by Shane Henson — December 28, 2011—The Green Building Initiative (GBI), a nonprofit organization, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Accredited Standards Developer, and established provider of building sustainability assessment and certification services within the federal sector, recently launched its Guiding Principles Compliance Assessment/Certification Program for existing buildings.
According to GBI, the program was developed to address the specific needs of federal government agencies and represents practical, thorough, and credible means to demonstrate compliance as required by Executive Order 13514. Executive Order 13514 states that by 2015, 15 percent of each agency’s federally owned or leased buildings 5,000 square feet or larger must incorporate the sustainable practices from the Federal Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable Buildings Guidance Documents.
The five guiding principles with which federal agency buildings must comply are:
- Employ integrated design principles
- Optimize energy performance
- Protect and conserve water
- Enhance quality of indoor air environment
- Reduce environmental impact of building materials
According to GBI, by virtue of the involvement of a third party and standardized means for determining compliance and reporting, the program sets a standard for consistency and accuracy. With GBI’s rating scale, even buildings that complete the process achieving less than full compliance can be certified for their level of compliance and be recognized for their achievement. The program can be deployed portfolio-wide with minimal training and discounts for campus buildings, and does not require the involvement of external consultants.
According to officials within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the VA plans to take advantage of GBI’s certification program. The Department will apply it to the approximate 180 buildings already undergoing Green Globes Building Certification.
