Frequently Asked Questions about GBI's Standards Efforts

The Green Building Initiative (GBI) was the first green building organization accredited as a Standards Developing Organization (SDO) by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in September of 2005. In 2006, GBI began developing GBI Proposed ANS 01-200XP: Green Building Assessment Protocol for Commercial Buildings.

Is the proposed standard GBI 01-200XP based on the Green Globes™ rating system?

Yes. In addition to a great deal of other reference materials, the technical committee started their work reviewing a draft of the Green Globes™ rating system called Version 1.0 that appeared on GBI's website and was also released through ANSI as a Draft Standard for Trial Use. The final standard that results from work on GBI 01-200XP will be incorporated into the next version of the Green Globes™ online tools.

How far along is the GBI in promulgating an American National Standard?

The GBI ANSI technical committee is on target to establish GBI 01-200XP as an American National Standard under ANSI in 2009. The GBI ANSI technical committee and subcommittees compromise close to 90 building science experts including representatives from four federal agencies, states, municipalities, universities, leading design construction firms and building owners.

What is the GBI's stance on multiple green building standards?

Since GBI has entered the U.S. marketplace, several other organizations have announced plans to develop standards through ANSI, including the National Association of Home Builders and International Codes Council, which have developed a National Green Building Standard for single family homes.

With an estimated 100 million buildings in operation by 2010, it is imperative that the public have access to multiple solutions based on sound building science to help improve our built environment.

For more information on the GBI and the ANSI process, please click here.