Investigating green building assessment tools: a risk-analysis based approach

This research investigates risks arising from the mechanism of green building assessment tools that may impact on theconsistency of their outcomes and render them ineffective in reliably fulfilling their goals in the building industry. None ofthe past efforts at developing assessment tools have focused on the risk aspects of assessment tools. Moreover, slowlythe building industry has started placing considerable reliance on them without completely understanding theconsequences of potential risks. The origin of risks lies in the realization that assessing sustainability in buildings iscomplex and full of conflicting concepts and opinions, and that amidst all this, assessment tools are expected to delivermultiple performance objectives and goals. Given that the importance of assessing sustainability in buildings cannot beignored, it becomes extremely important that assessment tools are understood well and are free from risks. Toaccomplish this, an array of potential risks are systematically brought together using a risk categorization method, whichfacilitated a basis to critically analyse the literature in the light of risks. This addressed the acknowledged gap in theliterature on risks relating to assessment tools. Four categories are discussed under this categorization. These categoriesprovide a basis for the quantitative investigation, which applies techniques of uncertainty analysis to quantify these risks.In the quantitative investigation, uncertainty in 40 input parameters is propagated through several alternative forms of themechanism of assessment tools. The input parameters are selected using the assessment data of a case study (ArtsFaculty building, University of Sunshine Coast). The design of alternative forms of the mechanism is based on theidentified risk categories and is carried out using a vehicle assessment tool (Green Building Tool). The uncertaintypropagation is carried out using a risk analysis tool (@Risk). Descriptive statistics is deployed to analyse the results of theuncertainty propagations. Analysis of the results has brought an understanding and insights into various aspects of themechanism in the context of their predisposition to increase or decrease risks. To ensure that an assessment tool'sspecific goals are fulfilled, the mechanism needs to be designed carefully so that it is low-risk and appropriate to theintent. By providing in-depth insights into the mechanism, the methodology and outcomes of this research are importantfor the future development of green building assessment tools