Green building certifications are a great way to demonstrate that you have incorporated the urgent narratives of climate change – that you care because availing the certification involved genuinely addressing the impact your building has on the environment. Of course, it is especially mandated and required when certification is concerned but the impact goes deeper than that to all kinds of beneficiaries – owners, inhabitants/residents, the government, passers-by, and well, the environment.

Speaking more specifically with regard to financials, it helps attract investments, increases the value of your building,  and bullet-proof (which is essentially climate-proofing) operations in a manner that profits can be sustained long term.

There are so many options available, here are a few popular ones. Consulting a green engineering firm or a sustainability firm with established experience to help streamline the process is a great way to begin. We recommend The Cotocon Group. They have a proven history of providing compliance services and local law 97 in New York City to building owners that helps acquire LEED certifications of all categories. their highly skilled team ensures building owners meet all the requirements from strategizing, budgeting, and handling documentation along with curating the information that needs to be shared by conducting energy audits and retro-commissioning to generating and submitting the Energy Efficiency Report within the deadline.

Here are some of the popular certification systems

1. LEED
   Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design – LEED, is issued by the US Green Building Council and happens to be the most popular certification system. It is easily recognizable and has nine separate certification programs that revolve around commercial, retail, new construction, existing buildings, and much more.

   Leed Requirements
   The certification process is rather complex and comprehensive, that involves extremely detailed standards and guidelines. The checklist used to evaluate scores in a point system includes – Sustainable sites, Water efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, and Indoor environment quality.

The Process The whole process of application, review, and certification process is done online. The certification is granted by a LEED accredited third party.

Step 1: Register Online
On the official LEED website, select the rating system most applicable to your building or project type from the choices –  Building Design and Construction (BD+C), Interior Design and Construction, Operations and Maintenance, Neighborhood Development, and Homes.

Step 2: Uploading Information & Documents This might seem generic but the checking of estimates, bids, regulatory compliances, etc, needs to be rigorous

Step 3: Submit The Application

2. Energy Star
   It is issued by the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. The basic pre-requisite is for the building in question to be at least 15% energy efficient.          Follow these steps to apply:-

   – Make sure your energy score is at least 75 or higher
   – Register & fill out your application for a Portfolio Manager Account
   – Get a sanctioned or approved expert (architech, engineer, etc)
   – Sync the site visit information into your account and wait for the final verdict

3. BREEM
   The Building Research Established Environmental Assessment Method is an international program that duly recognizes the sustainability of a building with respect to the infrastructure mainly. The ratings stand at 1-6 and are dignified with “pass”, “good”, “very good”, “excellent”, or “outstanding”. Following are the steps to avail the same.

   -Source a licensed assessor so you’re certain before you file
   -Register
   -Have the project assessed properly and await the results

4. National Green Building Standard
   This type mainly applies to buildings that are residential in nature – ranging from multifamily, single-family or mixed development houses. It also has varying levels of certification, ranging from bronze to the emerald, the highest. To be able to apply, take care of the following steps:-

   – Hire an accredited project verifier so your building is accurately scored and assessed
   – Send that report to Home Innovation Labs
   – Have a final inspection and await the certification

5. Green Guard Certification
   This certification dignifies the proper air quality and low-emissions of your building vis-a-vis materiality, moisture, and even mold prevention. The application process here is a little subjective and involves various planning meetings, reviews, and test groups so the testing on compliance can be achieved, and the certification be granted.

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