BEAM Plus (Building Environmental Assessment Method) Innovation in green practices, such as vertical greening (BEAM Plus)

Location: Predominantly used in Hong Kong for evaluating the environmental and advanced green strategies (BCA Green Mark), is encouraged to
performance of existing buildings. push beyond basic sustainability standards.
Case Study: EMSD Headquarters, which transformed an air cargo terminal into Certification Tiers:
a sustainable facility, achieving BEAM Platinum Rating. Both schemes use tiered rating levels (such as Platinum, Gold) to
Key Improvements: incentivize higher levels of sustainability, with stricter requirements for
Energy Efficiency: Large solar PV system with over 2,300 panels, higher certification levels.
renewable energy features (solar trees, rainwater harvesting).
Waste Management: Recycling initiatives, waste audit, food waste
decomposer.
Water Conservation: Rainwater recycling, low-flow fixtures.
Eco-Friendly Operations: Green purchasing, pest control, ISO50001 for
energy efficiency. CASBEE (Comprehensive Assessment System for Building
BCA Green Mark Environmental Efficiency)
Location: Singapore, assessing environmental sustainability in buildings.  Origin: Japan, developed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport,
Example: Guoco Midtown in Singapore’s CBD achieved BCA Green Mark and Tourism.
Platinum Award (2020).  Goal: Evaluates building environmental performance across the entire
Key Criteria for Certification: lifecycle, focusing on sustainable building practices.
Climatic Responsive Design: Minimizes energy needs by aligning with  Criteria:
climate conditions. o Ecology: Assesses energy use, water consumption, and waste.
Resource Stewardship: Responsible natural resource use and waste o Human Environment: Indoor air quality, daylight, and thermal
reduction.
comfort.
Smart and Healthy Building: Uses technology for enhanced indoor
environmental quality. o Economic Efficiency: Focuses on construction and operating
Building Energy Performance: Reduces energy consumption and costs.
increases comfort. o Operation & Management: Looks at energy, water use, and
Advanced Green Efforts: Encourages innovative green strategies. waste management.
Integrated Design and Construction Management o Community & Society: Considers local materials, job creation,
This concise overview highlights key aspects of both BEAM Plus and BCA Green and accessibility.
Mark, providing foundational insights into sustainable building certification.  Advantages: Comprehensive assessment, tailored for Asian climates, high
Here are the similarities between the BEAM Plus and BCA Green Mark focus on environmental and human factors.
certification schemes:  Disadvantages: Complex and costly certification limited global
Focus on Environmental Sustainability: recognition.
Both BEAM Plus and BCA Green Mark emphasize reducing the Pearl Rating System (PRS) for Estidama
environmental impact of buildings by evaluating their energy
efficiency, water conservation, and waste management.
 Origin: United Arab Emirates, designed by Abu Dhabi Urban Planning
Council.
Energy Efficiency:
Both systems prioritize energy savings, encouraging renewable energy  Goal: Enhances sustainability in construction and quality of life, addressing
sources, efficient lighting, and equipment. For instance, the BEAM- environmental, economic, and social factors.
certified EMSD Headquarters has solar PV systems, and BCA Green  Categories:
Mark buildings incorporate climatic responsive designs to minimize o Integrated Development: Synergy between project systems for
energy demands. high performance.
Water Conservation: o Natural Systems: Protects surrounding natural assets and
Water management is central to both schemes, which promote low- habitats.
flow fixtures, rainwater harvesting, and efficient plumbing systems to o Outdoor Buildings: Promotes comfortable, active urban outdoor
reduce water usage in buildings.
spaces.
Indoor Environmental Quality:
Ensuring a healthy indoor environment is a shared goal. BEAM Plus and o Indoor Buildings: Focuses on indoor air quality, thermal comfort,
BCA Green Mark assess factors like indoor air quality (IAQ), thermal and daylight.
comfort, and use of non-toxic materials to enhance occupant health o Water & Energy Conservation: Efficient use of water and
and well-being. renewable energy.
Resource and Material Stewardship: o Resourceful Energy: Emphasizes energy efficiency and
Both frameworks encourage the responsible sourcing and use of renewable sources.
materials, recycling, and waste reduction throughout the building o Material Stewardship: Reduces long-term environmental
lifecycle. impacts.
Innovative and Sustainable Design:
o Innovation: Encourages sustainable, cost-beneficial solutions.
  Advantages: Tailored to UAE's climate and culture, straightforward criteria,  Origin: Created in the Philippines in 2010, tailored for the tropical climate
strong government support. and local needs.
 Disadvantages: Limited to energy and water efficiency, over-reliant on  Objective: Promote eco-friendly practices, improve indoor quality, and
local standards. advance disaster resilience.
Comparison Summary  Sustainable Features:
 CASBEE is broad, covering social and economic aspects with flexible 1. Energy Efficiency: High-performance glazing, energy-efficient
applications, suited for various building types and life cycle stages. It lighting.
incorporates the UN Sustainable Development Goals but places less 2. Water Conservation: Rainwater harvesting, low-flow fixtures,
emphasis on water and energy as individual categories. greywater recycling.
 Pearl Rating System focuses on environmental factors, particularly water 3. Indoor Environmental Quality: Use of low-VOC materials,
and energy, and uses a tiered certification system for increasing natural lighting.
performance levels. It is more specialized for the UAE context and less 4. Materials: Emphasis on recycled and locally sourced materials.
adaptable to other regions. 5. Waste Management: Construction waste recycling and
Similarities: management programs.
1. Focus on Environmental Sustainability: 6. Sustainable Site Development: Green roofs and native
2. Life Cycle Approach: landscaping.
3. Energy and Water Conservation: 7. Transportation: Access to public transport and bicycle facilities.
4. Indoor Environmental Quality:  Benefits:
5. community and Social Impact: o Market Competitiveness: Enhances project sustainability and
6. Encouragement of Innovation: transparency.
7. Tiered Certification Levels: o Regulatory Compliance: Guides policies in line with
8. Both systems have multiple certification levels (e.g., CASBEE’s "S environmental standards.
Rank" to "C" and PRS’s 1 to 5 Pearls), incentivizing higher levels of o Health and Well-being: Promotes indoor air quality and natural
sustainability performance. light.
o Climate Change Mitigation: Reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
 Key Similarities
Environmental Focus:
Comprehensive Rating:
Voluntary Certification:
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Performance-Based:
Method) Adaptability: Differences
 Origin: Developed in the UK in 1990; one of the first green building rating Regional Focus:
systems. o BREEAM: UK-based, applicable worldwide; focuses on
 Objective: Reduce environmental impact, enhance occupant well-being, technological innovations.
and support global ESG and net-zero goals. o BERDE: Philippines-based, focusing on tropical climate resilience
 Assessment Categories: and disaster preparedness.
1. Energy Use: Promotes renewable energy, efficient heating, and
lighting systems.
 Economic Impact:
2. Health and Well-being: Focuses on air quality, temperature, o BREEAM: International marketability, attracting global investors.
lighting, and acoustics. o BERDE: Aligns with local priorities, supporting the Filipino
3. Pollution: Reduces emissions from building operations. economy and resilience to local challenges.
4. Transport: Encourages public transport access and bicycle
facilities.
5. Materials: Uses sustainable, non-toxic, responsibly sourced
materials.
6. Waste: Emphasizes waste minimization and recycling.
7. Water: Efficient water management and low-flow fixtures.
8. Land Use and Ecology: Preserves biodiversity and green spaces.
 Benefits:
o Environmental: Reduced carbon emissions, resource
conservation, biodiversity protection.
o Economic: Lower operational costs, increased property value,
market competitiveness.
o Social: Enhanced indoor air quality, improved occupant well-
being, positive brand image.
BERDE (Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence)