Sustainability certifications for commercial buildings have become increasingly popular over the past couple of decades as both building owners and occupants demand more environmentally friendly and healthy building environments. These programs provide third-party verification that a building project meets certain sustainability criteria related to things like energy and water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and waste reduction.
Some of the most well-known and widely-used green building certification programs include LEED, BREEAM, WELL, and RESET. These programs have rating systems that allow projects to earn points for implementing various sustainable design and construction strategies. Projects that achieve enough points are certified at various levels like Silver, Gold, or Platinum to signify their degree of sustainability achievement.
Having a green certification can benefit both building developers and tenants. Certifications can help lower operating costs, improve employee productivity, demonstrate corporate social responsibility, and provide a marketing advantage over uncertified buildings. As the green building movement continues to gain momentum globally, sustainability certifications have become a critical tool for measuring and validating the environmental credentials of both new and existing commercial buildings.
This blog will provide an overview of some of the most prominent sustainability certification programs for commercial buildings used around the world. It will cover their key features, metrics, and benefits.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
LEED is one of the most widely used green building certification programs used worldwide. It was developed by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 1998 to provide a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations, and maintenance solutions.
LEED provides independent, third-party verification that a building, home, or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in sustainability metrics such as energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor air quality, stewardship of resources, and sensitivity to their impacts.
LEED rating systems are available for several building types including new construction and major renovation projects, existing buildings, commercial interiors, core and shell development projects, homes, neighborhoods, cities, and more. Projects pursue LEED Certification by earning points across several categories that address sustainability issues. Based on the number of points achieved, a project can earn one of four LEED rating levels: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
As of 2021, over 113,000 projects worldwide had achieved LEED certification. The numbers continue to rise as sustainable construction becomes more popular globally. LEED has helped drive adoption of energy-efficient and sustainable design and construction practices in over 167 countries and territories worldwide.
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM)
Originated in the UK in 1990 and was one of the first green building certification programs. It was developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE), a UK research organization focused on the built environment.
BREEAM has become one of the most widely used sustainability certifications for buildings around the world. After starting in the UK, BREEAM expanded internationally beginning in the late 1990s. There are now over 2 million BREEAM-certified buildings in more than 70 countries globally.
There are several types of BREEAM certification available:
- BREEAM New Construction – For new commercial buildings
- BREEAM In-Use – For existing commercial buildings to improve performance
- BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit-Out – For retrofitting and renovating existing buildings
- BREEAM Communities – Sustainability certification for master planning projects
- Home Quality Mark – Sustainability certification for new residential buildings
To achieve BREEAM certification, buildings are evaluated and scored based on performance across ten categories: energy, land use and ecology, water, materials, waste, pollution, health and wellbeing, innovation, management, and transport. Credits are earned for sustainability measures with higher scores granting higher levels of BREEAM certification.
WELL Building Standard
The WELL Building Standard focuses primarily on human health and wellness in the built environment. Developed by Delos in 2014, WELL takes a more human-centric approach to green building compared to other standards that focus more on environmental sustainability.
WELL is based on seven concepts: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind. The standard provides a framework for creating indoor environments that support and advance human health and well-being through design, operations, and behaviors. Specific features address air quality, water quality, lighting, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, community, and innovation.
As of 2022, over 5,100 projects in more than 62 countries have achieved WELL certification, representing over 740 million square feet of real estate. WELL offers three levels of certification: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Projects must meet all preconditions for certification, and then achieve a certain number of optimization and innovation features based on the level of certification pursued.
WELL emphasizes spaces and communities, making it popular for offices, healthcare facilities, fitness centers, schools, restaurants, residential buildings, and more. WELL provides a unique focus on people within the built environment, complementing green building ratings that concentrate more on environmental sustainability factors.
ZiggyTec: Driving Sustainability in Commercial Buildings
ZiggyTec Limited is a leading provider of innovative solutions for sustainable commercial buildings. With a strong focus on energy efficiency, resource conservation, and occupant well-being, ZiggyTec’s solution is designed to help buildings achieve and exceed sustainability certification requirements.
Key Features and Benefits of ZiggyTec’s Solution:
- Energy Management: ZiggyTec’s smart utility monitoring solution incorporates advanced energy management technologies that optimize energy consumption, reduce waste, and lower carbon emissions. By utilizing smart sensors, real-time monitoring, and intelligent analytics, buildings can achieve significant energy savings while maintaining optimal comfort levels.
- Indoor Air Quality: ZiggyTec prioritizes occupant well-being by enhancing indoor air quality. Our indoor air quality monitoring solution includes features such as real-time air quality monitoring and thermal comfort control. By creating healthier and more comfortable spaces, buildings can improve employee productivity and well-being.
- Data-driven Decision Making: ZiggyTec’s cloud platform provides comprehensive data and analytics that empower building owners and operators to make informed decisions regarding sustainability initiatives. By leveraging real-time insights on energy usage, environmental impact, and occupant behavior, buildings can continuously optimize their performance and achieve higher levels of sustainability.
By partnering with ZiggyTec Limited, commercial building owners and developers can accelerate their journey towards sustainability certification.
Conclusion
Commercial building sustainability certifications have gained significant traction around the world in recent decades as both the public and private sectors place greater emphasis on reducing the environmental impact of the built environment. Several high-profile programs have emerged as leaders in this space.
Key programs like LEED, BREEAM, and WELL established themselves globally, with local adaptations in dozens of countries. Collectively, these major certification systems now cover over 5 billion square feet of real estate worldwide. Adoption continues to accelerate, especially for new construction, as sustainable building becomes mainstream.
Most certifications use a points-based rating system across categories like energy, water, materials, and indoor air quality. Buildings that meet minimum score thresholds can achieve certification levels like Platinum, Gold, and Silver to signal their sustainability credentials. Programs are periodically updated to raise the bar and push the industry forward.
Looking ahead, certifications are likely to increase their focus on outcomes like net zero carbon, embodied carbon, climate resilience, and human health. They will also continue expanding into new asset classes like infrastructure, districts, and homes. Reporting of actual performance data will become more central. Ultimately, voluntary certifications will help the built environment rise to meet global climate and development goals.
For more information about building certification and/or how ZiggyTec’s solutions can transform your commercial building into a sustainable powerhouse, contact ZiggyTec now.