Certification of Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Measurement and Performance Management of Design and Construction
Jun 18, 2009
Systems for measuring the sustainable performance of buildings abound, from BuiltGreen™ for housing development, to LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for the design and evaluation of high performance green buildings. Most existing systems have focused on one-time certification of the structure’s green capabilities and components.
With recognition that ongoing performance must be factored into the rating equation, the Canada Green Building Council is introducing the next generation of measurement systems. Dubbed the LEED Canada Initiative, this updated rating system has a number of objectives, including:
- Streamline the certification process, so that it takes less time, is easier to use and applies to multiple buildings at a time for larger projects.
- Introduce performance measures so that building owners and managers can track the energy and water efficiency of their buildings.
- Facilitate the certifying of 100,000 buildings and 1 million homes in Canada by 2015.
The initiative is a logical step forward for sustainable construction and operation of buildings, but it begs several questions about existing rating systems.
What Measures Currently Exist for Rating the Sustainability of Buildings?
At its website, Metro Vancouver lists different certification systems for rating the performance of green buildings. Most prominent among these is LEED, the standard adopted by many municipalities in North America for the development of more energy efficient buildings.
Two other well-known and reputable scoring systems are the SBTool, developed by the International Initiative for a Sustainable Built Environment, and BREEAM, the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method.
The focus of all systems is on adopting materials, technologies and construction methods that improve the environmental performance of buildings or projects, from reducing water usage to diminishing green house gas emissions. A variety of technologies and approaches may be applied to realize these objectives.
Why Would a Building Owner Seek LEED Certification over Other Systems?
LEED is recognized as the gold standard when it comes to sustainable building design and construction in North America. A building or project’s certification as LEED indicates its mechanical systems, construction materials, erection and operation are designed to meet higher levels of energy efficiency and to reduce adverse environmental impacts.
Other rating systems have their merits, including encouraging building owners and managers to audit their facilities and reduce energy use. These systems serve as both guideline and scorecard for new and existing structures. Not every building owner may aspire to LEED, but many want to lower energy costs.
Why is LEED Changing?
The LEED Canada Initiative’s goal is to dramatically reduce the environmental footprint or adverse affect of building activity by 2015. Streamlining the existing system is paramount, to get as many buildings up to sustainable standards as possible in a short timeframe. Scalability will permit applicants to certify across building portfolios and communities rather than one building or project at a time.
The new system promotes full life cycle performance management of buildings. This entails ongoing evaluation of building systems, and support for identifying improvements to the energy and environmental efficiency throughout the life of a building.
This next generation of LEED Canada will apply to all building types and be web-based. The initiative’s designers are partnering with hundreds of pilot participants from different sectors to develop performance measures and track actual energy and water demand. Existing LEED buildings will not be obliged to participate but will be encouraged to transition to the updated LEED Canada rating system.
As the design and construction industries become more familiar with green rating systems, practitioners are raising the bar on what constitutes sustainable design. Even sceptics are accepting that better performance from new and existing buildings is a critical factor in addressing climate change.
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