Obtain a Building Greenhouse Rating
A Building Greenhouse Rating
- Provides market recognition and a competitive advantage for low greenhouse emitters and energy efficient buildings;
- Encourages best practice in the design, operation and maintenance of commercial buildings to minimise greenhouse emissions
Building greenhouse rating systems are increasingly operated by governmental agencies:
The Australian Building Greenhouse Rating (ABGR) scheme rates buildings from one to five stars with five stars representing exceptional greenhouse performance. Current market best practice in Australia is three stars. ABGR is administered nationally by the NSW Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability (DEUS) and locally by leading state greenhouse agencies.
The ABGR scheme:
- Is voluntary – a rating can be initiated by a building owner, manager or tenant;
- Rates a building according to its actual performance, using 12 months’ energy data;
- Can be used for the base building (central services), whole building or individual tenancies;
- Allows developers to “badge” the greenhouse performance of their new office development from the outset on the proviso that DEUS will rate its actual operational performance and advise the tenants;
- Is available now for all Australian office buildings.
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the accepted benchmark in the United States for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. To earn certification, a building project must meet certain prerequisites and performance benchmarks ("credits") within each category. Projects are awarded Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum certification depending on the number of credits they achieve. This comprehensive approach is the reason LEED-certified buildings have reduced operating costs, healthier and more productive occupants, and conserve our natural resources.
