Frequently Asked Questions
- How long is the learning curve? What kind of training is available?
- What's unique about the Green Globes system?
- Why does the market need more than one standard?
- Why an online system?
- How much does Green Globes cost?
- Why is Green Globes ideal for smaller projects?
- Does it cost more to have a building comply with Green Globes?
- How does Green Globes improve building design?
- Does the Green Globes system incorporate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?
- How does the Green Globes system ensure that a building's energy use is considered as a primary area for gaining efficiency?
- How long can I use the Green Globes assessment for a given project?
- What does the verification process entail?
- Why should I obtain third-party verification?
1. How long is the learning curve?
The strength of the Green Globes system is that it is written in plain language so it's easy for beginners as well as experienced practitioners to be up and running in minutes. The system is questionnaire-driven. Users are walked through a logical sequence of questions that guide their next steps and provide guidance for integrating important elements of sustainability. Once each questionnaire is complete, the system automatically generates a report written in lay terms with suggestions for improvement and helpful supplementary links and information.
2. What's unique about the Green Globes system?
There is much agreement with regard to what constitutes best energy and environmental practices, so the major green building standards—such as Green Globes, LEED, BREEAM, the GBC tool, and the Minnesota Design Guidelines—have more similarities than differences.
However, the Green Globes system does have a number of distinct attributes in the way the program is delivered, such as the online questionnaire-driven assessment, and automated reporting, which greatly reduce the time and cost of producing a submission.
3. Why does the market need more than one methodology?
There is general agreement about what constitutes green building best practices, and most assessment methodologies have remarkably similar criteria. What differs is the way in which these are delivered. Many states in the US are recognizing Green Globes as a credible tool and in Canada, the method has been used for several years on federal buildings. By having a variety of credible options, people can choose the one that meets their needs—with the result that more buildings are built or retrofitted to high standards of energy performance. This also helps to generate healthy competition to ensure low cost and user-friendly design and client service.
4. Why an online system?
Because it's online and interactive, the Green Globes system enables you to change inputs in order to keep your assessment up-to-date. It serves as a virtual consultant, providing instant feedback on the environmental aspects of a structure's design along with advice and resources for improvements. And, because much of the data is captured as users progress through the system, the final report helps to simplify the documentation process. It also makes it easy to compare the different properties in a portfolio.
5. How much does Green Globes cost?
It typically costs between $3,000 to 5,000 to use the online tool and to have a building third-party verified.
6. Why is Green Globes ideal for smaller projects?
The Green Globes system can be used with any size building. However, its low cost makes it especially attractive to apply to smaller, lower budget buildings. An affordable assessment such as Green Globes can greatly help to bring green to the mainstream.
7. Does it cost more to have a building comply with Green Globes?
Building a structure to comply with Green Globes normally costs between 1% and 2% more than a standard building. In regions with extreme temperatures, the additional costs can rise to 8%. This is similar to compliance with any green building standard. However, Green Globes' assessment and verification costs are lower than most, so it tends to be less expensive overall. Through use of an integrated design process, and particularly with a system like Green Globes, design and construction teams can also save time and hassle resulting in fewer change orders and costly adjustments to final plans. This, in combination with savings from efficiencies and lower maintenance requirements, can more than make up for slightly increased initial costs.
8. How does Green Globes improve building design?
The Green Globes system paints a clear picture of your building's performance, giving practical advice for design improvements, offering resources for making upgrades, and providing additional information on relevant strategies and technologies.
9. Does the Green Globes system incorporate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?
With the current Green Globes system for the Design of New Buildings, points given in the resource section are for conducting a Life Cycle Assessment of the building assemblies and materials. The GBI has begun a process to further integrate LCA, so the cradle-to-grave environmental impacts of alternate designs can be compared more easily. As a first step, we are working to assess and rate various building assemblies using established LCA methodology. Once the results have been incorporated into the system, design teams will be able to receive credit for using highly ranked assemblies.
10. How does the Green Globes system ensure that a building's energy use is considered as a primary area for gaining efficiency?
The largest number of points in the Green Globes system are dedicated to energy. Green Globes uses performance benchmark criteria to evaluate the probable energy consumption of a building. However, instead of comparing a building design to the performance of a hypothetical structure designed to ASHRAE 90.1 standards, Green Globes compares against data generated by the EPA's Target Finder, which reflects real building performance—and specifically the better performing buildings in the Target Finder database. The difference in approaches is significant. The performance of a hypothetical design can be distorted to make the new design look good, while the Green Globes approach cannot be distorted. In addition to the energy performance benchmark criteria, the Green Globes system directly addresses microclimatic design considerations, space optimization and the use of energy efficient technologies.
11. How long can I use the Green Globes assessment for a given project?
You can change inputs as the building parameters change for up to one year after signing up, with an option to extend.
12. What does the verification process entail?
To receive a final rating of one, two, three or four globes, the data submitted online must be verified by a trained and licensed engineer or architect with significant experience in building sciences and sustainability. Using existing supporting documents (such as the project's working drawings, building specifications, waste disposal plans, evidence of energy and life cycle modeling) and a walk-through survey, the verifier reviews the submission and confirms that the percentage of points shown in the assessment report is supported by fact. If the verifier finds that incorrect claims were made or a positive practice was not recorded, he or she modifies the input, justifying why the change was made. A quality assurance protocol helps to ensure that verifiers conduct their assessments properly and consistently.
For existing buildings, the verification can be done as soon as the questionnaire has been completed and any desired improvements have been done.For the design of new buildings, users can engage a Green Globes verifier immediately following completion of the Construction Documents questionnaire. A preliminary verification will be conducted using the evidence detailed above and a certificate recognizing the design achievement will be awarded as appropriate. The final verification allowing the architect, developer and owner to promote the building as having earned one, two, three, four globes happens only after a site inspection has been completed by the Green Globes verifier following construction of the building.
13. Why should I obtain third-party verification?
By having an independent third party verify that your completed property reflects the achievements described in the self-assessment, you add value and credibility—in the market, the community, and among occupants and tenants.