Sustainability rating systems

Green building rating systems focus on building design, construction, and operation to confirm that a real estate asset is eco-friendly. Some common standards include BREEAM certification, LEED certification, and DGNB. In addition to these established schemes, new benchmarks have emerged based on EU taxonomy; they require expert knowledge and insights into national, such as GRESB and CRREM standards.

These green building certifications assess a building’s environmental impact against multiple sustainability criteria. Choosing which sustainability rating system best suits your properties or operations requires a expert knowledge and insight into national and international green building criteria. TÜV SÜD can guide you through this process so you can make informed decisions that align with your sustainability goals.

Real estate assets that embrace sustainability standards are positioned to gain a competitive edge in the marketplace, especially as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices become the norm.

Sustainability rating systems contribute to healthier living and working environments. They also help drive down operating costs, all while increasing the lifetime value of your buildings and assets through potential ESG-based financing.

Designing assets that align with sustainable building practices requires expertise in multiple domains. In addition to understanding local cultures and environments, it also requires knowledge of safety and quality standards, building codes, environmental and carbon tax regulations. Our global network of experts bring this comprehensive knowledge, delivering a holistic approach to sustainable design. We facilitate the entire green building rating system and certification process, whether you're pursuing LEED certification, BREEAM certification, or another standard. These certifications, recognised internationally, validate your building’s sustainability and can significantly enhance its marketability.

Our green building advisors assess the feasibility of your buildings and work closely with your team to meet your objectives, budget constraints, and certification requirements.

With decades of experience in sustainability and real estate, we have worked on significant global projects. Our reputation for total independence ensures you receive an objective evaluation of your prospects for green building certification.

While green building certification is currently voluntary, it is vital for the continued success of your real estate and business investments. Our expertise extends to various national sustainability rating systems, allowing us to tailor our services to meet specific local market needs.

We have a global network of experts facilitating the entire green building certification process. We will help you define your sustainability objectives and assess the feasibility of certification for your buildings, whether old or new.

Our experts work alongside your team to explore alternative means of meeting your objectives, budget constraints, and certification requirements. The green building rating system services we offer are:

• Preliminary assessment and advisory 
  Our experts can advise you on determining your sustainability goals and deciding which of your properties would benefit from green building certification. Then, we recommend the most applicable sustainability rating system for your assets and inform you of all the relevant criteria for obtaining this certification. 
  You can benefit from our first-class reports, which identify fertile areas for development for your building structure, systems, and energy use. 
• Green building design review 
  Once you have chosen a sustainability rating system for your building, our advisors can assess the designs of your mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems according to exact accreditation specifications, in addition to appraising building materials and equipment. This confirms whether your building’s equipment and systems meet green building requirements. 
  Once approved, our experts will create a personalised compliance action plan for your building. This may include 3D energy models and photorealistic lighting simulations to predict how various systems use energy and available natural light in your structures. 
• On-site inspection 
  Our experts offer quality assurance and conduct periodic on-site inspections to ensure you carry out building construction according to plan.  
• Commissioning services 
  Our commissioning services can determine whether your project is ready for the green building certification process. We also conduct post-occupancy surveys to track the effectiveness of your sustainability measures. 
• Facilitation for certification 
  We facilitate communication between your company and relevant green building councils or certification bodies to help you obtain certification. We will assist you in preparing your green building requirements, including all design and construction documents and contracts, before submitting them to the relevant certification body. 
• Training 
  Our sustainability experts can train your teams in building systems maintenance, guiding your architects, owners, and builders to use eco-friendly designs effectively.