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In November 2019, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) launched a new digital case study library showcasing examples of the world’s most cutting-edge sustainable buildings.
Each case study demonstrates enhanced performance in relation to health
benefits or achieve net zero operational carbon, as verified by established
certification schemes, rating tools or other third-party verification.
Buildings and construction together account for 36 percent of global final energy use and 39 percent of energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions when upstream power generation is included. Additionally, people spend 90% of their time in buildings, and there is a consistent association between unhealthy indoor environments and negative human health impacts, for example exposure to damp and mould is recognised to raise likelihood of asthma attacks by 40 percent. Building operations, therefore, represent a significant opportunity to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, improve air quality and create healthier places for people and communities.
WorldGBC has launched the case study library in recognition of growing
market demand to highlight the ‘best in class’ buildings that excel in key
areas of sustainability, and the role of certification schemes to provide third
party assurance of performance.
This ‘go-to’ resource for verified exemplar projects within the built
environment globally will launch at USGBC’s Greenbuild conference in Atlanta on
19 November 2019. Following the launch, it will be open for new submissions via
the website on a rolling basis.
Submissions are reviewed against qualification criteria, developed by
WorldGBC with input of an advisory committee of development partners. This
process is to ensure that each project featured in the library represents an
outstanding example of sustainability in the built environment, as a net zero
carbon building or across different areas of health and wellbeing.
Net zero carbon case studies are existing buildings or spaces that can
demonstrate they have achieved high levels of energy efficiency and either
generate or procure sufficient renewable energy to meet the building’s demand
over 12 consecutive months. This can be demonstrated either through the use of
Green Building Council or other market rating tools that certify net zero
carbon performance, or by providing third party verified data to support the
net zero claim.
Healthy case studies are existing buildings or spaces that can demonstrate
they excel in the provision of features that enhance human health, as verified
and certified using rating schemes demonstrating outstanding achievement of
health elements of a holistic green building certification scheme, or achieve
specific health-based certification, or demonstrate equivalent levels of
performance using verified data.
The library also features industry “game changer” projects – those that
have achieved the criteria for bothhealthy and net zero performance
criteria – and information from the case studies about their specific features,
lessons learned and additional useful project information. It is therefore a
useful resource for sharing and learning about best practice approaches to
achieving pioneering levels of sustainable performance.
An example of a “game changer”
project is Floth’s office in Brisbane, Australia which has been certified as
carbon neutral by the National Australian Built Environment Rating System
(NABERS) standard, and which achieves exemplary performance for healthy impacts
in both NABERS Internal Environment and the Green Building Council of
Australia’s Green Star rating system.
CBRE’s Vancouver office is
also included on the map for achieving Gold certification under the WELL
building standard and for its multiple features that promote a healthy work
environment.
Several buildings that have
recently been awarded certification under DGNB’s Carbon Neutral Framework for demonstrating
best practice in energy efficiency and a balance of renewable energy are also
featured, including City Hall in Freiburg, Germany, the biggest surplus energy
building in Europe.
Over time, the case study library
will be developed to respond to the changing nature of sustainability and the impact
of the WorldGBC global network of almost 70 Green Building councils, closely
linked to the UN’s Global Goals.
By keeping track of these
projects, WorldGBC will be able to share insights about global trends in
providing solutions to reducing the environmental impact of buildings, to help
inform policymakers, designers, and developers about the feasibility, best
practices, while promoting advanced sustainable building performance.
The case study library will be regularly updated to display the latest leading examples of sustainable building worldwide. WorldGBC will be accepting submissions on a rolling basis. Applications for case studies can be submitted at www.worldgbc.org/case-study-library-submission-form
