During construction, occupation, renovation and even in demolition, huge amount of waste is generated. We must ensure that they aren’t creating much negative impact in the community where we are residing. There are various types of certifications. They are listed as follows:

1.     LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), issued by US Green Buildings Council ;, is the most easily recognized sustainable building certification out there. It has nine separate certification programs, including ones for commercial, retail, new construction, existing buildings, and more. Each program has a points-based rating system. You get points for each green building feature, and your point total determines whether you’re LEED Certified, LEED Silver, LEED Gold, or LEED Platinum (the highest level).

2.     Energy Star is another well-known green building certification that’s offered through the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. To qualify, your building needs to be at least 15% more energy efficient than traditional properties. These certifications last for one year.

3.     BREEAM (the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is an international program that recognizes sustainable buildings and infrastructure projects. The certification comes with a star rating from one to six and a designation of “pass,” “good,” “very good,” “excellent,” or “outstanding.” You can get BREEAM-certified on new construction, in-use, or refurbishment projects.

4.     The Green Globes certification program is offered through the Green Building Initiative. It consists of three categories: new construction, existing buildings, and interiors. To qualify, you need to meet at least 35% of the program’s 1,000 available points. The process consists of an online survey, a third-party on-site assessment, and a post-assessment.

5.     Living Building Challenge- The Living Building Challenge certification is based on your building’s sustainability performance over a 12-month period. To qualify, you need to achieve all seven “petals,” which include materials, site, water, health, equity, beauty, and energy.