Go Green

The BOMA Go Green Environmental Certification program is a voluntary program designed for existing or occupied buildings. It is offered by BOMA Canada as a service to all member and non-member commercial building owners.

It is not the intent of this program to direct building owners on how to manage their buildings, but simply to recognize those buildings where environmental best practices have been implemented into the operations.

The program includes the following components:

• Identifies a ‘best practices’ benchmark for professionally managed buildings.
• Recognizes buildings that meet or exceed the requirements inherent in the benchmark with a ‘Go Green’ designation.
• Assists buildings that cannot meet the requirements.
• Fosters environmental consciousness in the commercial building industry.

The following is a synopsis of the program. The full details are available in these documents:

• Overview and Application Process (PDF)
• Application Guide (PDF)
• Application Guide - Simplified (PDF)
• Application Forms

‘Best Practices’ Criteria

Criteria for the BOMA Go Green program were established following several years of extensive consultation with industry experts. The underlying premise to the criteria development was a belief that most buildings are currently managed by professionals who have implemented, or are planning to implement, good environmental practices in their daily operations.

The criteria are considered industry best practices and are listed as ten minimum requirements identified in five key environmental areas. Many other best practice requirements were considered and may be added as the program evolves.

An ‘Application Guide’ to further explain each requirement, with examples, is available to all applicants. All ten requirements listed must be met to achieve a BOMA Go Green designation.

Go Green Requirements

Section 1 – Resource Consumption
Requirement 1: Energy Use
Requirement 2: Water Use

Section 2 – Waste Reduction & Recycling
Requirement 3: Construction Waste
Requirement 4: Recycling

Section 3 – Building Materials
Requirement 5: Hazardous Materials
Requirement 6: Material Selection
Requirement 7: Ozone Depleting Substances

Section 4 – Interior Environment
Requirement 8: Indoor Air Quality
Requirement 9: HVAC Maintenance

Section 5 – Tenant Awareness
Requirement 10: Communication Program

Application & Assessment

All building owners or owner representatives are required to complete in full the BOMA Go Green Application and Declaration Form.

Each building must have satisfied all ten requirements as identified in the BOMA Go Green criteria. Application forms must be completed in full with the duly signed declaration. Each application is to be accompanied by an application fee set by BOMA Canada.

An applicant building will receive a Go Green designation upon approval by BOMA Canada. The Go Green designation will apply to individual buildings only and not ‘complexes’. A complex would include a development that has numerous buildings such as a university, where each building would require an individual application. Office parks that are owned and managed as a single property may be considered under one application. However, all buildings within the park must meet the requirements.

All applicant buildings are subject to a verification review to substantiate conformance to Go Green criteria in a manner determined by BOMA Canada.

Recognition

The BOMA Go Green designation is the property of BOMA Canada and may be displayed at or promoted for an approved building subject to BOMA Canada guidelines. The designation is valid for a three-year period following approval. Approved buildings must resubmit an application and declaration form prior to the expiry date to renew the BOMA Go Green designated status.

The BOMA Go Green status applies to the applicant building and is independent of building ownership or management. A change in ownership or management will not affect a buildings status, during the three-year term, as long as the declared requirements have been maintained. A building not maintaining its acknowledged environmentally focused activities could lose its designation at the end of the term or sooner, at the discretion of the BOMA Canada.

For more information…

Visit the Go Green Frequently Asked Questions page