Comparing Building Standards from Around the World v2.0
According to RESET.build, This report compares 19 of some of the most widely recognized and used green building standards in the current markets. Each standard is compared and summarized in multiple aspects, including criteria, data requirements, project type, etc. This report can provide a basic guideline when choosing building standards and also give a clearer understanding of the similarities and differences between each standard.
Let’s start with a brief introduction of each building standard (text taken from the corresponding standard’s website when available or relevant):
- RESET: developed and administrated by GIGA; a performance-driven building standard; founded in Canada in 2013; globally certified projects;
- LEED: developed and administrated by the USGBC; a green building standard; founded in the US in 1998; globally certified projects;
- BREEAM: developed and administrated by the BRE Group; a green building standard; founded in the UK in 1990; globally certified projects;
- WELL: developed and administrated by the International WELL Building Institute; a healthy building standard; founded in the US in 2014; globally certified projects;
- LBC: developed and administrated by the International Living Future Institute; a green building standard; founded in the US in 2006; globally certified projects;
- Fitwel: developed and administrated by the CDC and USGSA; a healthy building standard; founded in the US in 2016; globally certified projects;
- Passive House Standard: developed and administrated by the Passive House Institute; a standard for passive house; founded in Germany in 1996; globally certified projects;
- Green Globes: developed and administrated by the Green Building Initiative; a green building standard; founded in Canada in 2000; mainly leveraged in North America;
- Energy Star: developed and administrated by the EPA and DOE; a energy standard; founded in the US in 1995; globally certified projects and products;
- BOMA BEST: developed and administrated by BOMA Canada; a green building standard; founded in 2005 in Canada; globally certified projects;
- DGNB: developed and administrated by the German Sustainable Building Council; a green building standard; founded in Germany in 2007; globally certified projects;
- SmartScore: developed and administrated by the WiredScore Smart Council; a smart building standard; founded in the US in 2013; mainly leveraged in the US, EU, and APAC;
- AirRated: a standard for indoor air quality; founded in the UK in 2018; mainly leveraged in the UK;
- SG Green Marks: developed and administrated by the BCA; a green building standard; founded in Singapore in 2005; mainly leveraged in Asia Pacific;
- AUS NABERS: administrated by the NSW gorvernment; a green building standard; founded in Australia in 1998; mainly leveraged in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK;
- Home Performance Index: developed and administrated by the Irish Green Building Council; a green building standard for residential buildings; founded in Ireland in 2017; mainly leveraged in Ireland and UK;
- CASBEE: developed by the JSBC; a green building standard; founded in Japan in 2001; mainly leveraged in Japan;
- HKGBC BEAM Plus: developed and administrated by the HKGBC; founded in Hong Kong in 2010; mainly leveraged in Hong Kong;
- China Green Building Standard: developed and administrated by the China Academy of Building Research (CABR); a green building standard; founded in China in 2006; mainly leveraged in China.
Sustainability & Health
Green building standards mainly focus on two aspects: sustainability and health. Some standards might focus on one or the other, while others will do both. A standard will have a sustainability focus if it takes into account environmental performance, while it will have a health focus if it takes into account the health performance of buildings.
The following table lists whether or not a standard focuses on sustainability and/or health: