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Measuring Green: Green Building Rating Systems & Guidelines

As the demand for green buildings grows, so does the need for reliable tools and systems that provide credibility and give builders, designers, and other interested parties the confidence that a building and the materials that go into it are truly deserving of that "green" label.

But who decides what's "green"? In other words, how do we evaluate the evaluators? There are a few important steps to take before deciding which system might be right for a particular project. The first is to do some research about the organization that created the guidelines you intend to use. It's also important to learn about how the system and criteria were developed, and which professionals or organizations were involved in contributing to it. Finally, it's necessary to find out if the program offers third-party verification as a way to ensure that the final product lives up to expectation and, most importantly, delivers all the benefits of going green.

The systems and guidelines described in the link below offer different sets of benefits to industry professionals based on reliably high standards and have demonstrated leadership for the advancement green building.

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