ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT METHODS: AN OVERVIEW OF BREEAM / LEED / GreenStar (Presented on 18 September 2008 at NDY)

1. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT METHODS
BREEAM / LEED / GreenStar
18th September 2008
Emma Kauppaymuthoo

2. Topics
 What are EAMs and why are they used?
 General methodology of EAMs
 Most common schemes:
 BREEAM (UK)
 LEED (USA)
 GreenStar (Australia)
 How comparable are EAMs?
 How do they influence Building Services design?
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3. What are EAMs and why are they used?
 EAM (Environmental Assessment Method): measure of environmental
performance
 Benchmarks and checklists of criteria to be met
 Credits awarded for level of performance achieved
 Key drivers:
 Demonstrate sustainability credential to planning authorities, investors
and customers
 Gain market recognition as a leader in green building industry
 Improve image
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4. General methodology
 First stage of assessment
 Design & Procurement Assessment
(Optional)
Request for Identify building Registration under
assessment type & functions appropriate scheme
Assessor
advice &
consultancy
Interim
Y QA Evidence
Submission to
certification Passed? certifying body * gathered
Onto Post N
Construction Amendments /
stage additional info
* Submission: either report or evidences submitted online
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5. General methodology
 Second stage of assessment
 Post Construction Review
Y
From D&P Post-construction Submission for QA Certificate
Assessment evidence gathered certification Passed? awarded
N
Amendments /
additional info
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6. Preliminary assessment report
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7. Full D&P
Assessment
report
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8. Most common schemes
Launch date 1990 1998 2003
Building Research US Green Building Green Building Council of
Certifying body
Establishment (BRE, UK) Council (USGBC) Australia (GBCA)
BREEAM assessor
Required LEED Accredited GreenStar Accredited
(completed training, exam
qualifications Professional (exam) Professional (exam)
& test assessment)
Offices, Retail,
Healthcare, Industrial, Offices, Retail, Offices, Retail, Education
institutional buildings
Types of buildings Multi-residential, Courts, (Healthcare, Multi-
Prisons, Education, (libraries, schools,
assessed museums, churches), residential and mixed-use in
Bespoke pilot stage of development)
hotels, residential
(Residential under CSH)
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9. BREEAM
BREEAM: Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method
Covers environmental areas as well as social and economical areas (energy saving and
occupant health and wellbeing)
2006 2008
CATEGORY Credits Weight Credits Weight
Management 9 15% 10 12%
Health & Wellbeing 13 15% 13 15% % SCORE
Energy 18 24 19% RATING 2006 2008
25%
Transport 15 10 8% UNCLASSIFIED - <30
Water 6 5% 6 6% PASS ≥25 ≥30
Materials 12 13 12.5%
10% GOOD ≥40 ≥45
Waste 10 7 7.5%
VERY GOOD ≥55 ≥55
Land Use & Ecology 15 15% 10 10%
Pollution 6 15% 12 10% EXCELLENT ≥70 ≥70
TOTAL 98 100% 105 100% OUTSTANDING - ≥85
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10. BREEAM
 BREEAM 2008 update: to keep the scheme current with regard to legislation and
changes in industry.
 Major changes:-
 Two-stage certification process (Post-construction assessment now required)
 “Outstanding” rating introduced
 Weightings modified
 Energy credits now based on EPC rating
 Minimum requirements for each rating level
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11. BREEAM
Minimum requirements within BREEAM 2008
Total Mandatory credits for each rating
MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
credits P G VG E O
Man 1 - Commissioning 2 1 1 1 1 2
Man 2 - Considerate Constructors 2 - - - 1 2
Man 4 - Building User guide 1 - - - 1 1
Hea 4 – High frequency lighting 1 1 1 1 1 1
Hea 11 – Thermal zoning 1 1 1 1 1 1
Hea 12 – Microbial contamination 1 1 1 1 1 1
Ene 1 - Reduction of CO2 emissions 15 - - - 6 10
Ene 2 - Sub-metering of energy uses 1 - - 1 1 1
Ene 5 – Low or zero carbon technologies 3 - - - 1 1
Wat 1 - Water consumption 3 - 1 1 1 2
Wat 2 - Water meter 1 - 1 1 1 1
Wst 3 - Recyclable waste storage 1 - 1 1 1 1
LE4 – Mitigating ecological impact 2 - - 1 1 1
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12. LEED
 Intent (USGBC): “to assist in WASTE
the creation of high WATER
COST
SAVINGS
performance, healthful, durable, CARBON
USE
SAVINGS
50-90%
affordable and environmentally SAVINGS 30-50%
35%
sound buildings” and ENERGY
SAVINGS
 To provide a national standard 30%
for what constitutes a “green
building”.
Average savings of green buildings
(Source: USGBC)
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13. LEED
 7 prerequisites
 Raw totals - No weighting applied
 Submissions to USGBC done online
CATEGORY Credits 52 to 69 points = 'Platinum’
Sustainable sites 14
Water efficiency 5 39 to 51 points = 'Gold’
Energy & Atmosphere 17
Materials & Resources 13
33 to 38 points = 'Silver’
Indoor Environmental Quality 15
Innovation & Design process 5
26 to 32 points = 'Certified’
TOTAL 69
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14. LEED
Minimum requirements within LEED
Mandatory Requirement Description of requirement
Reduce pollution from construction activities by controlling soil erosion, waterway sedimentation
Construction Activity Pollution Prevention and airborne dust generation.
Verify and ensure that fundamental building elements and systems are designed, installed and
Building Systems Commissioning calibrated to operate as intended through best practice commissioning procedures.
Design to meet building energy efficiency and performance as required by ASHRAE 90.1 1999, or
Minimum Energy Performance your local code, whichever is more stringent. Analyze expected baseline building performance
using the System/Component Method.
Fundamental Refrigerant Management Zero use of CFC-based refrigerants in new building HVAC&R systems.
Provide an easily accessible area that serves the entire building that is dedicated to the separation,
Storage & Collection of Recyclables collection and storage of materials for recycling including (at a min) paper, glass, plastics and
metal.
Meet the minimum requirements of voluntary consensus standard ASHRAE 62-1999, Ventilation
for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality and approved Addenda. (e.g. Locate building outdoor air intakes
Minimum IAQ Performance away from loading areas, building exhaust fans, cooling towers, and other sources of
contamination).
Prevent exposure of building occupants and systems to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS).
Zero exposure of non smokers to ETS by prohibition of smoking in the building OR provide a
Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control designated smoking room designed to effectively contain, capture, and remove ETS from the
building.
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15. GreenStar
 Based on existing rating systems including BREEAM and LEED
 Tailored to the Australian marketplace and environmental context
 Categories:
 Management
 Indoor Environment Quality
 Transport
 Energy (ratings based on ABGR energy rating)
 Water
 Materials
 Land Use and Ecology
 Emissions
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16. GreenStar
 No prerequisites
 5 points available for Innovation
 Total score weighted Rating
bands
CATEGORY Credits Weight
Management 12 10% 
(Score 45 - 59)
Indoor Environmental Quality 27 20% ‘Best Practice’
Energy 24 25%

Transport 11 10% (Score 60 - 74)
Water 13 12% 'Australian Excellence’
Materials 20 20%
Land use & ecology 8 8% 
(Score 75 - 100)
Emissions 14 5% ‘World Leadership'
TOTAL 129 100%
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17. How comparable are EAMs?
 BREEAM score achieved ≠ LEED score ≠ GreenStar score
 Specific credit criteria to be assessed individually
 Not all BREEAM items are covered by LEED and vice-versa
BREEAM -> LEED
comparable items
36% 44%
20%
Not comparable
Not fully comparable
Directly comparable
BRE’s view on comparison of ratings
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18. Impact of EAMs on Building Services Design
 Independently of the methodology (BREEAM, LEED, etc.) energy and indoor
environmental quality are key issues in sustainability.
 About 50% of total credits in the EAMs are building services dependent.
Percentage of
Building Services
46% 54% 53%
dependent credits
BREEAM LEED GreenStar
 Client requirements for a specific rating level = min. requirements to be met
 Project team to consider feasibility and costs and weight different options to
meet target rating.
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