Green Globes™ New Construction Tool

The Green Globes® for New Construction (NC) tool is an easy-to-use web application that aids architects, engineers, construction professionals, government officials, owners and building operators in evaluating, quantifying, and improving the environmental friendliness and sustainability of new building projects, as well as major renovations. Using this tool enables project teams to focus on sustainability, gives them options when considering environmental improvements during the design and delivery process, and allows them to evaluate and rate the benefits of different design scenarios.

Green Globes-NC combines environmental assessment with education.  Using your entries into the NC survey tool, Green Globes provides automatically generated reports that can help you evaluate opportunities to benefit from energy savings, reduced environmental impacts, and lower costs for maintenance. Combine these value added features with a cost-effective third-party assessment process conducted by highly qualified individual assessors, and you have the opportunity to publicly demonstrate your commitment to the environment. 

Green Globes-NC is the only environmental rating system that provides early feedback on your process before critical and final decisions are made.  This is a proven method for taking advantage of time and cost savings opportunities through integrated design and delivery, while benefitting from a cost-effective and comprehensive third-party assessment program. 

Features	User Benefits
Online questionnaire	Data is stored in a secure, private, and accessible location for convenient completion, edit, or update at any point in the project life.  Eliminates complicated paper forms, submission packets, data files to manage.
Green Globes Assessment Protocol	Comprehensively assesses building sustainability and environmental features/performance on a 1000 point score in 7 different categories.
Environmental Category  Scores	Delivers a graphical view of summary performance in each environmental assessment category, clarifies building strengths and weaknesses.
Self-Assessed Rating	Delivers an overall performance score for the building, allows accurate best practices comparison, enables users to predict Green Globes rating prior to a third party assessment
Two Stage Assessment Process	Project teams have a clear picture of anticipated environmental performance at the design stage, and have opportunities to incorporate improvements prior to construction
Building Report	Provides a structured and detailed summary of environmental/sustainable features.
Improvement Suggestions	Customized improvement recommendations in each of the assessment categories are provided to provide a clear path toward improving overall environmental performance.

Samples of Reports  
Tables & Graphical Output of Survey Results
Achievement Summaries for Good Project Practices
Suggestions for Opportunities for Improvement

The Green Globes®-NC tool delivers a comprehensive, thorough, and proven means for evaluating, improving, and rating the environmental impact of new commercial buildings and major renovations.   It is based on a recognized environmental assessment protocol that comprehensively assesses building environmental impacts on a 1,000 point scale in multiple categories.  The survey protocol covers seven different areas, with each area having an assigned number of points that are utilized to quantify overall building performance.

Assessment Category	Points	Description
Energy	360	Performance, efficiency, demand reduction, energy efficient features, use of renewable energy, transportation
Indoor Environment	200	Ventilation, lighting, thermal & acoustical comfort, ventilation system
Site	115	Ecological impact, development area, watershed features, enhancement
Resources	100	Low impact materials (LCA), re-use, demolition, durability, recycling
Water	100	Performance, conservation, treatment
Emissions & Effluents	75	Air emissions (boilers), ozone depletion, water & sewer protection, pollution controls
Project Management	50	Design process, environmental purchasing, commissioning
Total	1000

To obtain a Green Globes® rating, you must complete the online questionnaire for Green Globes-NC.   The process is as follows:

Step 1: Purchase a subscription to Green Globes - NC
Step 2: Login to Green Globes using your user ID (email address) and unique password
Step 3: Select the Green Globes - NC tool, click add a building, and enter basic building information
Step 4: Complete the online building assessment through design development and complete the Construction Documents questionnaire.
Step 5: See projected rating, get feedback using automatic reports, and implement improvements
Step 6: Order and complete a Stage I third party assessment (if Green Globes - NC indicates a predicted rating of at least 35% of 1000 points)
Step 7: Complete the project and remainder of the questionnaire
Step 8: Order and complete a Stage II third-party assessment
Step 9: Get your Green Globes rating/certification

For more information on the complete assessment and certification process for Green Globes – NC, you can consult the Green Globes – NC System Overview.

All building data is retained in our system, and can be accessed, edited, or updated while you your free trial or paid subscription is valid.  Existing user account holders can purchase a subscription or purchase additional buildings/projects after logging in to their account.

Green Globes offers opportunities for recognition and certification in the design, construction, and/or operation of commercial buildings. Third-party assessment is required for a Green Globes rating and certification, which then provides a recognized means to address the increasingly important environmental concerns of owners, investors, customers, and residents/occupants.

Building projects that have completed the NC questionnaire and scored a minimum threshold of 35% of the 1,000 available points are then eligible to schedule a thorough third-party review of documentation and an on-site walk through that will then lead to a formal Green Globes rating/certification. Buildings that successfully complete a third-party assessment are assigned a Green Globes rating of one to four Green Globes.  Plaques and public relations materials help to enhance public recognition of this important achievement.

Green Globes rated/certified buildings are intended to:

• Use less energy
• Conserve water resources
• Emit fewer pollutants (such as greenhouse gases, airborne pollutants, liquid effluents, and/or solid waste)

By investing in Green Globes rating/certification, companies can publicly demonstrate their commitment to environmental sensitivity, to reducing adverse environmental impacts, and to incorporate the best "green" practices for building design, construction, and/or ongoing operations.  Operational savings through lower energy bills and maintenance costs as well as reduced occupant complaints add to the desired benefits to create compelling reasons to continually benchmark and rate/certify buildings.