across the selected certifications this dimension account for an average of 51%. This indicates that certifications have “green” buildings as their main focus point. However, a certification such as WELL almost completely focuses on social sustainability (93%) due to its attention to the wellbeing of the user inside the building. The social dimension on average account for 43% with a large focus on the indoor environment. Overall, economy is only represented in the certifications to a very low degree (average of 5.6%), except within DGNB. There are aspects, which this categorisation method does not consider such as the ambition within the criteria. In addition, the values in the environmental and social dimensions potentially have an impact on the economic value of the building and thus the economic dimension indirectly becomes a focus, which is not visible through this method. However, the categorisation makes it easy to get an overview of the thematic content within the certification and thereby highlight the value of the certification. Furthermore, it could be of especially good use for non-technical clients.

Life-cycle analysis as an indicator for impact assessment in sustainable building certification systems: the case of Swedish building market

This paper assesses the prevailing sustainable building certification systems in Sweden, based on a critical analysis of their characterization for human and environmental impacts through the integration of life-cycle analysis. The aim of this study is to compare sustainable building certifications systems in terms of their assessment categories. In the Swedish market, BREEAM SE, LEED, Green Buildings and Miljöbyggnad are the most used building certifications. Therefore, their guidelines are reviewed to evaluate which of them has comprehensively included human health indicators. This research presents useful information for transforming existing and developing future sustainable building certification systems.

Environmental Product Declarations: Use in the Architectural and Engineering Design Process to Support Sustainable Construction

AbstractHigh-performing and sustainable building certification bodies continue to update their requirements, leading to modifications in the scope of certifications and increasing the number of via...

ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTIVE ENERGY RETROFIT STRATEGIES AND RELATED IMPACT ON INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

1.0. INTRODUCTION In the United States, K–12 school buildings spend more than $8 billion each year on energy—more than they spend on computers and textbooks combined [1]. Most occupied older buildings demonstrate poor operational performance—for instance, more than 30 percent of schools were built before 1960, and 53 percent of public schools need to spend money on repairs, renovations, and modernization to ensure that the schools' onsite buildings are in good overall condition. And among public schools with permanent buildings, the environmental factors in the permanent buildings have been rated as unsatisfactory or very unsatisfactory in 5 to 17 percent of them [2]. Indoor environment quality (IEQ) is one of the core issues addressed in the majority of sustainable building certification and design guidelines. Children spend a significant amount of time indoors in a school environment. And poor IEA can lead to sickness and absenteeism from school and eventually cause a decrease in student performance [3]. Different building types and their IEQ characteristics can be partly attributed to building age and construction materials. [4] Improving the energy performance of school buildings could result in the direct benefit of reduced utility costs and improving the indoor quality could improve the students' learning environment. Research also suggests that aging school facilities and inefficient equipment have a detrimental effect on academic performance that can be reversed when schools are upgraded. [5] Several studies have linked better lighting, thermal comfort, and air quality to higher test scores. [6, 7, 8] Another benefit of improving the energy efficiency of education buildings is the potential increase in market value through recognition of green building practice and labeling, such as that of a LEED or net zero energy building. In addition, because of their educational function, high-performance or energy-efficient buildings are particularly valuable for institution clients and local government. More and more high-performance buildings, net zero energy buildings, and positive energy buildings serve as living laboratories for educational purposes. Currently, educational/institutional buildings represent the largest portion of NZE (net zero energy) projects. Educational buildings comprise 36 percent of net zero buildings according to a 2014 National New Building Institute report. Of the 58 net zero energy educational buildings, 32 are used for kindergarten through grade 12 (K–12), 21 for higher education, and 5 for general education. [9] Finally, because educational buildings account for the third largest amount of building floor space in the United States, super energy-efficient educational buildings could provide other societal and economic benefits beyond the direct energy cost savings for three reasons: 1) educational buildings offer high visibility that can influence community members and the next generation of citizens, 2) success stories of the use of public funds that returns lower operating costs and healthier student learning environments provide documentation that can be used by others, and 3) this sector offers national and regional forums and associations to facilitate the transfer of best design and operational practices.

A Comparative Study on Domestic and International Evaluation Criteria of Commissioning for Sustainable Building Certification

A Comparative Study on Domestic and International Evaluation Criteria of Commissioning for Sustainable Building Certification

Developing a BIM-Based Process-Driven Decision-Making Framework for Sustainable Building Envelope Design in the Tropics

There is a rising concern for sustainability in the built environment. Therefore, numerous sustainable building certification and rating systems are developed throughout the world. However, the current methods of measuring, predicting, and optimising the sustainable building design have relied on a number of disjointed analyses to meet the discrete requirements for various building systems. The recent development of Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology allows complicated building modelling to be digitally constructed with precise geometry and accurate information to support various building project stages. Thereby, this study aims to integrate decision-making (DM) for sustainable building envelope design with BIM functionalities by considering the tropical climatic contexts in Malaysia. Several regional sustainable building certification systems and related literature were reviewed to identify the importance of evaluation and DM criteria. The findings were then compared with various BIM tools in terms of their applications, functions and workflows, in order to formulate a process-driven BIM-based DM framework (DMF) for sustainable building design in Malaysia. The proposed DMF will address the difficulties of DM in the early design development process, and will also allow for specific trade-off analyses of sustainability and objective-based optimisation using BIM.

Development of a Holistic Evaluation System for BIPV Façades

Façades with building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) have the advantage that they can produce renewable electric energy. Compared with conventional façades, BIPV façades have therefore a valuable additional property that can generally contribute to increasing the degree of sustainability of buildings. A holistic assessment system for BIPV façade systems for office and administration buildings was developed in the framework of the project “MULTIELEMENT II” at the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology (IWES) in Kassel, Germany. The aim of this research was a comparison of conventional façade systems with BIPV façade systems regarding different technical, economical, sustainability, and design criteria. This paper discusses the basic conditions for a holistic evaluation of BIPV façades in comparison with conventional façades. A method for the execution of a holistic evaluation and characteristic values for a comparison interpretation of results is presented. Façade systems are evaluated regarding both quantifiable and non-quantifiable properties by means of a Microsoft Excel-based evaluation tool. The tool facilitates the comparison and evaluation of planned or built façades with and without BIPV. The detailed evaluation results aim to facilitate the certification of BIPV façade systems in the framework of sustainable building certification systems such as the German DGNB.

독일의 지속가능한 건축물 인증제도(DGNB)와 국내 녹색건축물인증제도 (G-SEED)의 평가항목 비교연구 - 업무시설을 중심으로

본 논문은 국내 녹색건축물인증제도와 독일의 지속가능한 건축물 인증제도의 평가항목을 비교하여 국내인증제도의 발전방향을 제시하는 것을 목적으로 한다. 오늘날 세계적으로 많은 친환경건축물 인증제도가 시행되고 있으나 상호 비교 가능한 평가항목은 제시되지 않은 상황이다. 이에 국제표준규격에서는 지속가능한 건축물에 대한 평가기준을 마련하였고 독일의 지속가능한 건축물 인증제도는 이러한 평가기준을 받아들인 최초의 인증기준이다. 녹색건축물인증제도를 독일의 지 속가능한 인증제도와 비교한 결과 녹색건축물인증제도의 평가내용에는 환경측면(62.6%) 이외의 사회문화와 기능측면 (25.4%), 경제측면(3.0%)의 평가항목을 가지고 있는 것으로 나타났다. 이는 앞으로 녹색건축물인증제도의 사회측면 및 경제 측면의 평가항목개발에 중요한 방향을 제시한다.

Implementing ‘BEAM Plus’ for BIM-based sustainability analysis

Escalating energy costs and the need to improve energy efficiency have increased public awareness of the need to reduce energy consumption over a building's entire lifecycle, and have prompted efforts to integrate green and sustainable building initiatives into the conventional building design, construction and operation processes. Sustainable building rating systems are being increasingly adopted to assess the sustainability performance of building design and construction. Building information modelling (BIM)-based technologies are regarded as a potentially useful vehicle for helping project stakeholders to capture complete design and project information, and to make the best use of the available design data for sustainable design and sustainability rating analysis. While experience from the Leadership in Environmental Energy and Design (LEED) programme in the US has demonstrated the great potential of integrating BIM with building assessments, it is anticipated that BIM can also be effectively integrated with the Hong Kong ‘BEAM Plus’ sustainable building rating system. This study uses a two-stage method (i.e. a Delphi study and a case study) to explore the potential use of BIM in the case of a residential building project seeking BEAM Plus sustainable building certification in Hong Kong. The Delphi study indicated that 26 out of 80 credit points could potentially be achieved with the support of the documentation produced by BIM (i.e. Autodesk Revit). Detailed procedures for conducting and testing a BIM-based BEAM Plus sustainability analysis are described. The proposed BIM–BEAM Plus assessment framework is then verified using two sampled public housing modular flat models. The complexity of the BIM–BEAM Plus application depends on the project size, the extent of the model development detail and the nature of the project.

Sustainable Building Certification and the Rent Premium: A Panel Data Approach

This paper investigates whether obtaining sustainable buildingcertification entails a rental premium for commercial officebuildings and tracks its development over time. To this aim, botha difference-in-differences and a fixed-effects model approachare applied to a large panel dataset of office buildings in theUnited States in the 2000–2010 period. The results indicate asignificant rental premium for both ENERGY STAR and LEEDcertified buildings. Controlling for confounding factors, thispremium is shown to have increased steadily from 2006 to 2008,followed by a moderate decline in the subsequent periods. Theresults also show a significant positive relationship betweenENERGY STAR labeling and building occupancy rates.

Adoption of a network approach to sustainable building standard process, not product: a response column to “A political-ecology of the built environment: LEED certification for green buildings”, Cidell, 2009, Local Environment, 14(7), pp. 621–633

Cidell's (2009) A political-ecology of the built environment: LEED certification for green buildings (Local Environment, 14 (7), 621–633) presented a political-ecology approach to analyse and champion LEED. In this response column, I propose that a network approach is a more appropriate conceptual framework. Using elements found in actor-network theory, I present a more complete conceptualisation of socio-material hybridity, enabling a deconstruction of the processes of sustainable building as opposed to a focus on the products of sustainable building certification. I propose that a risk associated with reifying social actor agency and specialist techno-ecological knowledge, as Cidell's (2009) work implies, is the black boxing of sustainable buildings. I contend that researchers should approach sustainable building standards such as LEED as the mobilisers of network actions instead of the inputs and outputs of epistemic engagements. In relation, I also present the concepts of boundary object and translation as alternative concepts for analysis.

District of Columbia Green Building Act of 2006 and Its Implications for Sureties

It is nearly impossible to escape the green buzz in the building industry—some investment banks are extending additional credit and loan capacity to green developers and builders, a number of insurers are providing or considering providing premium credits and policies for sustainable building, challenges of zero carbon buildings are being made for the year 2030, various systems are now used to attain sustainable building certification, and many governmental entities on the federal, state, and municipal levels are legislating sustainable building. The reasons for green and sustainable activity are as varied as the activities themselves, ranging from claims of a world energy crisis and environmental advocacy to claims of market differentiation, return on investment, and the need for high performance, energy-efficient buildings. Is it possible that sureties will be drawn into this often confusing and dynamic morass? Unequivocally, the answer is yes. For better or for worse, building industry professionals are becoming actively involved in sustainable building. For example, over 60% of the workshops at the 2007 AIA National Convention will address sustainable building. Engineering News Record’s February 12, 2007 issue is wholly devoted to sustainable building. Other organizations such as the Association of General Contractors are carefully thinking about how to most appropriately address the arena of sustainable building for their constituents. While most agree that the goals of sustainable building are laudable, often the claims made about sustainable buildings are conflicting and unsupported by the facts. Some claim that sustainable buildings cost no more than conventional buildings; others claim that the costs range from 2–3%; still other claim the costs average 7–10% or higher. Sustainable buildings have been touted to improve occupant health and productivity, operation and maintenance, and energy efficiency. Some opine that the only way to accomplish sustainable building is through legislation, while others believe the market should drive innovation in the industry. While an analysis of the veracity of anthropogenic and epidemiological studies that constitute claims for sustainable buildings is beyond the scope of this paper, undoubtedly, sustainable building is here to stay. As many government entities begin to legislate sustainable buildings, the surety’s role is increasingly implicated. Generally, legislation has taken the form of a mandate for some particular type of certification system. The two most prominent systems in the U.S. are Green Globes by the Green Building Initiative GBI and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design LEED by the U.S. Green Building Council USGBC . The most legislated sustainable building certification system in the U.S. is LEED,