The Unwritten History of Green Building Rating Tools (And Why It’s Time to Break the System)
- Rebecca Heald
- Apr 16
- 3 min read
What are Green Building Rating Tools Really Doing?
From BREEAM and LEED to Green Star and Homestar, green building rating tools have become the industry standard for measuring sustainability. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: most of these tools are stuck in the past.
Their origins weren’t rooted in saving the planet — they were built to validate developer decisions, not challenge them.
And now, as the climate crisis escalates, the construction industry is stuck with tools that are easy to game, disconnected from performance, and more about prestige than real impact.
A Developer’s Badge of Honour, Not a Planet-Saving Tool
Let’s take it back to the 1990s. The UK launched BREEAM, the first-ever green rating tool. Why?
Because a developer wanted to prove their buildings were better. Not be better. Just prove it.
This one decision, to focus on design and construction, rather than measured performance, created a legacy of green tools that reward potential, not outcomes.
The US followed with LEED, created by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), which used relative energy savings as a metric, ignoring actual carbon impact. Sounds flawed? That’s because it is.
The Core Problems Nobody Talks About
These tools have stayed largely the same for decades. Here’s what’s not working:
1. They Reward Design, Not Reality
You can design a “green” building that looks great on paper but performs poorly in real life. Most tools don't measure post-occupancy data.
2. They Ignore the People Using the Building
Occupant behaviour is one of the biggest factors in performance — and most tools leave it out entirely.
3. They’re Expensive and Time-Consuming
Green certification often becomes a checkbox exercise that only large firms can afford to pursue.
4. They’re Built by the Industry, for the Industry
Developers, architects, and engineers have too much influence. These tools weren’t built for tenants, homeowners, or the climate. They were built to make buildings easier to market.
Why This Should Worry You
According to green building expert Jerry Yudelson, less than 1% of US buildings were LEED-certified in the first 15 years. That’s a dismal impact for what’s meant to be a global sustainability gamechanger.
Even worse — these tools let developers slap a green badge on the wall at ribbon-cutting, while the real energy performance tanks over time.
🧠 Related read: Why “Net Zero” Needs to Mean More Than a Marketing Buzzword
The Future of Green Building: Time to Flip the Script
We don’t need more rating schemes that tick boxes. We need a paradigm shift. One that’s:
✅ Performance-driven, not paper-based
✅ Tech-powered, using real-time data and sensors
✅ Affordable and scalable, especially for SMEs and housing
✅ Designed for people, not just property portfolios
Tools like NABERS and Tether are already challenging the status quo by measuring real-time indoor quality and energy use. This is what disruption looks like.
Let’s Call It What It Is: Greenwashing
If your building looks green but performs poorly, that’s not sustainability. That’s greenwashing and we can’t afford that anymore.
It’s time to stop chasing stars, certifications, and plaques.
Start asking: Is this building actually reducing emissions? Is it improving lives? If not, it’s not green.
Final Word: Time to Rebuild the System
The unwritten history of green building rating tools shows us this: the foundation was flawed.
Good intentions were lost in translation. Now we have a chance to do better.
This isn’t about throwing out the past. It’s about learning from it — and choosing to build smarter.
👣 Want to Lead the Change?
If you’re an SME construction leader driving sustainable projects and you’re sick of the tick-box mentality, this is your call to action.
The Heald Method™: Leadership Rewired is a 90-day intervention designed to help construction leaders build sustainable, high-performing teams that go beyond greenwash.
Written by Rebecca Heald. Trailblazer in construction leadership, unapologetic truth-teller, and the missing piece in the sustainability puzzle.
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