What is the New Construction Standard?

The New Construction (NC) Standard provides a method for assessing commercial buildings relative to the tenets of integrated design and contemporary best practices for high-performance green buildings.

This assessment method addresses the design and construction of buildings with respect to reducing life cycle resource consumption, waste, and global/regional/local environmental impacts contributing to human and ecological system health and provides performance feedback to owners and communities on indicators such as energy and water performance.

The NC Standard applies to a broad range of commercial building types, including offices, multifamily, health care, data centers, schools, universities, labs, industrial, retail, etc., as well as to major renovations.

Rating System

The Standard includes a points-based assessment rating system that allows users to identify solutions that earn points for actions likely to achieve levels of performance commonly valued as having desirable environmental and related efficiency outcomes.

Environmental Assessment Areas

The six Environmental Assessment Areas within the Standard include Project Management, Site, Energy, Water Efficiency, Materials, and Indoor Environment.

Public Comment Period Now Open

The second comment period is now open on GBI’s Assessment for New Construction or BSR/GBI 01-202X, Assessment Protocol for Design, New Construction, and Major Renovations, a revision of ANSI/GBI 01-2024. The Public Comment form includes detailed instructions on how to submit your comments. ANSI/GBI 01-2024 is following ANSI’s continuous maintenance process, which allows for public comments to be submitted at any time. 

The public comment period is open now through November 30, 2026. 

BSR/GBI 01-202X REDLINE BSR/GBI 01-202X CLEAN

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Contribute to the New Construction Standard by
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Apply to join GBI’s subcommittee today!

Subcommittee Application Consensus Body Application
My experience as a volunteer with the GBI Consensus Body has granted me the unique opportunity to participate in decisive actions with an incredible variety of peers – and, in real time, witness the impact our collaborative efforts have on the healthy longevity of the built environment, the people served thereunder, and the land on which we build.
Miranda Rickerson
Project Manager, Above Green
Early in my long career as a public sector construction professional I learned that buildings had a major impact on our environment. GBI standards are a critically important way to help all building owners create structures that delight their occupants and minimize the impact on the environment.
Larry Eisenberg
Principal, Ovus Partners 360

New Construction Standards Documents

FAQ

People Also Ask

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  • What are green construction standards?

    Green construction standards are science-based guidelines and requirements that define sustainable practices for the design, materials selection, and methods used in building construction — addressing energy efficiency, water use, material sourcing, indoor air quality, and site impact.

  • What are the benefits of green construction?

    Green construction standards incorporate environmentally responsible materials, integrated building practices, and reduced logistical reliance on distant products — producing buildings that offer stronger performance, healthier environments for occupants, historically higher tenant retention rates, and generally better ROI for owners.

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