Frequently Asked Questions

The Journey to Net Zero™ certification is a program for evaluating a building’s energy use and carbon emissions. It provides recognition of reduced consumption and emissions, improves transparency, and provides guidance for further reduction as facilities work towards a goal of net zero.

The Journey To Net Zero Compass Subscription gives users full access to the Calculator Tool. Users can test and demonstrate unlimited projects without starting the full assessment process. Gain familiarity with the platform, use the calculator as a planning tool, and test real or proposed data to gain insights and inform decision-making as you plan and progress toward net zero.

The Journey to Net Zero certification provides transparent documentation of a building’s energy and emissions reductions—valuable for regulatory compliance, investor communication, and tenant wellbeing. Unlike programs that require full net zero performance before recognition, JNZ is designed to provide meaningful recognition at every stage of the pathway.

Green building is the practice of designing, constructing, and operating buildings—the full lifecycle of a structure—to be more sustainable, healthy, resilient, and resource-efficient. Its goal is to build better, for people and the planet.

Green building practices can lower operating costs while increasing rental premiums. They also improve health and comfort for occupants, while strengthening building resilience and reducing climate and environmental impact.

Green building may involve upfront costs, but it can improve measurable long-term value through increased operational efficiency, lower utility costs, and better building performance.

The Green Building Initiative (GBI) is an international nonprofit dedicated to improving the built environment’s impact on people and the planet, by working alongside developers, owners, architects, engineers, facility managers, and government officials.

GBI delivers trusted green buidling certifications, assessments, training, education, industry standards, and advocacy to organizations and professionals dedicated to improving the built environment around the globe.

Building certification programs like Green Globes® and Ascent™ provide a holistic and science-based framework for evaluating the sustainability, health & wellness, and resilience of individual building or portfolio design, construction, and/or operations—implementation is confirmed through independent third-party review before certification issuance.

GBI estimates that its building certification programs take approximately 4–6 months for new construction projects, and 3–5 months for existing buildings, not including design and construction time.

The cost of building certifications varies depending on the program, project type, and building size. Create a free GBI account to receive a complimentary quote tailored to your specific project.

Ascent™ is a science-based, whole building certification system that evaluates environmental sustainability, health & wellness, and resilience of commercial real estate outside the U.S. and Canada. It provides building owners, portfolio managers, and project teams with a clear, structured pathway to internationally recognized, third-party-assessed building certification.

GRESB (Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark) is the leading international provider of ESG performance data and benchmarks for real estate and infrastructure investments, used by over 150 institutional investors to monitor portfolios, evaluate risks, and drive decision-making. Its annual assessments evaluate management practices and performance metrics across energy, emissions, water, and waste for real estate portfolios and infrastructure funds worldwide.

Sustainable architecture is the practice of designing buildings that minimize environmental impact, promote occupant health, and maximize resource efficiency—incorporating energy-efficient systems, responsible material selection, and site-sensitive design from the earliest stages of a project.

Sustainable construction certification provides independent confirmation that a project’s environmental and performance commitments have been delivered—giving owners, tenants, and investors confidence in the building’s credentials. Certification can also support access to financial incentives, green financing, and compliance with increasingly common sustainability-related policy requirements.

Green Globes® Multifamily Protocols is a specialized green building certifications pathway that implements additional sustainable requirements tied to financial incentives for multifamily buildings, providing owners and project teams with tools to achieve the requirements and attain incentives.

GBI estimates that its building certification programs take approximately 4–6 months for new construction projects, and 3–5 months for existing buildings, not including design and construction time.

Building certification programs confirm, through third-party review, that a building’s construction and operation meets science-based standards for sustainability, health & wellness, and resilience. Following certified practices can also increase ROI by lowering utility and other operating costs, while increasing rental premiums.

GBI offers a range of building certification programs tailored to different project types, stages, and geographies—including Green Globes® for the U.S. and Canada, Ascent™ for international projects, Green Globes® Multifamily Protocols for multifamily housing, Journey to Net Zero™ for energy and carbon reduction recognition, and Guiding Principles Compliance for U.S. federal buildings.

Building certifications provide independent confirmation that sustainability investments are real and measurable—building credibility with tenants, investors, and regulators. Building certifications can also support higher rental premiums, lower operating costs, improved occupant health, and compliance with sustainability-related policy requirements.

The cost of building certifications varies depending on the program, project type, and building size. Create a free GBI account to receive a complimentary quote tailored to your specific project.

Ascent™ building certification offers four pathways based on project type: New Construction, Existing Buildings, Sustainable Interiors, and Core & Shell—each designed for commercial buildings outside the U.S. and Canada. This range of options makes Ascent™ a flexible building certification choice for owners and portfolio managers with diverse international holdings.

Ascent™ is the rigorous yet flexible choice for any commercial building project outside the U.S. and Canada that needs a science-based, internationally recognized building certification. It supports compliance with local laws and international sustainability policies, while also providing recognition for buildings that choose to go above and beyond minimum requirements.

Green building certification is a formal, third-party assessed process that confirms a building meets defined standards for sustainability, energy efficiency, health, and resilience.

Green building certification provides independent assessment that a building’s sustainability achievements are real and measurable, supporting credibility with tenants, investors, and regulators. It can also lower operating costs, increase rental premiums, improve occupant health and comfort, and demonstrate meaningful progress on climate and resilience goals.

Green Globes® Multifamily Protocols include additional requirements that go beyond the minimums for Green Globes building certification. For new construction, these cover energy efficient design, ventilation, and water under the Performance Plus track; for existing buildings, they cover energy performance and water consumption.

Green Globes® certification provides a comprehensive third-party assessment of a building’s performance across sustainability, health & wellness, and resilience—as one of only two federally recognized whole-building certifications. Benefits include healthier occupant environments, greater tenant attraction, improved operational efficiency, stronger and resilient asset value, and demonstrated leadership and commitment to build better for people and the planet.

The first step toward green globe certification is creating a free account with GBI, where you’ll receive trial access to GBI’s tools and a complimentary quote for your specific project. A dedicated GBI Assessor will then be assigned to guide your team through the process from the earliest stages through final third-party certification.