Guidelines, Rating Systems, and Specifications

Green building performance standards offer a way to clearly state project goals and help us evaluate building performance. They can be found in a variety of documents including guidelines, rating systems, specifications, contracts, and State initiatives.

Guidelines

Sustainable Building Guidelines – a table of guidelines from throughout the United States.

Rating Systems and Best Practices

LEED^TM – a green building rating system for commercial buildings based on energy and environmental performance standards.

LEED^TM Supplement for California State Facilities – combines California-specific information and requirements, such as Title 24 energy efficiency standards, into a self-certification rating system based on LEED™ Version 2.0.

CHPS Best Practices Manual – a manual including three volumes. Volumes I and II are planning and design guidelines and Volume III, “Criteria,” is a self-certification rating system for high performance schools.

Building and Buying Green In Indian Country – Information targeting construction in Indian Country.