Reviewing the Top Green Building Certifications Around the World

In recent years, environmental responsibility and sustainability have become important concepts in the construction industry as builders continue to address global climate concerns while making structures more efficient, durable, and comfortable for occupants. Green building certifications provide independent assessments and rating scales to measure performance in these crucial areas.

In this blog post, we review some of the well-known and respected green building certification systems from around the world, and explain the criteria and rating scales that make each one valuable and unique.       

What is a Green Building Certification?

A green building certification is a system used to assess how well a building is designed and constructed based on factors like energy efficiency, water consumption, sustainable construction materials, embodied carbon, and other metrics related to waste and environmental impact.

Each certification standard includes a set of guidelines and metrics that are assessed by third-party organizations. Successfully meeting the criteria allows builders to certify buildings to one or more standards, with the fee for assessment and certification processes varying depending on the organization. While some rating systems focus on material and design choices, others emphasize carbon neutrality, user well-being, or energy efficiency.   

Green building certification programs help to demonstrate that properties and the designers and builders who create them are committed to sustainability and environmental responsibility. These values are becoming increasingly important to global occupants, investors, and owners. Green certifications promote healthy work and living conditions while saving money over the long term through financial incentives, reduced water and energy consumption, and property value increases.

Top 14 Green Building Certifications    

No single region has cornered the market on sustainable building practices, so it is unsurprising to find robust certification programs in all corners of the globe. While many standards apply to multiple areas, we have divided our green building certification comparison based on the most popular and respected programs in each country.        

US Green Building Certifications

1. LEED

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is the most widely recognized framework in the US, along with additional countries spanning six of the seven continents. LEED certification is divided into nine separate categories, including commercial, retail, and new construction. Based on ratings for material selection, energy efficiency, and indoor environmental quality, buildings can achieve either certified, silver, gold or platinum status.

2. Energy Star

The US Environmental Protection Agency created the Energy Star certification program for both buildings and consumer products. The rating system utilizes a numeric score that compares energy efficiency to similar buildings throughout the country. The coveted ENERGY STAR label indicates that a building is among the top 25% in its category. An engineer, construction architect, or building inspector trained as a certified green professional is qualified to perform these third-party assessments.    

3. WELL Building Standard

Based in the US, the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) established the WELL Building Standard in 2014 to provide green building certification based primarily on occupant health and well-being. Air quality, lighting, and noise pollution are among the factors considered. WELL places less emphasis on energy consumption and sustainable construction practices than other green building certifications like LEED and BREEAM (UK), but recognizes these programs with additional points towards WELL certification. 

4. Living Building Challenge

The Living Building Challenge is a certification program and advocacy tool in the US designed to track sustainability performance over a 12-month period. The stringent qualification process requires buildings to remain net-positive for energy, water, and waste metrics, meaning they must give back more than they take from the environment. These high standards make the Living Building Challenge one of the most prestigious and difficult to attain green building certifications.             

UK Green Building Certifications

5. BREEAM         

Builders throughout the UK are familiar with the Building Research Establishment (BREEAM) sustainability rating system established in 1990. Metrics assessed for BREEAM certification span ten categories, including ecology, pollution, transportation, water conservation, and energy management. Millions of new and refurbished buildings around the world register with BREEAM as they attempt to improve their environmental and social and governance (ESG) profiles.

6. MEES

The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) regulations are not considered voluntary green building certifications since these energy efficiency standards must be met before properties can be leased to tenants in the UK. Using the MEES grading system, properties are ranked from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient) with a minimum grade of “E” or above required. MEES standards impact builders of new commercial and residential properties since nearly all owners look for flexibility in their future leasing options.     

7. Fitwel

The Fitwel green building standard in the UK focuses on the health and well-being of present and future building occupants by assessing factors like walkability, outdoor space access, and public transportation options. These human-centric factors indirectly impact the environment by encouraging design and construction choices that minimize pollution and optimize the carbon footprint. Fitwel certification is also available to interested parties in Asia and the US. 

South Africa Certifications

8. Green Star

The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) adopted the Green Star rating system in 2007 to recognize environmental leadership. Along with conventional green building certifications based on sustainability metrics, GBCSA has also launched a Net Zero certification program to recognize and encourage net zero and net positive construction projects. Several innovative buildings in South Africa already meet these ambitious efficiency goals. Green Star is currently regarded as the “gold standard” for sustainable building in South Africa.

9. EDGE

The Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) certification process has also been introduced to South Africa by the GBCSA. The EDGE rating system allows building owners, developers, and investors to assess the environmental impact of any new design using a pre-defined algorithm.

The system factors in climatic conditions, usage patterns, energy efficiency, and other variables to determine the economic and environmental impact of the design and assign a score based on similar designs. EDGE certified buildings must show a minimum savings of 20% in water, energy, and embodied carbon during the design phase, which is verified once again during construction.      

10. EarthCheck

The EarthCheck sustainability organization in South Africa offers certification, benchmarking, and training services for businesses committed to energy efficiency and sustainability. EarthCheck’s focus on travel and tourism has impacted the construction industry with properties, including the Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels and Kerzner International incorporating sustainable building and operational practices. These businesses have achieved EarthCheck certification to showcase their environmental commitment and attract international customers.  

Australia Green Building Certifications

11. NABERS

The National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) is a government-sponsored green building certification process used to assess the actual performance of a building over twelve consecutive months. The rating system considers indoor environment quality, responsible water usage, energy consumption, and waste management. A “star” rating from one to six is provided in each category. The NABERS program originated in 1998 and has since expanded into New Zealand (2012) and the UK (2020).    

12. NatHERS

The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NaTHERS) was also created by the Australian government to make new homes more energy efficient by upholding strict design standards. NatHERS also uses a star rating system (1-10) to gauge heating and cooling system efficiency. The system utilizes advanced software simulations to predict energy consumption based on the building location, design, and construction material choices. This mandatory certification process does not account for the usage patterns and appliance choices of individual residents.            

13. Green Star Australia

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) maintains its own Green Star certification program for residential, commercial, and public buildings. Based on a rating system from one to six stars, points are awarded based on land use, emissions, indoor environment, and innovation. A six-star rating indicates world leadership in sustainable design and construction. Since its introduction, this well-received system has fostered healthy competition among construction professionals while establishing a benchmark for green design and development across the continent.

14. GreenGuard

The GreenGuard certification program promotes sustainable construction processes in Australia by setting strict limits for chemical emissions. GreenGuard certification for building materials and interior products leads to safer work and living conditions, as well as reduced carbon emissions, mold growth, and environmental contamination. While contributing to healthier and cleaner building practices, GreenGuard product certifications also reduce the need for future remodeling and retrofitting. 

Final Thoughts     

Green building certifications provide the structure and consistency needed to implement sustainable building practices and reduce environmental impact. While the popular standards for each country vary, each certification process reflects the important connections between design innovation, long-term livability, and waste reduction.

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If you want to benefit from professional sustainable construction software to ensure your projects are environmentally conscious from design to operation, get your free demo for RIB’s toolkit today!