Green Building Councils: Promoting Sustainable Building Practices
Sustainability has become a pressing concern across the globe, with individuals, corporations, and governments alike seeking ways to mitigate the impacts of climate change. One of the most critical areas of focus has been the built environment, where buildings account for a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions. In response, green building councils have emerged as a powerful force for change, advocating for sustainable building practices and shaping the future of the built environment.
In this post, we'll take a closer look at the role of green building councils around the world, highlighting some of their most significant achievements and the impact of their work on the environment and society.
US Green Building Council (USGBC): https://www.usgbc.org/
Founded in 1993 in the United States, the USGBC is one of the oldest and most well-known green building councils in the world.
The USGBC has a membership network of over 12,000 organizations, including architects, builders, and building owners.
The USGBC's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system is used in over 165 countries, and has certified over 100,000 projects worldwide.
The USGBC offers a variety of LEED certifications for different types of buildings, including commercial buildings, homes, and neighborhoods.
The USGBC also offers a variety of educational programs and resources for green building professionals, including online courses and webinars.
In addition to its work in green building, the USGBC is also involved in advocacy efforts to promote sustainability and environmental awareness at the policy level.
The USGBC has regional chapters throughout the United States, as well as international affiliates in countries such as Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and China.
The USGBC hosts an annual Greenbuild conference and expo, which brings together green building professionals, industry leaders, and policymakers to share ideas and showcase innovative solutions.
In addition to its advocacy efforts, the USGBC also conducts research and publishes reports on sustainable building practices and their impact on the environment, public health, and the economy.
The USGBC has collaborated with a variety of organizations and government agencies to promote sustainability and environmental awareness, including the World Green Building Council, the Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Building Research Establishment (BRE): https://www.bregroup.com/
BRE was founded in 1990 and is based in the UK.
The organization is responsible for managing the BREEAM certification program, which is used to assess the sustainability of buildings across Europe and other parts of the world.
BREEAM certification is recognized by a variety of organizations, including governments, developers, and building owners, and is considered one of the most rigorous and comprehensive sustainability assessments for buildings.
BRE offers a range of training and certification programs for green building professionals, as well as resources and guidance for building owners and operators.
In addition to its work in green building, BRE is also involved in advocacy efforts to promote sustainability and environmental awareness in the building industry.
The BREEAM certification program covers a wide range of building types, including commercial, industrial, and residential buildings, as well as infrastructure projects.
BREEAM certification assesses a building's environmental, social, and economic sustainability, and takes into account factors such as energy use, water consumption, indoor air quality, and waste management.
BRE works closely with industry stakeholders, including architects, engineers, and building owners, to promote sustainable design and construction practices.
The BREEAM certification program has been used to assess over 2.2 million buildings worldwide, making it one of the most widely recognized sustainability assessment programs in the world.
BRE has partnerships with a variety of organizations, including the UK Green Building Council, the Building Research Establishment, and the Royal Institute of British Architects, to promote sustainable building practices and improve building standards.
Green Building Council Australia (GBCA): https://new.gbca.org.au/
Founded in 2002, the GBCA is Australia's leading authority on green building and sustainability.
The GBCA's Green Star rating system is used to certify buildings and communities across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.
The GBCA also offers a variety of training and certification programs for green building professionals, as well as a range of resources for building owners and operators.
The GBCA has partnerships with a variety of organizations, including the Australian federal government and local councils, to promote sustainable building practices.
The GBCA has also developed several industry-specific rating tools, including Green Star for Healthcare and Green Star for Education.
The GBCA has certified over 2,800 projects across Australia, including commercial buildings, residential buildings, and communities.
The Green Star rating system, developed by the GBCA, assesses buildings across a range of categories, including energy efficiency, water conservation, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.
The GBCA has a focus on promoting the health and well-being of building occupants through sustainable building practices, and has developed a number of initiatives to support this goal.
The GBCA's Green Star Communities rating tool assesses the sustainability of entire neighborhoods or precincts, taking into account factors such as access to public transport, open space, and community facilities.
The GBCA has established partnerships with a number of industry associations and peak bodies to promote sustainable building practices, including the Property Council of Australia and the Green Building Council of Indonesia.
The GBCA is also a member of the World Green Building Council, and collaborates with other green building councils around the world to promote sustainable building practices globally.
Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA): https://gbcsa.org.za/
Founded in 2007, the GBCSA is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting green building practices in South Africa.
The GBCSA's Green Star SA rating system is used to certify buildings and communities across South Africa.
The GBCSA also offers a range of training and certification programs for green building professionals, including a Green Star Accredited Professional program.
The GBCSA has partnered with the South African government and other organizations to promote sustainable building practices and improve building standards in the country.
The GBCSA has also developed industry-specific rating tools, including Green Star SA for Existing Buildings and Green Star SA for Interiors.
The GBCSA has certified over 350 projects in South Africa using its Green Star SA rating system, including commercial buildings, residential buildings, and precincts.
The Green Star SA rating system evaluates buildings across a range of categories, including energy efficiency, water conservation, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality, and assigns a rating of 4 to 6 stars based on the building's performance.
The GBCSA's Net Zero certification program is aimed at buildings that generate their own renewable energy, and is designed to encourage the construction of net-zero energy buildings in South Africa.
The GBCSA has established partnerships with a number of industry bodies and organizations, including the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA), the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), and the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS), to promote sustainable building practices and provide training and education for industry professionals.
The GBCSA has also developed a number of tools and resources to support the adoption of sustainable building practices in South Africa, including a Green Lease Toolkit and a Sustainable Precincts Tool.
Indian Green Building Council (IGBC): https://igbc.in/
Founded in 2001, the IGBC is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting green building practices in India.
The IGBC's rating systems, including Green New Buildings, Green Existing Buildings, and Green Interiors, are used to certify buildings across India.
The IGBC also offers a range of training and certification programs for green building professionals, as well as resources for building owners and operators.
The IGBC has partnerships with a variety of organizations, including the Indian government and local councils, to promote sustainable building practices and improve building standards in the country.
The IGBC has certified over 6,000 green building projects across India, and is one of the largest green building councils in the world.
The IGBC has developed specialized rating systems for different building types, including Green Homes, Green Schools, and Green Healthcare facilities.
The IGBC also offers a rating system for cities, called the IGBC Green Cities rating system, which focuses on improving the sustainability of entire urban areas.
The IGBC has a strong focus on research and development, and has conducted studies on topics such as energy efficiency, water conservation, and indoor air quality in buildings.
The IGBC has established regional chapters throughout India, as well as international chapters in countries such as the United States and United Arab Emirates, to promote green building practices and expand its global reach.
The IGBC has received numerous awards and accolades for its work, including the World Green Building Council Chairman's Award in 2015 and the CII-ITC Sustainability Award for Best Green Building Council in India in 2020.
World Green Building Council (WorldGBC): https://www.worldgbc.org/
Founded in 2002, the WorldGBC is a global network of green building councils from around the world.
The WorldGBC supports and advocates for green building practices at the global level, and provides a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration among its member councils.
The WorldGBC also conducts research and advocacy efforts to promote sustainable building practices and improve building standards around the world.
The WorldGBC has over 70 member councils, representing over 40 countries, and is one of the largest and most influential green building organizations in the world.
The WorldGBC's mission is to transform the building and construction industry towards sustainability, with the ultimate goal of achieving a net-zero carbon built environment by 2050.
The WorldGBC's flagship program is Advancing Net Zero, which aims to drive the global market towards highly efficient and zero carbon buildings and communities.
The WorldGBC also hosts events and conferences to promote sustainable building practices and facilitate knowledge sharing among its member councils and the broader green building community.
The WorldGBC has developed several resources and tools for green building professionals and policymakers, including the Global Status Report on Buildings and Construction, which tracks the progress of the building sector towards sustainability goals.
The WorldGBC has partnerships with a variety of organizations, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, to promote sustainable building practices at the global level.
