The importation of building environmental certification systems: International usages of BREEAM and LEED

A proliferation of the development of building environmental assessment methods has occurred for application within many individual countries' domestic markets. However, the demand for 'brand recognition' in a global market, the desire for international standards and the motivation of the owners of some systems to expand the adoption of their assessment systems abroad are among many of the forces driving toward the increased international use of the two most established methods: BREEAM and LEED. Drawing on published databases of projects assessed by these two systems, an examination is presented of their international use, with particular attention paid to the relationship between their use and the existence of national systems developed in the countries of application. A more detailed analysis of the types of projects that have been assessed is provided using data from six specific countries with qualitatively different cultural, economic and environmental contexts and some of which that have national assessment systems: Chile, Colombia, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates. The influence of national Green Building Councils in promoting environmental assessments is also considered.