This standard, officially named ANSI/GBI 01-2010: Green Building Assessment Protocol for Commercial Buildings was derived from the Green Globes environmental design and assessment rating system for New Construction and was formally approved on March 24, 2010.  

The standard was developed following ANSI's highly regarded consensus-based guidelines, which are among the world's most respected for the development of consensus standards and ensure a balanced, transparent and inclusive process.  A variety of stakeholders including sustainability experts, architects, engineers, ENGO’s, and industry groups participated in its development.

For those interested in learning more about the development of the ANSI/GBI Standard, including information on the procedures, technical committee members, subcommittees, public comments, and meeting minutes, please click here

• Standard Development History/Archives
• Purchase Standard Document

The ANSI/GBI 01-2010 standard represents one of the most scientifically advanced and robust green building rating systems for the new construction or major renovation of commercial buildings in the U.S.   It takes a holistic approach to green building with seven areas of assessment: Project Management, Site, Water, Energy, Emissions, Indoor Environment and Resources.  The standard also contains minimum point requirements in each of the seven areas of assessment, ensuring the building has a minimum level of sustainability while still giving the project teams the flexibility to choose what works best for each unique building. 

Buildings that complete the required 3rd party assessment process, achieve a minimum overall percentage of the applicable points, and the minimum requirements in each assessment area are awarded certification. The levels of achievement for certification range from one to four based on the percentage of applicable points scored based on the 3^rd party site assessment.

• Assessment Areas, Point Allocation, and Achievement Levels

The energy section includes minimum achievement levels and introduces carbon equivalency measures that are used in combination with energy performance goals. With respect to assessing energy performance, the new standard offers the user either a Performance Path or Prescriptive Path (Path A and B, respectively).  Path A offers the higher potential credit total (300 points), and incorporates a methodology that considers total CO_2e in analyzing and determining the energy use intensity of the proposed building, which is then benchmarked through the use of the Energy Star Target Finder program.  Path B offers an alternative approach to earn significant energy performance credit, up to 250 points, by approaching energy performance analysis using a prescriptive methodology, which is available for any building type that is not in the Energy Star building energy efficiency award program.  Other credit areas directly related to energy conservation include Transportation criteria found in the Site section of the ANSI Standard.

Other areas of innovation are the addition of a water consumption calculator, a materials/resources section that fully incorporates Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and an emphasis on building integrity issues.   Finally, the ANSI Standard recognizes the critical aspect of sound project management practices. Whole Building Commissioning, which primarily impacts energy performance, is a significant credit area found in the Project Management section. Although not directly related to energy performance, the criteria within Project Management addressing the Integrated Design approach certainly enhances the potential for superior design and performance in energy as well as all aspects of the project.

• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
• Purchase ANSI/GBI 01-2010 Standard Document

In order to gain experience with the application of the new standard protocol to real world building assessment and certification projects, GBI is undertaking a limited pilot assessment and certification program.   Due to capacity limitations, and GBI’s requirement to ensure the credibility and quality of buildings assessed as part of the pilot program, only a limited number of applications will be accepted.  For complete details regarding the application and evaluations process, please click here.

 Those candidate projects seeking certification to the new ANSI/GBI 01-2010 standard will be subjected to a rigorous 3rd party assessment process that is conducted in two stages, a review of construction documents and a site visit, that verify compliance with the standard requirements. For more information about the assessment and certification process, please click here.

To accommodate the various needs of different clients in the pilot program, GBI provides options for clients to pursue just self-evaluation, design/documentation review by a skilled 3rd party assessor, or the complete 3rd party assessment and certification process; however, those projects seeking certification to the standard must complete all of the steps in the process.  As part of the evolution and improvement of the building assessment and certification process, GBI has included post-certification performance evaluation (at no additional cost) for those buildings that are certified to the ANSI/GBI 01-2010 standard. 

 

Pilot Program Timetable

Milestone Date Pilot Program Applications Accepted May 3 Closure of First Round Pilot Program Applications July 1 Approval Notification for Candidate Projects July 16 Order Queue Opens for Approved Projects August 2 First Pilot Programs Commence September 3 Closure of Second Round Pilot Program Applications September 17 Approval Notification for Round 2 Projects October 1

To learn more about the details of the Pilot Program assessment and certification process, please click the links below:

• Pilot Program Application and Selection Process
• Pilot Program Assessment and Certification Process
• ANSI/GBI Related Price List
• Inquire about the ANSI Pilot Program

 

Individuals with projects suitable for assessment/certification to the new ANSI/GBI 01-2010 standard and interested in joining the pilot program may apply formally to the program utilizing the following steps:

1. Review the building/project characteristics for compliance with the minimum requirements for the pilot assessment/certification program
2. Purchase the ANSI/GBI 01-2010 Standard document
3. Download and complete a Pilot Program Application Form
4. Apply online for the pilot program and upload the completed application form and complete payment of fees

After review by the GBI technical committee, those project accepted into the program can enter their orders online, complete purchase/payment, and  begin the pilot program assessment and certifications process.

• Pilot Program Application and Selection Process
• Download  Pilot Program Application form
• Apply online to the Pilot Assessment/Certification Program
• Inquire about the ANSI Pilot Program