An Overview of Green Building Rating Systems in the World

Abstract

Buildings play a central role in all societies, providing housing, working place, and entertainments space. However, buildings have a large negative impact on the environment, for example the large GHG emissions and huge resource consumption. Green building, as an environmental-friendly building model with high efficiency, low consumption and wastes, has been widely recognized and applied in the building industry in the world. While the number of green building environmental assessment methods, tools, ratings and certificates, both in use or under development is increasing rapidly, there has yet been an international standard for accreditation. This paper reviews the current rating systems and tools accepted in various countries in the world, and provide basic information for the future study.