Summary

As the global community moves towards net zero emissions, the construction and real estate sectors are increasingly focusing on green building practices. Green buildings are designed, constructed, and operated to reduce or eliminate negative impacts on the climate and natural env…

Key Takeaway

• As the global community moves towards net zero emissions, the construction and real estate sectors are increasingly focusing on green building practices.
• Green buildings are designed, constructed, and operated to reduce or eliminate negative impacts on the climate and natural environment.
• They embrace energy efficiency, use sustainable materials, and aim to significantly reduce carbon footprints.
• To standardize these efforts and recognize achievements, several green building standards and certifications have been established.
• These benchmarks not only guide the industry in sustainable practices but also provide transparency and assurance to occupants and investors.

Body

As the global community moves towards net zero emissions, the construction and real estate sectors are increasingly focusing on green building practices. Green buildings are designed, constructed, and operated to reduce or eliminate negative impacts on the climate and natural environment. They embrace energy efficiency, use sustainable materials, and aim to significantly reduce carbon footprints. To standardize these efforts and recognize achievements, several green building standards and certifications have been established. These benchmarks not only guide the industry in sustainable practices but also provide transparency and assurance to occupants and investors. Here’s an overview of prominent green building standards and certifications contributing to the net zero goal. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design): Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED is one of the most widely used green building certification programs worldwide. It provides a framework for healthy, efficient, carbon-saving, and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is available for virtually all building types and focuses on areas such as sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method): Originating in the UK, BREEAM is the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for master planning projects, infrastructure, and buildings. It recognizes and reflects the value in higher-performing assets across the built environment lifecycle, from new construction to in-use and refurbishment. Passive House: The Passive House standard focuses on energy efficiency in a building, reducing its ecological footprint. It results in ultra-low energy buildings that require little energy for space heating or cooling. A Passive House significantly conserves energy by insulating the building envelope, making it nearly air-tight. Living Building Challenge: The Living Building Challenge is arguably the world’s most rigorous performance standard for buildings. It goes beyond other certifications by requiring buildings to be self-sufficient in energy and water for a full year and to be built using non-toxic, locally sourced materials. It aims to encourage the creation of living buildings that function in harmony with their surroundings. WELL Building Standard: While not solely focused on energy efficiency, the WELL Building Standard is a performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of the built environment that impact human health and wellbeing, through air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind. Adopting these green building standards and certifications can significantly contribute to achieving net zero emissions in the built environment. By prioritizing sustainability from the design phase through to operation, the construction and real estate sectors can play a pivotal role in combating climate change.

Final Takeaway

Decide what matters, execute in short cycles, and make progress visible every week—so you enter 2026 with momentum.

About Ian Khan – Keynote Speaker & The Futurist

Ian Khan, the Futurist, is a USA Today & Publishers Weekly National Bestselling Author of Undisrupted, Thinkers50 Future Readiness shortlist, and a Top Keynote Speaker. He is Futurist and a media personality focused on future-ready leadership, AI productivity and ethics, and purpose-driven growth. Ian hosts The Futurist on Amazon Prime Video, and founded Impact Story (K-12 Robotics & AI). He is frequently featured on CNN, BBC, Bloomberg, and Fast Company.

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