Abstract

This paper proposes a new more complete, rigorous and seamless Green Building Rating System (GBRS) than the currently used systems, known as CEDES (Comprehensive Environmental Design and Evaluation System). The objective is to design a new green building rating system (GBRS) that addresses the shortcomings of existing GBRSs. To this end, a literature review was conducted, and critiques of current GBRSs were compiled. Secondly, a hierarchical structure of evaluation categories and indicators was designed, based on a comprehensive life cycle analysis of all materials and processes used in the construction sector. The result is the CEDES system. CEDES was designed from a general taxonomic conceptual framework, so it serves both as a system of sustainable evaluation, and as a general framework to create new GBRS adapted to any environmental and socio-economic environment.

The novelties and contributions of this work are:

1. A GBRS has been designed that can be used internationally (CEDES); 2. CEDES can be adapted to any environmental and socioeconomic setting by simply modifying the weight of the indicators; 3. CEDES is complete, i.e. there are no missing categories or indicators as in many existing GBRS, 4. None of its categories or indicators can be considered superfluous; 5. The relative weight of each indicator is justified and legitimized and is determined by the rest of the indicators and by a complete life cycle assessment (LCA) of all aspects of the construction process; 6. CEDES serves both to evaluate buildings and as a guide to building design with the maximum ecological and sustainable level.

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