Overview

The Living Future Institute believes in creating a future that provides everyone with equal and delightful living spaces. They aim to raise building construction standards and promote affordable housing as Living Buildings. They have an Affordable Housing program with over 50 registered pilot projects in 25 states, promoting affordable housing as Living Buildings. Their mission is to address environmental injustices and ensure access to healthy environments for all. They strive to make a difference in the affordable housing community by sharing resources and learning from each project.

Video credit: International Living Future Institute

The Role of Green Building Certifications in Enhancing Environmental Performance and Occupant Well-being

The built environment contributes significantly to global CO2 emissions, with building operations and construction materials being the main culprits. Existing buildings need decarbonization to meet climate targets, while new construction should focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy. Embodied carbon in construction is a significant concern, and reducing emissions requires reuse, reduction, and sequestration principles. Concrete, steel, and aluminum are responsible for a large portion of global emissions, but there are opportunities for reduction through various strategies (IEA).

Facts:

The built environment generates 40% of annual global CO2 emissions.
Building operations account for 27% of total emissions; embodied carbon from materials and construction contributes 13%.
About 2/3 of the global building stock in 2040 will comprise existing buildings.
Without decarbonization, existing buildings will continue emitting CO2 and hinder the achievement of the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C target.
Zero emissions from existing buildings require energy upgrades, eliminating fossil fuels, and procuring renewable energy.
From 2020 to 2060, approximately 2.6 trillion ft2 (240 billion m2) of new floor area will be added globally.
Achieving zero emissions in new construction necessitates energy-efficient buildings powered by renewable energy.
Embodied carbon emissions, unlike operational emissions, are locked in place once a building is constructed.
Reducing embodied emissions requires reuse, reduction, and sequestration principles.
Concrete, steel, and aluminum contribute 23% of global emissions, highlighting the need for targeted reduction efforts.

With increasing awareness of environmental issues, the construction industry strives to adopt sustainable practices. Green building certifications have emerged as a powerful tool to encourage environmentally responsible construction while promoting the well-being of occupants.

Green building certifications encourage the construction and operation of buildings with minimal negative environmental impacts while promoting health, energy efficiency, and resource conservation. They aim to address various aspects of a building’s lifecycle, including design, construction, operation, maintenance, and renovation. These certifications assess and validate sustainable design strategies, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality, among other factors contributing to building occupants’ well-being.

Encouraging Sustainable Construction:

Green building certifications serve as catalysts for sustainable construction practices. According to a Dodge Data & Analytics study, buildings with green certifications are projected to account for 60% of all construction projects globally by 2021. This shift towards sustainability is driven by the desire to reduce the environmental impact of buildings. Green-certified buildings have been found to consume 25% less energy and emit 34% less carbon dioxide compared to non-certified buildings, as reported by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Comprehensive Approach to the Building Life Cycle:

Green building certifications adopt a holistic approach that covers the entire building life cycle. The World Green Building Council states that green-certified buildings can save up to 40% energy usage during operation. Furthermore, a study published in the Journal of Cleaner Production found that green-certified buildings demonstrate a 30% reduction in water consumption compared to conventional buildings. This comprehensive perspective ensures sustainable practices from design and construction to operation, maintenance, and renovation.

Assessing Sustainable Design Strategies:

Green building certifications rigorously assess and validate sustainable design strategies. According to the USGBC, green-certified buildings can achieve 15-20% higher energy efficiency than non-certified buildings. This translates into substantial energy savings over time. Additionally, green-certified buildings prioritize indoor air quality, vital for occupant health. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) found that poor indoor air quality costs the U.S. economy approximately $168 billion annually, highlighting the importance of certifications in ensuring healthier indoor environments.

Prioritizing Occupant Well-being:

Occupant well-being is a significant focus of green building certifications. A study by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health revealed that occupants of green-certified buildings experienced a 26% increase in cognitive function compared to those in non-certified buildings. Furthermore, the World Green Building Council reported that access to natural daylight and views in green-certified buildings can increase productivity by 18% and improve sleep quality by 15%.

Leading Certifications Making a Difference:

Prominent green building certifications have become benchmarks for sustainable construction. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, developed by the USGBC, has seen remarkable global adoption. As of 2021, LEED-certified buildings span over 200 countries and territories, encompassing more than 203,000 projects worldwide, as reported by the USGBC. The BREEAM certification, widely used in the U.K., has certified over 2.2 million buildings globally, according to BREEAM’s official statistics. Additionally, the Passive House movement has gained traction worldwide. By 2020, the Passive House Institute reported that over 120,000 Passive House projects were completed or underway globally.

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Green building certifications have proven instrumental in driving sustainable construction practices and creating buildings prioritizing environmental performance and occupant well-being. The statistics highlight the positive impact of certifications, including reduced energy consumption, lower carbon emissions, water savings, improved indoor air quality, enhanced cognitive function, and increased productivity.

As the construction industry continues to embrace green building certifications, we can build a greener, healthier future for our buildings and those who inhabit them.

Morningside Crossing is a senior housing project in Pittsburgh, PA, that combines a Passive House adaptive reuse of an existing school building with a new Passive House addition. It features a mix of affordable and market-rate units. It includes amenities such as an outdoor plaza, fitness room, community room, and a neighborhood center offering meals and wellness programs.

Photo credit: Passive House Accelerator

Examples of Certifications

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is one of the most widely recognized green building certification programs worldwide. It evaluates building performance across various categories, including energy efficiency, water conservation, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and sustainable site development.
The WELL Building Standard, administered by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), focuses on the health and well-being of building occupants. It assesses factors such as air quality, lighting, thermal comfort, acoustics, and ergonomic design. The program offers certification for various building types, including commercial, residential, and institutional buildings.
Passive House, or Passivhaus, is a rigorous building standard that originated in Germany in the 1990s and has gained international recognition as a leading approach to sustainable construction. The Passive House Standard is an energy efficiency certification program that promotes buildings with exceptionally low energy consumption. It emphasizes airtightness, high-quality insulation, efficient ventilation, and optimized solar gain. Passive House buildings aim to minimize energy demand while providing a comfortable indoor environment.
The Living Building Challenge, developed by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), is a rigorous certification program focused on regenerative design. It evaluates a building’s performance across seven areas of energy, water, materials, equity, and beauty. The program encourages buildings to generate more energy than they consume and positively impact their surroundings.
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a widely used sustainability assessment method and certification program. Developed in the United Kingdom, it assesses a building’s environmental performance in energy, water, materials, and waste. BREEAM offers certification for various building types, including new construction, refurbishment, and existing buildings.
Energy Star Building Certification is a program developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promote energy efficiency and sustainability in commercial and residential buildings. The certification is awarded to buildings that meet specific energy performance standards and demonstrate a commitment to reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
The National Green Building Standard (NGBS) is a certified residential building standard that verifies green construction practices. It offers certification in six areas: Lot Design and Development, Resource Efficiency, Water Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Building Operation & Maintenance. The program also provides certification for land development projects.
The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) developed the Green Star rating system, which assesses the environmental performance of buildings and communities. It evaluates criteria such as energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor environmental quality, and sustainable materials. Green Star certification is available for various building types and projects in Australia.
The DGNB (German Sustainable Building Council) has developed its own certification system for sustainable construction, which is internationally recognized as the Global Benchmark for Sustainability. The system uses a life cycle assessment, a holistic approach, and performance orientation. It evaluates a project’s ecological, economic, and sociocultural aspects and can be applied to various types of buildings. The DGNB System is adaptable to different countries and has published an international version for new buildings.

The Center for Sustainable Landscapes (CSL) at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, has achieved the BREEAM Outstanding In-Use rating. The CSL is a 24,350-square-foot facility designed to generate energy and treat and reuse all captured water. It is an educational space to showcase renewable energy technologies, conservation strategies, water treatment systems, and sustainable landscaping.

Photo credit: BRE

Let’s Build a Future Where Efficiency Meets Health and Sustainability.

These certification programs provide clear guidelines and standards for designing and constructing buildings prioritizing energy efficiency, occupant health, and environmental sustainability. Architects, designers, and developers can use these programs as frameworks to create high-performance buildings that contribute to a more sustainable and healthy built environment.