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Green Globes® New Construction

A Tool for Improving the Environmental Performance and Sustainability of New Buildings

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 for New Construction combines environmental assessment with education. Using your entries into the New Construction 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 for New Construction 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 benefiting from a cost-effective and comprehensive third-party assessment program.

Green Globes for New Construction Features & Benefits

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.
Online assessed points 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

Environmental Assessment Areas

The Green Globes for New Construction 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 380 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 85 Performance, conservation, treatment
Emissions & Effluents 70 Air emissions (boilers), ozone depletion, water & sewer protection, pollution controls
Project Management 50 Design process, environmental purchasing, commissioning
Total 1000  

The First Phase of Green Building and Certification - Green Globes New Construction Assessment

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

Step 1Purchase a subscription to Green Globes for New Construction.

Step 2Login to Green Globes using your user ID (email address) and unique password.

Step 3: Select the Green Globes for New Construction 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 Request a quote for Green Globes third party assessment and certification services.  Within five business days, a Green Building Initiative® representative will send you a quote with a quote number or contact you to discuss your request. Upon receipt of the quote, Login to Green Globes using your user ID (email address) and unique password.

Step 7: Order and complete a Stage I third party assessment (if Green Globes for New Construction indicates a predicted rating of at least 35% of 1000 points).

Step 8: Order a third-party assessment and Green Globes rating/certification (if automated report indicates a predicted rating of at least 35% of 1000 points).

Step 9: Schedule and complete your 3rd party building assessment. Third-party assessment for Green Globes for New Construction occurs in two comprehensive stages.

Stage I is a review of construction documents, working drawings, landscape designs, energy analysis, LCA documentation, commissioning reports, etc.

Stage II includes an onsite walk through, review of additional documentation, and interview of key team members. Payment must be received before an assessment can be scheduled.

Step 10: Order Green Globes recognition items for the building.

Step 11: Get your Green Globes rating/certification.

All building data is retained in our system, and can be accessed, edited, or updated while your free trial or paid subscription is valid. After your subscription expires, all building data is retained but is not accessible. Existing user account holders can purchase a subscription or purchase additional buildings/projects after logging in to their account.

Green Globes for New Construction (NC) Rating / Certification

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 New Construction 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.



Learn about Green Globes
GG Free Web Seminars on Managing Green Performance of Existing Buildings
GG Learn about New Construction
GG Learn about Continual Improvement for Existing Buildings
GG Green Globes Certified Buildings Lists: NC & CIEB
GG Green Globes FAQ's
GG Green Globes, an Alternative to LEED
GG History of Green Globes
GG Green Globes Training Materials
GG Presentation:  Green Globes NC and CIEB Overview


Use Green Globes
GG Purchase a Green Globes Subscription
GG Request a Quote for Green Globes 3rd Party Assessment & Certification
GG Login to Green Globes
GG Username/Password Help
GG Account & Registration FAQ's
GG Sign Up for a New Construction 30-day Free Trial
GG Sign Up for an Existing Building 30-day Free Trial


Use Green Globes® LCA Credit Calculator
GG Register/Download Green Globes LCA Credit calculator
GG Learn about LCA Credit Calculator
GG Learn about the Athena Institute and origins of LCA Credit Calculator


Get a Green Globes® Rating/Certification
GG Request a Quote for Green Globes 3rd Party Assessment & Certification
GG Schedule an Independent, 3rd Party Building Assessment with the GBI
GG Learn More About the New Construction Process
GG Case Studies of Green Globes Rated Buildings
GG Learn More About Green Globes Rating/Certification
GG Learn More About the Green Globes Environmental Assessment Protocol
GG GBI Price List


Green Globes® Personnel Certifications
GG Learn About Green Globes Professional and Assessor  Certification Programs
GG Minimum Qualifications for Green Globes Personnel Applicants
GG Free Green Globes Web Seminars
GG Green Globes Professional Training
GG Green Globes Assessor Selection and Certification Process Overview
GG Green Globes Personnel Certification Fees
GG Green Globes Personnel Certifications FAQ’s
GG Green Globes Personnel Certification Summary
GG Green Globes Assessor Update and Timetable
GG Green Globes Certified Personnel Listing
GG Download a Green Globes Personnel Application Form
GG Apply Online to become a Green Globes Professional or Green Globes Assessor