Comparison of Green Building Standards
Standard | International Code Council's 2012 International Green Construction Code (IgCC), 2012 edition | American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers' ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES Standard 189.1-2011, Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings (ASHRAE 189.1), 2011 edition | National Association of Home Builders' ICC 700 National Green Building Standard (NGBS), 2012 edition | Green Building Initiative's ANSI/GBI 01-2010: Green Building Assessment Protocol for Commercial Buildings (Green Globes), 2010 edition | U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) | The International Living Future Institute's Living Building Challenge, version 2.1 (May 2012) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Description | A model code that contains minimum requirements for increasing the environmental and health performance of buildings' sites and structures. Generally, it applies to the design and construction of all types of buildings except single- and two-family residential structures, multifamily structures with three or fewer stories, and temporary structures. For more information, see the 2012 International Green Construction Code. |
A model code that contains minimum requirements for increasing the environmental and health performance of buildings' sites and structures. Generally, it applies to the design and construction of all types of buildings except single-family homes, multifamily homes with three or fewer stories, and modular and mobile homes. For more information, see ASHRAE Standard 189.1. |
A rating and certification system that aims to encourage increased environmental and health performance in residences and residential portions of buildings. Its criteria apply to the design and construction of homes and subdivisions. For more information, see the National Association of Home Builders' "Sustainability" webpage. |
A series of rating and certification systems that encourage improved environmental and health performance for all types of buildings except residential structures. Green Globes is administered in the United States by the Green Building Initiative. For more information, see Green Globes Certification. |
A series of rating systems aimed at increasing the environmental and health performance of buildings' sites and structures and of neighborhoods. LEED® covers the design, construction, and operations of all types of buildings. For more information, see the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED webpage. |
A certification system that advocates for transformation in the design, construction, and operation of buildings. In addition to encouraging improved environmental and health performance, it supports the building of structures that are restorative, regenerative, and an integral component of the local ecology and culture. For more information, see the Living Building Challenge. |
Standard Type1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mandatory/ Voluntary2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Building Type(s) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Project Type |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subject Areas |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Community Adoption/Use |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Certification/Compliance Process |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Relationship to Other Standards |
|
|
|
|
|
¹ In the building community, there is no consistent use or definition of the terms "standard" or "code." EPA uses the term "standard" here in a broad sense to mean "something established by authority, custom, or general consent as a model or example: CRITERION" (Merriam-Webster). EPA uses it as an umbrella term to encompass model codes, rating systems, and other publications that provide criteria for the design, construction, and maintenance of buildings.
² Any standard can be adopted as a voluntary or mandatory program. We indicate here the intent of the authors.