Starting three weeks ago, I’ve been profiling three of the most well-known green building rating systems that can be used in school construction, both new and renovations. Green Globes is a green building rating system developed by the Green Building Institute. A rating system is available for new and existing buildings, and commercial and residential, Green Globes utilizes a scoring system of 1,000 points.
Green Globes relies on a web-based, interactive scoring system that GBI says allows users to know how many points their building will obtain throughout the certification process. The threshold for certification is reached when 35% of the 1,000 points needed are obtained; and at that point an assessor is assigned and the certification will continue. Unlike LEED and CHPS, there are no prerequisites other than the 35%.
At the culmination of scoring, a building audit is done by an assessor to confirm green strategies.
Green Globes buildings are rated on a scale of one to four, with one being the lowest level of certification and four the highest level of certification. To obtain a Green Globe rating, the project must be third-party verified.
Buildings are rated in seven areas, with the maximum number of points possible as follows:
1. Project Management, worth a maximum of 50 points
2. Site, 115 points
3. Energy, 380 points
4. Water, 100 points
5. Resources,100 points
6. Emissions, Effluents, and other Impacts, 75 points
7. Indoor Environment, 200 points
The project questionnaire is simple, with many yes/no questions, with minimal documentation needed.
One interesting aspect of Green Globes is you can sign up for a free thirty-day trial period.
Similar to the other two rating systems profiled, LEED and CHPS, the website is a good resource with a lot of other information.
www.greenglobes.com
35% of the 1000 points and they receive Green Globe. Wow, I am surprised that it is not higher especially for schools. Green schools are as important as green homes and it is important that they meet high standards, or should they? What might these schools look like, or what should they look like? If a school is going to be green I do not feel that 35% is enough, it should be a minimum of 50%. Student health is imperative for academic achievement and suggesting that 35% is all that is necessary is ridiculous in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI would like to know if when a school builds a new building, is there laws they have to follow to be green? I am sure they would want to be anyway but most of the time money will drive the building and its out come. Thanks for your time.
ReplyDeleteCGibbs(TSU)
I was wondering how long a building is Green Globe certified. Is it for life? It is important that new buildings are built green because it is environmentally friendly and necessary to reduce health issues, especially when it relates to schools. However, as years pass buildings are no longer cared or looked after. Do they still maintain the certification because it passed the qualifications when built? or do they have to be recertified? Just a thought. S. Ellason (TSU)
ReplyDeleteI still am not sure how they earn the points. I guess they have a chart that has what must be done to earn the points.
ReplyDeleteCGibbs(TSU)
Great comments. CGibbs, I've gone over the rating systems with a broad brush, future blogs will go into more detail as to how points are earned. Some municipalities do have laws saying all public buildings must be built to a certain standard, typically it's LEED Silver.
ReplyDeleteThe length of time of certification is a valid point and one that is brought up often in the green building community. Rating systems are addressing this issue, and the short answer is that there is after-completion reporting depending on your rating system. There are also points for green cleaning. MCryer to your comment I would say there are different requirements for different rating systems, and I only profiled 3 of the (arguably) best-known. But if people do their research they'll find that some rating systems have a high bar, and some of them are more feel-good.
I agree with mcryer(TSU) it should at least 51%. is like saying to the students "i pass only with the 35%, but you dont lol!"
ReplyDelete