Matt Morley 17/05/2025 Matt Morley 17/05/2025

Understanding the Role of the U.S. Green Building Council in Sustainable Real Estate

green building image courtesy of unsplash

What is the U.S. Green Building Council?

The U.S. Green Building Council is a non-profit organisation focused on advancing sustainable, decarbonised built environments. It is part of a global network of national councils, with over 70 member countries working to create buildings that are energy-efficient, environmentally responsible, and resource-conscious.

What are the goals of the U.S. Green Building Council?

The Council’s primary goals include limiting global temperature rise to 2°C, reducing CO2 emissions from the building and construction sector by 84 gigatonnes, and ensuring all buildings achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Through its global network, the Green Building Council drives progress towards these targets, promoting sustainable building practices and supporting policy changes at both local and global levels.

Mission and Structure

Mission: The mission of the Green Building Council is simple yet ambitious: to “create green buildings for everyone, everywhere”. The goal is to foster sustainable environments that allow people to thrive today and in the future, promoting the long-term health of both the planet and its inhabitants.

Structure: The organisation is governed by a board of directors made up of building industry professionals who hold senior positions on the staff or boards of member Green Building Councils (GBCs). This experienced board provides critical oversight and advice to ensure WorldGBC operates effectively and in line with its mission.

The board’s role is to guide WorldGBC’s organisational strategy, overseeing its governance and ensuring it meets its objectives as a not-for-profit organisation. Their leadership is essential in steering the organisation towards its goals of a more sustainable, low-carbon future.

Sustainable Built Environment

The World Green Building Council (WGBC) is leading the energy transition in the built environment. Future buildings will prioritise energy efficiency, with emission-free energy use and low-emission maintenance, contributing to global sustainability goals.

The value chain in construction will focus on sustainable use of materials, reducing emissions from construction sites and transport. Regional partners will play a key role in these efforts, collaborating on projects that transform cities and infrastructure to meet sustainability targets.

Adopting principles of the circular economy will help address the twin crises of climate and nature. The business case for energy-efficient buildings is strong, offering both environmental and financial benefits, and contributing to healthier, more productive spaces.

Green Building Certification

LEED v5 is a pivotal certification standard designed to align the built environment with key imperatives such as decarbonisation, quality of life, and ecological conservation and restoration.

The new version of LEED addresses the growing market demand for greater transparency and accountability in sustainable practices.

LEED v5 will focus on enhancing the sustainability of the built environment, promoting sustainable building practices that are not only energy-efficient but also environmentally restorative.

Looking ahead for Green Buildings

By prioritising these aspects, the certification will help drive industry-wide change towards more responsible, eco-friendly construction and operational practices.

As the demand for sustainability continues to rise, LEED v5 sets a high standard for future developments, pushing for more measurable and accountable outcomes in reducing carbon footprints and improving the quality of life for occupants.

Education and Training

The USGBC offers a wide range of resources to promote green building and sustainability. Their website provides access to articles, reports, and in-depth resources that focus on sustainable building practices and industry trends.

Through these materials, the USGBC encourages learning and exploration of green building principles, making it easier for professionals to stay informed and adapt to evolving sustainability standards.

The organisation also offers education and training programmes aimed at equipping individuals and businesses with the knowledge to implement sustainable building practices effectively.

Advocacy and Policy

The World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) collaborates with businesses, organisations, and governments to support the Paris Agreement and the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

The organisation actively challenges traditional practices, advocating for best practices that accelerate progress towards a more sustainable built environment.

The USGBC is committed to scaling transformation in the built environment to reduce climate impacts and improve the well-being of people, communities, and the environment.

Through its advocacy efforts, it influences policy and drives change to ensure that the built environment plays a central role in addressing global sustainability challenges.

World Green Building Week

World Green Building Week is an annual event led by the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC), in partnership with over 70 national Green Building Councils (GBCs) and 49,000 members.

The week focuses on promoting sustainability and green building through global events centred on a specific theme each year.

The event aims to raise public awareness of the role sustainable building practices play in reducing environmental impact. It engages professionals, policymakers, and the general public in discussions about creating healthier, more sustainable built environments.

WorldGBC also presents two major awards annually to recognise individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing the global green building movement, encouraging further innovation and progress in the sector.

Impact and Results

The USGBC community has made substantial progress in advancing green buildings, positively impacting both the environment and the livelihoods of individuals. By prioritising sustainability, their efforts are accelerating the transformation of the built environment.

Green buildings are central to this shift, contributing to environmental conservation and creating healthier, more productive spaces for occupants. These buildings are designed to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and promote overall well-being.

The latest report provides key insights into the USGBC’s ongoing initiatives to promote sustainability, highlighting the tangible outcomes of their work.

As green building practices continue to evolve, the USGBC’s focus remains on enhancing the environmental performance of buildings, furthering its mission of fostering a more sustainable built environment.

Conclusion

The Green Building Council (GBC) plays a vital role in advancing sustainable development and reducing carbon emissions in the built environment. Through its global network and commitment to promoting best practices, the organisation is helping to shape a more sustainable future.

Focused on creating a sustainable built environment, the GBC's mission is to ensure that sustainable building practices are accessible to all, across the world. Its efforts are integral to reducing environmental impact while improving the quality of life for building occupants.

As the organisation continues to lead the charge, it drives forward innovative solutions and fosters collaboration to ensure that sustainability becomes a fundamental aspect of every building project.

Matt Morley 17/02/2021 Matt Morley 17/02/2021

Introducing the World Green Building Council Health & Wellbeing Framework

Our review of the Health & Wellbeing Framework, it’s benefits and uses in real estate

Six Principles for a Healthy, Sustainable Built Environment

WorldGBC's Health & Wellbeing Framework.jpg

Neither a green building nor a healthy building certification as such but rather an umbrella framework for thinking about both sides of the coin, this welcome model from the World Green Building Council strikes a conciliatory tone, making it eminently practical, user-friendly and comfortably aligned with current industry trends. In other words, we like it!

So what exactly is health and wellbeing in this context and how can it help guide sustainable development in the real estate industry?

Read on to find out more as we break down each section into bite-size chunks within the framework of sustainability health and wellbeing.

This is applicable to workplace health projects as well we employee wellbeing framework requirements and wellbeing strategy for residential developments, or indeed for those looking to maximize wellbeing benefits in mixed-use real estate developments.

If there are any up and coming health and wellbeing guardians looking to implement wellbeing initiatives in their organization, this is also a great place to start.

principle 1 / PROTECT HEALTH: Air Quality, Water Quality, Mental Health and Infectious Disease in Buildings

Indoor Air Quality: This feature looks at air pollution and airborne diseases in the context of human health and public health, specifically household pollution from solid fuel combustion, household pollution from gas appliances, pollutants such as VOCs present in fabrics and materials, and finally biological contaminants.

Ambient Air Pollution: Issues such as the manufacture of building materials contributing to black carbon emissions, the construction process itself and its carbon emissions and more generally the operations of buildings via heating, cooling and lighting, with their corresponding energy demands.

Raising awareness of these issues relating to wellbeing health is a valuable initiative, no matter whether led by the World Green Building Council or the World Health Organization.

Water Quality: Testing for contaminants, regular cleaning schedule in communal areas, Legionella management plan.

Mental & Social Health: Biophilic design, acoustic comfort, shared communal spaces, access to and views of nature, active space for exercise, post-occupancy surveys.

Reduce Transmission of Infectious Diseases: Integrate sensor activations in buildings, HVAC maintenance schedule, use of UV lamps, high touch surface disinfection plan.

principle 2 / Prioritise comfort: Thermal Comfort, Lighting, Acoustics, Visual, Ergonomic and Inclusive Design

Thermal Comfort: Airtight building envelopes and suitable ventilation, thermal massing, use of beneficial solar gain, insulation and glazing, retention of existing trees, Passive House design strategies, integration of traditional or vernacular design. These are fundamental well being principles common in any healthy building plan.

Natural and energy efficient lighting: Maximize natural light in a building whilst reducing glare, avoid using glossy finishes, specify light-coloured opaque shading systems

Acoustic comfort: Use of sound-absorbing interiors products, sound masking, vibration isolation devices

Multi-sensory comfort: Olfactory comfort (avoid unpleasant odours), ergonomic furniture and visual stimulation via aesthetics

Inclusive design: consideration for those with physical or mental disabilities as well as the vulnerable or ageing populations

principle 3 / harmony between natural and built environments

Occupant access to nature in buildings: biophilic design features, landscaping features, natural patterns and textures, opportunities for human interaction with nature

Occupant access to nature outside and biodiversity within the site: Green infrastructure such as green roofs or courtyards, native plant species, rehabilitate degraded land on site

principle 4 / healthy behavior

Active design: attractive stairwells, end of trip facilities (showers, bike storage, etc), access to nearby public transportation

Hydration, nutrition and social connectivity: Clean water provision, communal dining facilities, healthy food options (cafe/restaurant), food prep areas

principle 5 / social value

Protect human rights related to health: Social and demographic equity within project and construction team, inclusion of human rights and labour provisions in supplier tendering, Human Rights Impact Assessment and Supply Chain Mapping

Health of construction workers: Responsible construction practices, protection of worker rights, health & safety measures, educational programs

Improve local quality of life: Engage with the local community early on, reduce impact of construction site on local community wherever possible, implement organizational strategies to help support local economy (e.g. restaurants)

principle 6 / take climate action

Commit to net zero emissions: Improve lifecycle energy efficiency / reduce building energy demand, aiming for net zero operational carbon emissions in all new buildings by 2030, and net zero embodied carbon in all new buildings by 2050, measure and disclose carbon, generate power from renewables where possible and off-set the rest, use passive design measures, opt for low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants

Design for Resilience: Plan for resilient systems, carry out environmental assessments, use vernacular natural ventilation strategies where possible, specify products and materials that will not off-gas in the event of a natural disaster, design for reduced dependence on complex building controls and systems for when the worst happens

https://worldgbc.org/health-framework

To discuss how we can help you implement this framework into your business, contact Matt directly here.