ATLANTA—Air Quality Sciences (AQS), a company that focuses on indoor air quality (IAQ) issues, has seen the rise of sustainable building programs and how vast and differed they can be. Because the popularity of green building is not expected to slow, AQS created a white paper evaluating and comparing some of the most popular programs here and abroad.
The results from the 2008 McGraw-Hill Construction and World Green Building Council survey of international construction firms shows 94% of respondents will be building green on at least 16% of their projects by 2013. And, more than half (53%) will be building green on more than 60% of projects.
The white paper, “Building Rating Systems (Certification Programs): A Comparison of Key Programs,” takes a look at how key green building programs adopted by various countries differ—including those within the same country—and explains what guidelines they have for IAQ and includes summaries of each program.
The following programs and certifications are evaluated:
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) – U.S.
• National Green Building Standard –U.S.
• Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) - U.S.
• Green Globes System – Canada
• BRE Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) - U.K.
• Hong Kong Building Environmental Assessment Method (HK-BEAM) – Hong Kong
• Green Star – Australia
• Comprehensive Assessment System for Building Environmental Efficiency (CASBEE) - Japan
• Germany Sustainable Building Certificate (DGNB) – Germany
• Green Building Evaluation Standard (Three Star System) – China
While each impacts building practices differently, they all include standards for controlling IAQ. This is an important attribute, noted Tony Worthan, AQS’ president and COO. Creating an effective IAQ management plan, targeted to a building’s specific needs, including achieving a program’s environmental quality prerequisites and credits, requires expert help. “AQS is dedicated to partnering with building owners, designers and facility managers in creating and maintaining healthy indoor environments. Protecting the health of building occupants is a key objective. AQS works with clients throughout the lifecycle of a building, from its initial design and construction through its long-term occupancy, operation and maintenance.
By compiling a review of leading sustainable building programs’ top line information into one report, he noted AQS hopes “to assist builders, contractors and designers in better understanding sustainable building practices.”
The full report is available for free at aerias.org under “Premium Content,” then “White Papers.”
To learn more, call 770.933.0638.
