Design guidelines, specifications, and rating systems
Everyone needs resources for ideas to lessen the environmental impact of new construction or facility redesign: architects and engineers, builders and building owners, government officials and decision-makers.
This page contains links to many of the best tools publicly available for the sustainable design, construction, operation and maintenance of commercial and institutional buildings. Sustainable building strategies are most effective when they are integrated from the very beginning of a project, but the resources listed here can be useful at any point in the building process.
Design guidelines
Design guidelines combine economic, environmental and social considerations to create buildings that are:
- durable and flexible
- conserving of resources
- conducive to human health and productivity.
Guidelines typically contain strategies or checklists, often combined with a point system. The newest generation of guidelines moves away from proxy measures toward performance standards with measurable outcomes.
Many design guidelines exist, but this list is Minnesota-specific, providing important information with regard to local materials, waste issues, and climate-related design considerations.
Minnesota Sustainable Building Guidelines (B3)
Creation of the Minnesota Sustainable Building Guidelines, also known as the B3 Guidelines, was mandated by the 2001 Legislature. Updated regularly, these guidelines are region-specific, tailored to the needs of public buildings in the state, and intended to document the actual costs and benefits of sustainable building. They are organized into five categories: performance management, site and water, energy and atmosphere, indoor environmental quality, and materials and waste. All new building projects and major renovations that receive Minnesota state bond funding must use the B3 Guidelines.- Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide
This resource has been replaced by the Minnesota Sustainable Building Guidelines (see above). For more information, contact the Center for Sustainable Building Research at 612-626-7424 or csbr@umn.edu. -
Dakota County Building Design Standards 
Adopted in 2001, these standards have been used for the design and construction of Dakota County buildings including Lebanon Hills Trailhead and Visitor Center, the Northern Service Center, and Thompson Park Center/Dakota Lodge.
Specifications
Specifications are the documents that spell out what the architects and builders must do. The resources listed here are the best public specifications available that incorporate sustainable requirements for public building design, construction ,and maintenance.
- CA 01350: Special Environmental Requirements Specification
Originally developed for the state of California's Modular Office Furniture Specification, Section 01350 has been revised and incorporated into both the California Department of General Services standard agreement for engineering and architectural services and the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) Best Practices Manual. Section 01350 contains specification language on environmental and public health considerations for sustainable building projects. It contains an IAQ testing protocol for manufacturers to have performed on their products by independent laboratories. To be used in a building, selected materials must be tested for chemical emissions and conform to allowable levels identified in Section 01350. See the most recently updated version of the specification and the CHPS High Performance Products Database. - Federal Guide for Green Construction Specs
The DRAFT Federal Guide for Green Construction Specs is being developed by EPA with its partners, the Federal Environmental Executive and the Whole Building Design Guide, to help federal building project managers meet various mandates as established by statute and Executive Orders, as well as EPA and DOE program recommendations. The specs cross-reference USGBC-LEED credit requirements. - Design Guidance (Whole Building Design Guide)
Architects, engineers, and project managers can improve the performance and quality of their buildings by following the guidance and recommendations provided within the categories of this web site created by the National Institute of Building Sciences.
Rating systems
Rating systems use a scoring system to evaluate new and remodeled buildings against a selected standard for environmental performance. LEED evaluates environmental performance from a whole building perspective over a building's life cycle. Energy Star scores buildings based on their energy efficiency, comfort and indoor environmental quality. The Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide (above) also includes a scoring system to evaluate a building based on the design strategies utilized.
LEED Green Building Rating System (U.S.Green Building Council)
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building rating system is a voluntary, consensus-based rating system for commercial buildings which rapidly is becoming the de facto national standard for green building certification.
In Minnesota, the USGBC Minnesota Chapter organizes LEED training educational chapter events and green building advocacy efforts.
Designed to earn the ENERGY STAR
Recognizing the influence that the nation's architects can have in reducing the environmental impact of buildings, EPA has expanded the ENERGY STAR program to include commercial new construction by encouraging the design of energy-efficient buildings. Architecture firms will now be able to distinguish projects that have been designed to be among the most efficient buildings in the country as "Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR."
For new building design, use Target Finder. Establish a design target and compare your estimated energy consumption to the target. Integrate energy performance strategies into your building design to meet the target.
Use Portfolio Manager to benchmark an existing building's energy performance. This online, interactive tool makes benchmarking simple. Users enter information about a building's physical/operating characteristics and energy consumption and receive a score. Buildings with benchmark scores of 75 or higher are eligible for the ENERGY STAR® label for buildings. For scores below 75, the tool will offer some customized tips to raise your building's score.
Additional websites
- Green Guide for Healthcare
The Green Guide for Health Care is a best practices guide for healthy and sustainable building design, construction, and operations for the healthcare industry. 
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers
ASHRAE is an international organization of 50,000 persons with chapters throughout the world. Through its membership, ASHRAE writes standards that set uniform methods of testing and rating equipment and establish accepted practices for the HVAC&R industry worldwide, such as the design of energy-efficient buildings. Free download from ASHRAE: Advanced Energy Design Guides on Self-Storage Buildings, K-12 School Buildings, Small Retail Buildings, and Small Office Buildings.- High Performance Building Guidelines
NYC Department of Design and Construction offers this thorough, well-written manual covering the design process, site design and planning, building energy use, indoor environment, material and product selection, water management, construction administration, commissioning, and operations and maintenance. Technical strategies and economic benefits are described for each design consideration. - Division of Energy Resources, Minnesota Department of Commerce
- Building design (U.S. Department of Energy)
- Sustainable Design
The GSA's web page has many excellent links and downloadable publications, including The Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service (P-100). - Writing the Green RFP: Sustainable Design Language for Consultant Requests
This tool, prepared by the American Institute of Architects, provides guidance and model language for including sustainable design in requests for proposals or qualifications for architectural services.
