by Brianna Crandall — May 1, 2015—On April 29, Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) officially launched PEER, its new rating system designed to measure and improve sustainable power system performance. GBCI, formerly known as the Green Building Certification Institute, is the exclusive provider of project certifications and professional credentials and certificates for the LEED green building rating system; the WELL building standard for features of the built environment that impact human health and well-being; and the GRESB benchmark, used by institutional investors to improve the sustainability performance of the global property sector.
Modeled after the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system, PEER, or Performance Excellence in Electricity Renewal, evaluates power generation, transmission and distribution systems through the lens of the customer, focusing on efficiency, quality, reliability, resiliency and the environment.
PEER was created to help project teams deliver best-in-class electricity supply performance that reduces cost, increases productivity, mitigates risks and leverages customer resources. GBCI will serve as the independent, third-party, global certification and credentialing body for PEER.
“Buildings don’t exist in a vacuum, so integration with other industries, such as energy and power, is crucial if we are to create a more sustainable built environment. PEER will be a transformative tool for power systems regulation, design and operation,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO and founding chair, USGBC, and CEO, GBCI. “It is a great complement to the array of rating systems already administered by GBCI, in particular LEED, the most widely used green building rating system in the world.”
The convergence of policies and technologies driving transformation in green buildings and the power sector provides USGBC with an unprecedented opportunity to launch “Energy Innovation at USGBC,” the evolution of a leadership initiative conceived by the Robert F. Galvin Foundation to leverage emerging technologies. With a focus on performance and better consumer understanding, Energy Innovation at USGBC provides a collaborative space for industry leaders looking to transform the power sector. Through PEER, Energy Innovation at USGBC provides a core set of principles for making the electricity delivered to buildings more environmentally sustainable, economically efficient and socially equitable.
