Energy savings: building certification

Building certification


Definition
• A scheme to assess and disclose the environmental

performance of buildings

Annual
energy
consumption

Efficiency of
equipment

Access to
public
transport

Criteria

Building
orientation

Indoor air
quality


How it works

The performance

assessment can be
based on asset
rating and
operational rating

Building energy
certificate indicate
the rating of
building’s energy
performance

The certificate is
published


Strengths of building certification
Reduces negative environmental impact, save
energy
Saves money for building tenants

Increases the marketability of green buildings

Guides further improvement efficiency

Accumulates of data on the environmental
performances of building for policy making


Requires skilled
professionals

Upfront
administrative

Challenges

Developers and
building owners must
pay for building
certificate
Differences
approaches lead to
different rating

Lack of coordination
among certification
Cause confusion

Limited impacts of
voluntary basis

Difficult to obtain
voluntary
participation without
incentives


Implementing strategies
• Complemented with other initiatives such as financial and
building codes

Supplement

Supplement
•
with supportive
measures

Build up
technological
and
administrative
capacity

Require reliable
data and
continued
quality control

• A training strategy can be set at the planning strategy
• Competent assessors should be ensured before launching a building
certification scheme

• Data should be collected in a comprehensive administration system and
should be monitored
• A comprehensive quality-assurance system should be established and
related disciplinary procedures should be prepared
• A certification scheme should be adapted to changes in policy and
legislation.

Examples


Examples
Green rating for Integrated habitat Assessment in India
• Promotes the use of solar energy
• More than 100 buildings already registered for the green rating for integrated habitat certification

Green Building Mark in Singapore
• Aims to green 80% of building across Singapore by meeting this Standard by 2030
• In the end of 2010, 551 new buildings and 65 existing buildings had been certified

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design in the United States (LEED)
• First developed in 1998
• Green building criteria: use of renewable energy, energy efficiency, electrical demand, water consumption,
access to public transport etc.
• Certified buildings were on 25-30% more energy efficient