Green globes is United Kingdom and Canada based building assessment system.

This system has made

its place in United States as an alternative to US Green Building Councils (USGBC) Leadership in Energy
and Environment Design (LEED). This system rate a building project from one to four based on the
percentage of total points gained by the project. The Green Building Initiative (GBI) termed the Green
Globes as a revolutionary system because this system includes the assessment protocol, rating system
and guidelines for assimilating environment friendly design in commercial buildings. The system was
started in United Kingdom as Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method
(BREEAM) then this system was adopted by Canada in 1996 and in 2004 GBI acquired its rights for the
United States. The mission of GBI is to speed up the process of adaption of environment friendly
practices in buildings which will result in energy efficient and healthier buildings.

The Green Globe system is based on three major assessment tools, Green Globes for New
Constructions (NC): applicable to those building which are designed for residence, have conditioned
space and are not occupied for more than 18 months at the time of ordering the assessment, building
must have at least 400 sq. feet area. . Green Globes for Existing Buildings (EB): applicable to those
existing buildings which have 12 month of energy and water usage records, conditioned space, and have
at least 400 sq. meter of area. Green Globes for Sustainable Interiors (SI): applicable to spaces which
are permanent, contagious and have at least 400 sq. meter area; each assessment tool has ten
categories. . This system has starting base of 1000 points as compared to 110 points in LLED. Green
Globe is more fine grained compared to LEED. As opposed to LEED Green Globes has no pre-requisites.
Green Globes has four certified wood options while LEED has only one option. Also to gain energy
performance credit LEED provide only two paths while Green Globes offer four paths. The evaluation of
a project is done by third party Green Globes Assessor GGAs, after completion of design phase of project
GGAs review the construction related documents and then give their suggestions to the project team
about green attributes of the project. At the end of the construction GGA visit the project and evaluate
the self-assessment and documentation of project team for the points claimed by the team. The
assessor inspects the project physically to make sure that built project is in accordance with self-
assessment. The assessor also helps the project team in resolving those gray areas which are not
included in Green Globes questionnaire and support systems. In Green Globe system it is possible to
reduce the irrelevant number of base points, in cases where certain situation does not apply, this
feature is not available in LEED. In contrast to LEED Green Globes also offer partial credit. As in LEED
Green Globes too have four certification levels and it awards 1 to 4 Green Globes after a project is
certified.

The green globe has seven categories Project/Environmental Management, site, Energy, Water,
Material and resources, Emissions, and Indoor Environment. The Green Globes system is different from
LEED in many ways. This system has category of project management in its rating system and it gives
points for integrated design and environment friendly purchasing. The system gives credit for
performing life cycle assessment during design of building assemblies. Emissions category is not present
in LEED; overall Green Globes is more detailed compared to LEED.

Green Globes assess and give certification to new buildings, major renovations, additions, existing
buildings and interiors. A wide range of facilities such as government, health care, education, industrial,
residential, office, retail and corporate uses Green Globes NC or Green Globes EB systems. After the
registration of a project for Green Globes certification project team must appoint Green Design
Facilitator GDF to perform internal Green Globe assessment. The GDF outlines the Green Design based
framework of project and directs the project team to implement elements of sustainability. A trained
Green Globe Professional GGP may be best suited for the role of Green Design Facilitator GDF. Green
Globe Professionals GGPs are trained at Green Globes user level and they are qualified to provide
technical and project management support to those clients who are going through the process of Green
Globes certification and assessment. Green Globe Professionals GGPs also help the project team to
develop green design performance requirements to fulfill the overall objectives of the project. A building
cannot be certified as Green Globe certified building until the final assessment site visit and verification
report have been submitted. Green Globe NC rating system has 1000 points in total which are
achievable, but irrelevant categories can be excluded and the points can be indicated as NA. The NA
indicated points are deducted from total 1000 points. For example if a project has 58 NA indicated
points then the achievable points will be reduced to 942 instead of 1000 points, however in LEED no
such process of defining NA credit is present.

In the process of Green Globes NC or Green Globes CIEB certification, first step is online survey; which is
done at the time of initiation of the project. First stage is after completion of design stage of project, at
this stage a third party GGA review the documentation from project team and the online survey and
then advises the team for improvements. At the end of construction the project team finalizes the
online survey and all the documentation is completed. In the second stage GGA visits the site and
review the online survey and documents and then recommends the Green Globes rating to the project.
GGA is in-charge of the assessments at stage I and stage II, this third party GGA is unique characteristic
of Green Globes. GGA thoroughly study the project documentation and also conduct site visit to conduct
a third party assessment. During site visit GA take interviews of project team members, review
outstanding documents if any, and check the project for sustainability features and sustainability
measure adopted by project team. GGA has extensive construction industry and building design
experience and has completed Green Globes training protocols. GGA is monitored and commended by
other GGAs before being able to assess a building or project on his own.

The Green Globes Professional (GGP) credential is awarded on the basis of education and experience in
industry. The purpose of GGP is to guide the project team through the stages of certification process.
The other credential Green Globes has is Green Globes Assessor (GGA), GGA is a certified third party
assessor. GGA credential is awarded on basis of education, relevant experience and professional
licensure. GGA credential is awarded depending on whether the GGA will assess NC or EB projects. An
examination is required pass in order to get the GGP or GGA certification. The GGA along with NC or
CIEB assessment of a project, is responsible for providing support to the project team for the correction
of any gray areas that in LEED would be covered under Credit Interpretation Request (CIR).

The Green Globes system of assessment of buildings is under the revision process so that ANSI/GBI 01-
2016 standards will serve as template for the process of Green Globes assessment.