The Pearl Rating System’s Building Rating System promotes the development of sustainable buildings in Abu Dhabi. The tool encourages water, energy and waste minimization, local material use and improved supply chains for sustainable and recycled materials and products throughout the project life cycle, from design to construction. The PCRS is applicable to offices, retail buildings, multi-residentials, schools and buildings with mixed uses. The sustainability of buildings is assessed across a broad list of required and optional credits, that are adapted depending on the building’s use.

LEED for Neighborhood Development is a rating system that helps create and certifies more sustainable and well-connected neighborhoods, looking beyond the scale of buildings and considering entire communities. The tool aims to encourage the (re-) development of communities that limits the expansion of development footprints and reduces social and health costs through measures such as improved connectivity and reduced vehicle use. There are two different options available for new developments (LEED ND: Plan) and existing neighborhoods (LEED ND: Built Project). A prerequisite review and a recertification option are available.

LEED for Cities and Communities is a rating system that helps local leaders create responsible, sustainable and specific plans for natural systems, energy, water, waste, transportation and many other factors that contribute to quality of life. The tool allows cities and communities to select the focus areas of most import to their local stakeholders through credits and points while setting a baseline through prerequisites. There are two different options available for new cities and community projects in the planning and design phase and for existing places. A recertification option is available.

LEED for Buildings offers four different rating systems that support building sustainability throughout the life cycle: LEED for Building Design and Construction (LEED BD+C) that can be used for new buildings, LEED for Interior Design and Construction (LEED ID+C) for interior spaces, LEED for Operations, Maintenance (LEED O+M) for existing buildings and LEED Homes for residential buildings of up to six stories. The tools help decision makers and stakeholders to create responsible and sustainable buildings and continuously improve buildings’ performance. Recertification options are available.

The Hydropower Sustainability Guidelines on Good International Industry Practice (HGIIP) point out how sustainability performance for the hydropower sector should be defined and measured across a range of environmental, social, technical and governance topics. The guidelines present definitions of the processes and outcomes relating to good practice in the planning, operation and implementation of hydropower projects. As a compendium, the guidelines are a reference document for meeting the expectations of lenders, regulators, and consumers. The guidelines are complementary with the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Tool.

The Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) is India’s national framework for the assessment of environmental impacts of built environments with an individual version applying to new buildings and one for existing buildings (both starting at 2,500 sqm built-up area). For both versions, the net impact of buildings on quantitative and qualitative parameters is totaled and compared against a rating table, resulting in a sustainability certification. Thereby, the tool aims to support the reduction of detrimental impacts of buildings.

The Green Building Index (GBI) is Malaysia’s recognized green rating system to promote sustainability in the built environment and raise awareness about environmental issues and responsibility to the future generations. The tool provides an opportunity for project developers and owners to improve green design and construction. The GBI assessment for buildings evaluates the environmental design and performance of buildings. The evaluation process consists of a Planning Assessment, a Final Planning Assessment, resulting in a pre-certification, and a Completion & Verification Assessment, resulting in a final certification. To maintain the certification, reassessments are required every three years.

The Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) is a performance-based system developed for rating green buildings and infrastructures. The primary objective of GSAS is to create a sustainable built environment that minimizes ecological impacts and reduces resource use, considering the specific needs and context of the Middle East and North Africa regions (MENA). The purpose of GSAS Design & Build Parks Scheme is to provide recommendations and guidance for the effective implementation of sustainability goals within park projects.

The Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency (CASBEE) for Cities helps to understand sustainability conditions of cities across environmental, social and economic aspects. It measures the sustainability of cities according to quality criteria against the environmental load of the city defined as CO2 emissions per capita per year. The resulting sustainability qualification supports cities in the development of effective sustainability measures. The CASBEE for Urban Development (CASBEE-UD) tool is a standalone version developed for the assessment of partial or whole groups of buildings on a smaller scale than CASBEE for Cities.

The Pearl Community Rating System (PCRS) promotes the development of sustainable communities and improved quality of life in Abu Dhabi. The tool encourages water, energy and waste minimization, local material use and improved supply chains for sustainable and recycled materials and products. The PCRS is applicable to developments that are multiple plot subdivisions, with a vehicular network and community facilities or amenities. The tool requires master plan teams to develop Pearl Rating targets and guidelines for all buildings within the community. Since May 2010 all new community developments in Abu Dhabi must at least achieve a “One Pearl” rating.