Explore the periodic table that we have created, which includes the most recognized sustainable certifications for projects, classified according to their function. This visual guide is designed for those professionals interested in knowing the certifications available in the real estate sector.
If you are an architect or engineer, this guide to sustainable project certifications is for you:
AIS Certification: the most outstanding accessibility certification at the international level. AIS makes it possible to value and recognize excellence in accessibility, ensuring that spaces are usable, safe and comfortable for everyone, with a special focus on priority groups, such as the elderly and people with functional diversity. It contributes to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and aligns with ESG strategies.
Zero Carbon Building: is the only construction standard in North America that measures performance through carbon.
By focusing on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions rather than just energy consumption, you recognize that the type of energy used has a different environmental impact. This approach discourages the use of energy derived from fossil fuels and promotes the adoption of renewable, low-carbon, distributed energy sources.
Natural Carbon Solutions: the UK's first Net Zero certification available for buildings. This certification measures, reduces and offsets a building's carbon footprint through a comprehensive approach. It focuses especially on the measurement of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the use of renewable energy and the compensation of residual emissions through natural solutions, such as carbon capture in forests and agricultural land.
It stands out for its methodology, which not only seeks to reduce energy consumption, but also to offset emissions through practices such as planting trees and restoring ecosystems.
WELL: evaluates criteria related to the health and well-being of the occupants of a building, such as indoor air quality, access to natural light, acoustics, thermal comfort, healthy habits and exercise, among others, with the objective of improving people's quality of life by designing and managing spaces that promote their physical and mental health.
Fitwel: focuses on promoting environments that promote the health and well-being of building occupants and the criteria on which it is based are the result of an exhaustive analysis of more than 7,000 academic research studies.
Fitwel addresses a wide range of factors that impact health, including indoor air quality, access to natural light, ventilation, thermal comfort, accessibility to spaces for physical activity and the promotion of healthy habits.
READ: evaluates criteria for efficiency in water and energy consumption, use of sustainable materials and resources, quality of the indoor environment, waste management, occupant health, location and transport, reduction of carbon emissions and innovative design.
This system has several categories of analysis, such as LEED-NC (new construction), LEED-EB (existing buildings), LEED-CI (interiors in commercial buildings), LEED-ND (neighborhoods and community development), LEED-schools (school design and construction) and LEED-houses (single-family residences and multifamily buildings).
Projects that apply to LEED undergo an exhaustive verification and review process by GBCI, and receive a score that certifies them as Silver (50 to 59 points), Gold (60 to 79 points) or Platinum (80 or more points).
BREEAM: was developed in the United Kingdom in 1990 by the Building Research Establishment (BRE), becoming the world's first method of environmental assessment of buildings.
It evaluates the environmental performance of buildings in various areas, such as energy efficiency, water use, waste management, indoor air quality and the use of sustainable materials.
EDGE: created with the objective of promoting sustainable construction in terms of resources in emerging markets. To obtain it, it is necessary to prove a minimum reduction of 20% in energy consumption, 20% in water consumption and 20% in energy embedded in materials, compared to traditional buildings.
This system has three levels of certification. To achieve EDGE Certification Level 1, savings of 20% or more must be achieved in all three categories: energy, water and energy embedded in materials. To obtain EDGE Advanced Level 2 (Zero Carbon Ready), EDGE Certification must be achieved with energy savings of 40% or more on site.
Finally, to achieve EDGE Zero Carbon certification, EDGE Advanced certification must be obtained with 100% renewable energy on or off site, or carbon offsets purchased to reach 100%.
SITES: guides, evaluates and certifies sustainability in the design, development and management of landscapes and outdoor spaces. It is aimed at projects that prioritize the conservation and restoration of ecosystems and biodiversity on the site.
This certification is especially suitable for spaces such as public parks, university campuses, botanic gardens, common areas of condominiums, areas free of corporate headquarters, among others, that seek to create sustainable green environments that promote biodiversity and leisure.
GREEN: certification of sustainable buildings developed by the Green Building Council of Spain (GBCe), oriented and adapted to the Spanish context, making it an effective alternative for those who seek to certify their construction projects in a sustainable way in Spain.
GBC BRASIL ZERO ENERGY: seeks to promote the construction and operation of buildings with a balance between consumption and energy generation, transforming them into Net Zero Energy developments.
These buildings demonstrate that their annual local energy consumption is equalized to zero through a combination of high energy efficiency and the use of renewable sources to generate energy.
GREEN GLOBES: science-based, three-in-one certification system for complete buildings that assesses the environmental sustainability, health and well-being, and resilience of all types of commercial real estate, regardless of size, budget or function.
The Green Globes certification is designed to allow building owners and managers to select which sustainability features are best suited to their building and its occupants.
GREENSTAR: is the only voluntary national rating system for buildings and communities in Australia. Launched by the Australian Green Building Council (GBCA) in 2003, it offers independent verification of the sustainability of a building or community.
Green Star ratings are available for all types of buildings, so whether the building is a school, hospital, shopping mall, or hotel, you can earn a Greenstar rating.
CASBEE: is a classification system for green buildings developed in Japan. It evaluates the environmental performance and sustainability of buildings based on a wide range of criteria.
It takes into account not only the energy and resource efficiency of buildings, but also their impact on the local and global environment, as well as their contribution to the well-being of occupants. Its objective is to evaluate and improve the environmental performance of buildings throughout their life cycle, including design, construction, operation and demolition.
ACTIVEHOUSE: is a certification granted to buildings that meet the minimum requirements for interior comfort, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, evaluated according to Active House specifications.
This certification focuses on three key pillars: indoor air quality, responsible energy consumption and positive environmental impact. In addition, it promotes the well-being of the occupants through a design that optimizes natural light and thermal comfort.
PASSIVE HOUSE: aims to create highly energy efficient buildings that do not require conventional heating and cooling systems. It ensures that buildings maintain a high level of comfort without compromising energy efficiency, using passive construction techniques that minimize energy needs.
It is distinguished by its focus on energy efficiency and its profitability in projects with almost zero energy consumption, being applicable both in new buildings and in renovations.
DGNB: founded in Germany in 2007, it has different variants depending on the type of use, the scheme of the building or district to which it belongs and the phase of the project's life cycle. Depending on the type of project, the basic structure of the certification system and the number of criteria that must be considered can vary significantly.
For example, the DGNB System for New Building Construction (Version 2018) employs up to 37 criteria distributed across six topics, while the DGNB System for Buildings in Use uses only 9 criteria in three topics.
Minergies: Swiss standard for sustainable construction. This certificate promotes the construction of buildings that are highly energy efficient, adapted to climate change and with a healthy indoor environment for their occupants.
Minergie focuses on reducing energy consumption and CO₂ emissions through quality design, efficient materials and renewable technologies, ensuring that the value of the building is preserved over time.
Living Building Challenge: certification program for sustainable buildings that seeks to create a net positive impact on the environment and society. It consists of seven performance categories, called Petals, which include aspects such as energy, water, health, materials and equity. Unlike other certifications, this one is based on the actual performance of the building, not on predictions or models, and applies to all types of projects, from individual buildings to infrastructures and parks.
EARTHCHECK: environmental certification, consulting and advisory program developed by the Australian Cooperative Research Center for Sustainable Tourism. Recognized as a global leader, EarthCheck promotes sustainability in tourist destinations and companies in the sector.
EarthCheck deals with all aspects of destination management and sustainability, from the design, construction and operational performance of tourism infrastructure, to supporting operators and their customers through training and capacity building.
EarthCheck can certify companies in the tourism sector in general, such as accommodations, destinations, airports, attractions, buildings, convention centers, cruise ships, railways, tour operators and communities.
BADGE S: is a recognition granted by the Secretariat of Tourism (SECTUR) to tourism companies operating in Mexico for implementing good sustainable practices, in accordance with global sustainability criteria.
This recognition aims to strengthen the performance of companies through a diagnostic tool and a measurement system that covers energy consumption, water, waste management and carbon footprint.
ENVISION: certification designed specifically for sustainable infrastructure projects (roads, bridges, treatment plants, transportation systems, etc.). Developed by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI), it provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating how a project contributes to environmental, economic and social well-being.
Envision guides teams in adopting sustainable practices during all stages of an infrastructure project, from planning to execution.
EDGE certification is one of the fastest and most effective ways to create efficient buildings, reduce energy, water, and material consumption, and increase property resale value. Developed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, EDGE helps real estate projects lower their environmental impact, reduce operating costs, and support decarbonization efforts. With a streamlined and measurable process, EDGE has become a strategic certification for developers and investors seeking sustainability, profitability, and market differentiation.
Sustainable certifications in Mexico are gaining prominence as a key tool for companies and projects that seek to demonstrate their environmental, social and governance commitment. They are no longer limited to construction alone, but encompass complete processes, operations, products and business models.
Discover how environmental certifications, energy efficiency and sustainable buildings increase the resale value of a property and reduce its environmental impact.
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