Green Globes is a web-based program for green building guidance and certification that includes an on-site assessment by a certified third party. According to GBI, the program is an alternative to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

The ANSI/GBI 01-2010 standard was developed using an ANSI approved consensus process involving stakeholders from across the building sustainability industry. For federal agencies, the Green Globes program now includes the ability to assess and certify new construction and major renovations of federal buildings for compliance with the guiding principles as required by Executive Order 13514 signed in 2009.

“In addition to utilizing the ANSI standard, Green Globes received major enhancements to all seven assessment areas led by those covering Energy and Materials & Resources,” said Sharene Rekow, GBI vice president of business development. “The program uses advanced building science which will result in higher performing buildings.”

Energy performance assessment has been enhanced by allowing users to choose between four paths. Three of these are known to the building industry: Energy Star®, ASHRAE Building Performance Method, and ASHRAE Building Energy Quotient. The fourth, developed within the ANSI process, is an operational energy approach that uses carbon dioxide equivalency (CO2e) as the basis for its calculations and captures energy performance through the entire cycle of energy consumption from source production and generation to building consumption. Bonus points have been introduced for buildings that obtain the highest levels of energy performance, such as net zero energy or 51 percent+ reduction in CO2e emissions.

The Materials & Resources section introduces a methodology for the selection and specification of products based upon multiple attributes. This new approach focuses on full life cycle assessment, multi-attribute certifications, and third-party certified environmental product declarations (EPDs), placing Green Globes at the vanguard of green rating programs advancing life cycle assessment, said GBI.

“While making a major improvement in the building science used by Green Globes, we kept the unique program attributes that have made Green Globes the choice of an increasing number of sustainability professionals… the web-based survey, the transparent process, the live customer support, the on-site assessment, and the written and in-person feedback for improvement” said Rekow.

For more information, visit www.thegbi.org/green-globes/.

Publication date: 7/1/2013

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