4 - The Labeling Building Challenge

Summary

This chapter surveys the landscape of 14 of the best-known green building labels and some of their attributes. These labels include LEED, BREEAM, WELL, Green Star Australia, Green Mark Singapore, Green Globes, DGNB, BEAM, Three Star China, HQE, Green Star South Africa, CASBEE, EDGE, and the Living Building Challenge. It engages in an in-depth investigation of LEED.Common categories in these programs include energy efficiency, water efficiency, and materials and resource use. While the building owners and occupants may also benefit from having more efficient energy and water systems or more safe materials, these categories also convey some greater environmental benefit to the public. Therefore, it classifies the standards in these categories as intended for public benefit. While most systems prioritize environmental protection above all else at least, three systems have multiple or competing aims. The traits of these labels are related to the framework for ecolabels developed in Chapter 3 and the role that the structure of the labels plays in facilitating peer effects and other competitive drivers of Green Market Transformation is examined.