Green rating systems
[edit] Introduction
Construction has both direct and indirect environmental impacts. As a result, a large number of 'green' rating systems have been established to help mitigate these impacts through the encouragement, measurement and recognition of sustainability performance.
BRE’s rating system, BREEAM, was the UK’s first green rating system, launched in the 1990s, followed by the US’ Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system in 2000. It is now thought that there are around 600 green certification systems worldwide.
Rating systems measure relative levels of compliance or performance with goals and requirements; generally, the aim is to create projects that are environmentally responsible and use resources efficiently throughout the project lifecycle.
The benefits of using a green rating system include:
- Environmental aspirations can be set.
- Clear goals can be worked towards.
- Environmental performance can be verified.
- Environmental performance can be demonstrated to third parties.
- Improvement can be measured and demonstrated.
- Green education can be facilitated and encouraged.
- Positive marketing can be generated.
Some of the most commonly-used green rating systems include the following:
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Active House.
- Aktivplus.
- Blue Angel ecolabel.
- BREEAM, LEED or WELL.
- BREEAM performance targets
- Buildingomics.
- Building performance metrics.
- Display energy certificate.
- Do green buildings pay?
- Energy certificates for buildings.
- Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.
- Energy related products regulations.
- Energy targets.
- Global Ecolabelling Network.
- Green building.
- GREENGUARD Certification.
- Green Seal.
- Living Standard.
- Moving towards green residential buildings.
- NABERS UK.
- Performance gap.
- Total Resource Use and Efficiency TRUE.
Featured articles and news
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.
The restoration of the novelist’s birthplace in Eastwood.
Life Critical Fire Safety External Wall System LCFS EWS
Breaking down what is meant by this now often used term.
PAC report on the Remediation of Dangerous Cladding
Recommendations on workforce, transparency, support, insurance, funding, fraud and mismanagement.
New towns, expanded settlements and housing delivery
Modular inquiry asks if new towns and expanded settlements are an effective means of delivering housing.
Building Engineering Business Survey Q1 2025
Survey shows growth remains flat as skill shortages and volatile pricing persist.
Construction contract awards remain buoyant
Infrastructure up but residential struggles.
Home builders call for suspension of Building Safety Levy
HBF with over 100 home builders write to the Chancellor.
CIOB Apprentice of the Year 2024/2025
CIOB names James Monk a quantity surveyor from Cambridge as the winner.
Warm Homes Plan and existing energy bill support policies
Breaking down what existing policies are and what they do.
Treasury responds to sector submission on Warm Homes
Trade associations call on Government to make good on manifesto pledge for the upgrading of 5 million homes.
A tour through Robotic Installation Systems for Elevators, Innovation Labs, MetaCore and PORT tech.
A dynamic brand built for impact stitched into BSRIA’s building fabric.
BS 9991:2024 and the recently published CLC advisory note
Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings. Code of practice.