Rapid assessment checklist for sustainable buildings

The development of a checklist used for judging the 2005 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Sustainability Award is described. A quick, simple, robust and fair approach was required. The checklist drew upon an existing practice-based method that had been developed to assist a dialogue between design team members and their clients - first setting priorities and targets for sustainability and then assisting later reviews and progress reports. The topics covered were extended by the findings of a review of available sustainability assessment methods, and organized broadly in accordance with the sequence of work in an architectural project - from site selection to building in use. Although not objectively calibrated, the checklist allows levels of aspiration and achievement to be identified, reports quickly and concisely, and permits comparisons between buildings of very different types. The checklist not only helped with judging the award, but also attracted favourable comments from users and others. The approach may therefore have wider applications in providing a simple introduction to sustainability assessment, which can then lead into more precise quantification if and where required.