The official documentation site for the BERDE Program.
Release 11.0
About BERDE
What is BERDE?
In 2009, the BERDE Program was established by the Philippine Green Building Council (PHILGBC) as an appropriate response to the Philippine building industry's need to proactively address the negative impacts of climate change. The program was established to develop the Philippines' own national voluntary green building rating system to facilitate green building projects in the country, inspire confidence in the industry, and build trust in the industry.
The BERDE Green Building Rating System is developed under the BERDE Program. BERDE is a tool to assess, measure, monitor, and certify the performance of green building projects above and beyond existing national and local building and environmental laws, regulations, and mandatory standards.
BERDE is recognized by the Philippine government, through the Department of Energy (DOE), as the National Voluntary Green Building Rating System.
Why should you use BERDE?
As a guidance tool
BERDE specifies current best practice. If you are a building professional, various BERDE Green Building Rating Schemes are made freely available for your use in designing, constructing and operating your projects in a resource-efficient, economically-viable, and socially-responsible manner.
As a credible marketing tool
Getting your projects BERDE-certified provides you with a positive marketing advantage.
Achieving a BERDE certification for your green building project lets your clients and the public know that your project is a better building in the market. The third-party assessment ensures that your project are assessed, rated, and certified in a credible and unbiased process.
BERDE also highlights your company's sustainability initiatives. Achieving BERDE Certification provides a positive brand recognition for both your project and your company.
The PHILGBC provides additional marketing support by publishing your BERDE-certified project online, and providing opportunities for developing project case studies, hosting site tours and certificate presentation, and speaking opportunities in PHILGBC events.
As a transparency tool
BERDE enables you to exhibit the performance of your project to other parties in a credible manner. Your certified BERDE project allows you to showcase your leadership in sustainability through unbiased, balanced and impartial assessment and certification of your building performance. Certification under BERDE builds trust and confidence among your project stakeholders.
As a compliance and policy support tool
BERDE supports the sustainable development plans and programs of government. Increasing priority for green building and sustainable development by government requires you to be knowledgeable with current laws and regulations at the national and local levels.
At the national level, as the recognized as the National Voluntary Green Building Rating System by the Philippine government, several national agencies have been using BERDE as a guide in developing policies and programs for green building and sustainability for the building sector. At the local level, several local governments within the Philippines have incorporated BERDE as part of their policy to ensure the environmental performance of projects within their jurisdictions.
BERDE recognizes performance beyond existing environmental and building laws, regulations and standards. As a compliance tool, it supports you in complying with building and environmental laws and regulations.
Development
Who developed BERDE?
BERDE was developed by the PHILGBC under its BERDE Program.
The DOE also provided development and promotional support for the development of BERDE.
BERDE was developed in line with the Quality Assurance for Green Building Rating Tools (WorldGBC, 2013), the International Framework for Socio-Economic Factors for Green Building Rating Tools in Developing Countries (WorldGBC & GBCSA, 2013), and other best practices from international standards for standards development.
As part of BERDE Development, rating schemes, tools and documents under BERDE are drafted by the BERDE Committee, with support from the BERDE Program Secretariat, input from the PHILGBC General Membership, and final approval by the PHILGBC Board of Trustees. Interested external parties are provided opportunities to comment and provide their insight on BERDE as part of its development process.
BERDE Development, Certification and Education activities are administered by the PHILGBC under the BERDE Program.
How is BERDE developed?
Development process
The development of BERDE is guided by internationally-recognized methodologies for developing standards and by the Quality Assurance for Green Building Rating Tools (WorldGBC, 2013).
Under the Quality Assurance for Green Building Rating Tools (WorldGBC, 2013), national green building councils are guided by the WorldGBC to test rating tools through pilot projects to establish and evaluate whether credits, processes, and procedures are appropriate and effective in delivering rating activities for green buildings.
Versioning
BERDE is implementing a modified semantic versioning for the development of tools. This system allows the PHILGBC to address issues in an efficient manner, and to swiftly update and improve the BERDE GBRS.
Format for the versioning is v4.2.0.
Major revision. Major revisions are represented by the first digit in the version number (v.X.0.0).
Major revisions are officially released after completing the consensus building process for BERDE Development. A document undergoing a major revision undergoes the formal commenting process with the PHILGBC Membership and the public.
Major revisions includes improvements on the BERDE Framework, changes from minor revisions of the BERDE Committee, resolutions for substantial issues, and various editorial and non-substantial changes in the documents.
The approving authority for major revisions is the PHILGBC Board of Trustees, with the recommendation for approval of the BERDE Committee.
Major revisions are typically released after one (1) year from the previous major revision.
Minor revision. Minor revisions are represented by the second digit in the version number (v0.X.0).
Minor revisions are rule changes as deliberated and approved by the BERDE Committee. These are actions taken by the BERDE Committee to address substantial issues related to the rules, performance standards, or requirements of the different credits under the different BERDE GBRS.
The approving authority for minor revisions is the BERDE Committee.
Minor revisions are typically released every quarter or as often as every month.
Non-substantial revision. Non-substantial revisions are represented by the third digit in the version number (v0.0.X).
Non-substantial revisions includes editorial errors or changes in the documents or operational changes not related to rules or standards in the documents. Actions done under this revision are reported to the BERDE Committee, and are incorporated into a minor or major revision.
The BERDE Program Secretariat is authorized to implement these changes from time-to-time as necessary. Approving authority for non-substantial revisions is the BERDE Program Executive Director.
Non-substantial revisions are released weekly or as often as necessary to address non-substantial issues.
How can you contribute to BERDE?
Provide your comments
We welcome your comments and insight to improve BERDE. Provide your comments via e-mail by following the commenting procedure:
- Download the Form – Comment.
- Provide your full name, position or designation, and the organization you are representing;
- Clearly state your issue a specific section or credit:
- State the specific section or credit you would like to improve;
- Provide a clear statement summarizing your issue; and
- Provide a brief discussion on the issue;
- Clearly state your recommendation to improve the section or credit;
- Provide the draft text for the revision of the section or credit;
- Use plain language principles; and
- Provide a brief discussion on the recommendation;
- Write in the Subject line
COMMENT: BERDE - Buildings – v4.2.0 – User Guide; - Submit your issue and recommendation to BERDE@philgbc.org.
Your comments will be received and logged by the BERDE Program Secretariat for the review and improvement of BERDE.
Host our meetings
You can become a sponsor of the development of BERDE by providing support for meetings, workshops, and conferences. You can support the development activities of BERDE by sponsoring a BERDE Committee regular meeting, or the workshops or conference during the development cycle of BERDE.
Share your data sets and case studies
You can support the research and development of BERDE by sharing data sets and case studies on your green building projects. One of the challenges in the development of BERDE is in identifying baselines and performance targets, and ensuring the tool is in line with current best practices in the industry.
We understand that there may be limitations when you share your proprietary information to the PHILGBC. This is why we commit to the proper handling, use, and storage of confidential information you share with the PHILGBC.
Become a member
Members of the PHILGBC have early access to tools under development, or receive invitations to member-only events and activities that contribute to the development of berde. For more information on the membership, visit the Membership page or contact the PHILGBC National Secretariat at membership@philgbc.org.
As a member of the PHILGBC, you may apply to become a member of the BERDE Committee. The BERDE Committee is the standing committee of the PHILGBC that focuses on the BERDE Program. Become a member by submitting a Letter of Expression of Interest through e-mail:
- Write in the Subject line
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST: BERDE Committee Membership; - Attach your signed Letter of Expression of Interest in portable document format (PDF);
- Include your profile or curriculum vitae for your work experience and expertise;
- State your commitment in dedicating time and attending all BERDE Committee meetings;
- Send your letter to BERDE@philgbc.org.
Your application will be reviewed for the approval of the Board of Trustees. The applicants are vetted to ensure that the committee is well-represented and balanced among the different sectors of the building industry.
Core Framework
The Core Framework of BERDE defines the different credits that are essential in developing a green building project. The Core Framework includes:
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Rating Scheme
BERDE — Buildings
The BERDE — Buildings is the green building rating scheme that applies to building and tenant projects, from the design, construction, to the operations of a project.
BERDE — Districts
The BERDE — Buildings is the green building rating scheme that applies to community and campus projects, from the planning to the implementation of a project.
Certification
What is BERDE Certification?
BERDE Certification is the formal assessment, rating, and certification process for projects of the BERDE Program. It is conducted in a third-party assessment process to ensure a credible, independent, impartial, and objective assessment, rating, and certification of projects under BERDE.
Only projects that complete the formal process, complies with all requirements, and receives at least the minimum rating for certification may claim as a BERDE Certified green building project.
Who will certify your project?
The PHILGBC will certify the project based on the outcomes from the assessments during the BERDE Certification process.
The PHILGBC or its authorized assessment body will facilitate and conduct the assessment, rating, and certification process. The PHILGBC builds trust and confidence in the system by managing and addressing conflicts of interests between the project, the project team, and the assessment team assigned for the project.
How can you get BERDE Certified?
The project must complete the BERDE Certification process, comply with all minimum system requirements, and achieve the minimum rating for certification.
What is the BERDE Certification process?
Projects may undergo certification process under each of the assessment Stage depending on the project type and the project's life cycle.
BERDE — Buildings
| If your project is: | then use: |
|---|---|
| A new construction or fit-out project | Stage 1 — Design and Stage 2 — Construction The project must undergo assessment and certification under both Stage 1 – Design and Stage 2 – Construction, and show compliance with the requirements of BERDE in the design and construction of the project. In addition, the project must successfully complete Stage 1 — Design before undergoing Stage 2 — Construction assessment and certification. |
| Undergoing renovations | Stage 1 — Design and Stage 2 — Construction The project must undergo assessment and certification under both Stage 1 – Design and Stage 2 – Construction, and show compliance with the requirements of BERDE in the design and construction of the project. In addition, the project must successfully complete Stage 1 — Design before undergoing Stage 2 — Construction assessment and certification. |
| An existing project improving only its operations | Stage 3 — Operations The project must undergo assessment and certification, and show compliance with the Stage 3 — Operations requirements through the planning and implementation of the policy and procedures for the project. |
BERDE — Districts
| If your project is: | then use: |
|---|---|
| In early design or master planning stage | Stage 1 — Planning The project must undergo assessment and certification, and show compliance with the Stage 1 — Planning requirements through the development of policies, programs, strategies and action plans, and how these will be implemented in the project. |
| A newly constructed or existing district | Stage 1 — Planning and Stage 2 — Implementation The project must undergo assessment and certification under both Stage 1 – Planning and Stage 2 – Implementation, and show compliance with the requirements of BERDE — Districts in the planning and implementation of the project. |
Registration
The project owner must review the eligibility of the project for the applicable BERDE GBRS, and compliance with the Minimum System Requirements.
How do you register for BERDE?
To register a project for BERDE Certification, the project owner must:
- Download the Form – BERDE Registration;
- Accomplish the Form – BERDE Registration and prepare the documents for the minimum system requirements; and
- Submit the accomplished form and requirements through e-mail to BERDE@philgbc.org.
The PHILGBC will prepare and submit a BERDE Certification Proposal within seven (7) working days from the receipt of your accomplished Form – BERDE Registration, and the complete requirements.
Once the project owner receives the proposal, the project owner must:
- Sign the proposal and return a copy to the PHILGBC; and
- Pay the registration fee and initial assessment fee.
The Registration process is completed once the project owner accepted and signed the proposal, and paid the registration fee and downpayment for your project.
Management Representative
The project owner must assign a Management Representative (MR), who will serve as the official representative of the project owner. The MR must:
- Be employed by the project owner and part of the senior management;
- Coordinate and communicate with the certification manager for the process; and
- Provide timely decision making for the efficient implementation of the process.
What is the minimum rating for certification?
BERDE Rating
The minimum rating for certification is a BERDE 1-Star rating. The assessment team will be providing the recommendation for the rating of the project based on the outcomes of the assessment at each Stage.
| The project may be awarded with: |
if the project achieves a weighting of: | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ★ | 1 Star | 51% to 60% | Good practice |
| ★★ | 2 Stars | 61% to 70% | Ideal performance |
| ★★★ | 3 Stars | 71% to 80% | Exemplar performance |
| ★★★★ | 4 Stars | 81% to 90% | Country leader |
| ★★★★★ | 5 Stars | 91% to 100% | World class |
Education
Training Courses
BERDE Foundation Course
The BERDE Foundation Course is a one-day awareness course on the basics of sustainability, green building, and an introduction to the BERDE Green Building Rating System.
BERDE Professionals Basic Training Course
The BERDE Professionals Basic Training Course is a comprehensive training on green building and BERDE. In addition to the basics on sustainability, you will also learn about:
- Laws, regulations, and standards,
- BERDE Core Framework, and
- BERDE Certification process.
At the end of the training, you will be able to provide sound advise to clients and partners on the implementation of their green building projects.
The BERDE Professionals Basic Training Course is a requirement to become a Certified BERDE Professional (CBP).
BERDE Assessors Course
The BERDE Assessors Course is an intensive training on the assessment for the BERDE Green Building Rating System. CBPs and green building professionals may participate in the training to become part of the pool of assessors for BERDE.
At the end of the training, you will be able to effectively assess submissions from project teams and prepare clear and comprehensive reports based on findings from projects.
The BERDE Assessors Course is a requirement to become a Certified BERDE Assessor (CBA).
Training Calendar
The training calendar will be updated in the philgbc.org website. Please confirm with the BERDE Program Secretariat for schedules for upcoming trainings.
You may also want to follow us in our social media accounts for updates on BERDE Education: @PHILGBC and @GoBERDE.