Other Ratings & Standards

Photo: Elekhh. License: CC BY-SA 3.0

Standards and rating systems have been at the heart of the green building movement at least since U.S. energy standards for buildings (like ASHRAE 90.1) started ratcheting up following the 1970s energy crisis.

If you care about health and sustainability, you can now rely on dozens of ratings and standards for buildings as well as things in and around them, including:

  • Lab protocols for chemical emissions from finishes and furniture

  • Testing methods for durability of paints, textiles, and many other products

  • Standards for energy use, ventilation, thermal comfort, and more

  • Rating systems for schools, healthcare facilities, parking garages, landscapes, and healthy spaces

Other Ratings & Standards

Deep Dives

Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.

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  • Get a Whiff of This: The Lowdown on Product Emissions Testing

    Feature

    Analytical chemistry tools, used together with product testing chambers, are making it possible to "see" product emissions in new ways. Editor Nadav Malin discusses the science behind product emissions testing, the different product certification standards, and what's ahead for this growing field.

  • Climate Change Dominates Greenbuild Conference Agenda

    Feature

    With several announcements at the 2006 Greenbuild conference in Denver, the U.S. Green Building Council signaled that it would use its LEED Rating System to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, by tightening LEED requirements and by increasing the number of buildings designed to LEED standards.

  • Investing in the Environment: The Financial Industry's Approach to Green Building

    Feature

    Recent changes in the financial industry are providing new opportunities for financing green buildings. However, lenders and investors have different approaches to documenting the benefits of green, which affect how they use rating systems and other metrics. To navigate effectively in the financial world, green designers and builders need to understand the territory.

  • Navigating Incentives and Regulations for Green Building

    Feature

    When used in combination, incentives and regulations can be a powerful force for encouraging green buildings. Incentives can be complicated to navigate, but are often well worth the effort. Regulations, on the other hand, can be slow to change, but can raise the baseline for building performance.

Quick Takes

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Product Guidance

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In The News

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  • U.K. Homes Rating System Recognizes FSC, SFI

    News Analysis

    The Building Research Establishment's (BRE) EcoHomes environmental rating system for homes in Great Britain recently gave equal recognition in its guidelines to wood certified by FSC and SFI, two rival programs.

  • National Center for Healthy Housing Rates Green Building Systems

    News Analysis

    The National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) has announced results of its evaluation of major national green building and indoor air quality standards.

  • Clinton, Large Cities Group, Act on Global Warming

    News Analysis

    Former President Bill Clinton recently launched the Clinton Climate Initiative, which includes a partnership aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions with an international group of major cities and the U.S. Green Building Council.

  • FSC to Certify Buildings

    News Analysis

    The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has announced two certification standards for buildings that use FSC-certified wood.

Perspective

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Learning Resources

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