Green building certification system review
Section 436(h) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) requires GSA to evaluate green building certification systems and provide the findings to the Secretary of Energy who, in consultation with the Department of Defense and GSA, formally identifies the system(s) to be used across the federal government. Four reviews have been completed: 2006, 2012, 2019, and 2024. These evaluations focused on green building certification systems available for use in the U.S. commercial building market.
Visit the links below to view documents associated with the findings from GSA’s review.
2024
2019
| Name of Report | Description |
|---|
| GSA High-Performance Building Certification System Review Findings Report [PDF - 505 KB] and Appendices A, B, C, E, and F [PDF - 2 MB] | This GSA-commissioned study is the agency’s third review of the green building certification system marketplace. This report conducts a deep dive analysis of the alignment of five building certification systems (LEED, Green Globes, Living Building Challenge, BOMA BEST, and BREEAM) with federal green building requirements. Completed by LMI with independent review by Rocky Mountain Institute in March 2019. |
| Appendix D - Completed Surveys [PDF - 11 MB] | Section 508 Disclaimer: This document and the information contained therein may not adhere to Section 508 Compliance standards and guidelines for accessibility by persons who are visually impaired. Those who are visually impaired should contact highperformancebuildings@gsa.gov for assistance. Please download and open this document in a PDF viewer to access links to surveys that are embedded within this file. |
| Executive Summary of Comments [PDF - 212 KB] | This document contains a summary of comments received during the public comment period on GSA’s draft recommendations from May 28, 2019 to July 31, 2019. |
| GSA High-Performance Building Certification System Review Letter to Sec Energy [PDF - 47 KB] | The GSA Administrator’s letter to the Secretary of Energy containing recommendations on the federal government’s use of green building certification systems. |
2012 - 2014
After an open and collaborative evaluation process spanning several years, and allowing for agency, public, and private sector input, GSA recommended in October 2013 that agencies use one of two green building certification systems that best suit agency missions and portfolio needs: the Green Building Initiative’s Green Globes® (2010) and the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® (2009). GSA submitted additional recommendations on how the government should stay involved with green building certification systems as they evolve over time. [As a result, GSA evaluated the revised LEED v4 in 2014.] The Department of Energy published its final rule on Green Building Certification Systems for Federal Buildings on October 10, 2014.
| Name of Report | Description |
|---|
| Green Building Certification System Review 2012 Report [PDF - 576 KB] and Appendices [PDF - 1 MB] | Completed by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in May 2012, this GSA-commissioned study is the agency’s second review of the green building certification system marketplace. This report conducts a deep dive analysis of the alignment of three green building certification systems (LEED, Green Globes, Living Building Challenge) with federal green building requirements. |
| Green Building Certification System 2012 Report Supplemental Information | This supplemental report contains additional analysis of ASHRAE Standard 189.1 (Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings except Low-Rise Residential Buildings), the Department of Veterans Affairs Guiding Principles Compliance Assessment Program, and GSA’s Sustainable Operations and Maintenance Program. |
| Executive Summary of GBCS Comments [PDF - 634 KB] | This document contains a summary of comments received from GSA’s Federal Register notice from February 5, 2013 that sought public comment on the findings from the EISA 436(h) Interagency Ad-hoc Discussion Group. |
| GSA Green Building Certification Systems Review Letter to Sec Energy [PDF - 149 KB] | The GSA Administrator’s letter to the Secretary of Energy that includes six recommendations on the federal government’s use of green building certification systems. |
| Green Building Certification System: Supplemental Review of USGBC’s LEED v4 Report [PDF - 1016 KB] and Appendices [PDF - 1 MB] | GSA’s supplemental review of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Version 4 (LEED v4) green building certification system and its alignment with federal green building requirements. |
U.S. General Services Administration