The Integrated Valuation of Ecosystems Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) is a suite of open-source software models to map and value ecosystem services, including different models designed for terrestrial, freshwater, marine and coastal ecosystems. The tool helps explore how changes in ecosystems can lead to changes in the flows of many different benefits to people. Thereby, InVEST supports entities that deal with natural resources in their management and in balancing of environmental and economic goals, while avoiding degradation and depletion.

Sector(s): Natural Infrastructure
Lifecycle Phase(s): Strategic PlanningPublic authorities identify the needs and long-term vision for infrastructure development.
Type(s) of Tool: Modelling ToolsSimulate economic, social, and physical systems to help planners optimize outcomes from different decisions.
Organization: Stanford University

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.

Sector(s): Energy
Lifecycle Phase(s): Strategic PlanningPublic authorities identify the needs and long-term vision for infrastructure development., PrioritizationAuthorities decide which projects to realize and how to allocate resources., Project PlanningGeneral strategy for a project’s delivery is developed., Concept DesignTechnical experts broadly outline the project’s basic characteristics., Detailed DesignTechnical experts further elaborate the Concept Design., ConstructionThe asset is constructed in line with design, budget and timeline., Operation and MaintenanceInfrastructure assets are managed and maintained during their use time., Decomissioning/RepurposingObsolete infrastructure assets are repurposed, recycled or removed and the land is reused or restored.
Type(s) of Tool: PrinciplesSupport sustainability incorporation at institutional or strategic level, less specific than Guidelines.
Organization: International Hydropower Association (IHA)

Green Star Buildings is Australia’s leading rating tool for new buildings and major refurbishments. Green Star Buildings sets out the criteria that must be met to deliver healthy, resilient, and positive places for people and nature. It aims to meet current and future demands on the built environment with aspirational benchmarks for addressing the key issues of the next decade: Climate action, resource efficiency, and health and wellbeing. The tool now includes different manuals that previously certified the construction and design (Green Star Design & As Built) as well as the operational performance of buildings (Green Star Performance).

Sector(s): Buildings
Lifecycle Phase(s): Project PlanningGeneral strategy for a project’s delivery is developed., Concept DesignTechnical experts broadly outline the project’s basic characteristics., Detailed DesignTechnical experts further elaborate the Concept Design., ConstructionThe asset is constructed in line with design, budget and timeline., Operation and MaintenanceInfrastructure assets are managed and maintained during their use time.
Type(s) of Tool: Rating SystemsProvide quantifiable sustainability ratings and / or certification for projects or assets.
Organization: Green Building Council of Australia

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.

Sector(s): Buildings
Lifecycle Phase(s): Project PlanningGeneral strategy for a project’s delivery is developed., Concept DesignTechnical experts broadly outline the project’s basic characteristics., ProcurementThe provision of goods and services to realize a project are tendered and closed., Detailed DesignTechnical experts further elaborate the Concept Design., ConstructionThe asset is constructed in line with design, budget and timeline., Operation and MaintenanceInfrastructure assets are managed and maintained during their use time.
Type(s) of Tool: Rating SystemsProvide quantifiable sustainability ratings and / or certification for projects or assets.
Organization: Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment, Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) Council

The Green Infrastructure Flexible Model (GIFMod) is an open-source computer-based modelling tool to evaluate the performance of urban stormwater and agricultural green infrastructure practices that aim to reduce the volume of stormwater runoff entering sewers or receiving streams and to improve water quality. GIFMod allows users to build conceptual models of green infrastructure practices to predict their hydraulic and water quality performance under given weather scenarios. It also allows for interpreting field and lab data via deterministic and probabilistic inverse modelling.

Sector(s): Water and Sanitation
Lifecycle Phase(s): Project PlanningGeneral strategy for a project’s delivery is developed., Concept DesignTechnical experts broadly outline the project’s basic characteristics., Detailed DesignTechnical experts further elaborate the Concept Design.
Type(s) of Tool: Modelling ToolsSimulate economic, social, and physical systems to help planners optimize outcomes from different decisions.
Organization: Environmental Protection Agency of the United States of America - EPA

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.

Sector(s): Buildings
Lifecycle Phase(s): Project PlanningGeneral strategy for a project’s delivery is developed., Concept DesignTechnical experts broadly outline the project’s basic characteristics., ProcurementThe provision of goods and services to realize a project are tendered and closed., Detailed DesignTechnical experts further elaborate the Concept Design., ConstructionThe asset is constructed in line with design, budget and timeline.
Type(s) of Tool: Rating SystemsProvide quantifiable sustainability ratings and / or certification for projects or assets.
Organization: Greenbuildingindex Sdn Bhd

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.

Sector(s): Natural Infrastructure
Lifecycle Phase(s): Project PlanningGeneral strategy for a project’s delivery is developed., Concept DesignTechnical experts broadly outline the project’s basic characteristics., Detailed DesignTechnical experts further elaborate the Concept Design., ConstructionThe asset is constructed in line with design, budget and timeline., Operation and MaintenanceInfrastructure assets are managed and maintained during their use time.
Type(s) of Tool: Rating SystemsProvide quantifiable sustainability ratings and / or certification for projects or assets.
Organization: Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (GORD´s)

The ESG Due DIligence Tool (ESG DD Tool) aims to provide investors with a transparent view of the ESG risks and opportunities of an infrastructure asset at the due diligence phase. The tool offers a structured process to identify and quantify all potential ESG risks and opportunities, which can make or break the business case of assets. This analysis serves as the basis for investment decision making and future mitigation of all potential (material) ESG issues (or factors) during asset management.

Sector(s): Tools applicable to all sectors
Lifecycle Phase(s): PrioritizationAuthorities decide which projects to realize and how to allocate resources., FinanceDevelopers decide how to pay for their project.
Type(s) of Tool: Economic / Financial ValuationsAnalyses the economic/financial value and risks related to projects.
Organization: GRESB and B Capital Partners AG

FEASIBLE is a tool that facilitates the iterative process of balancing required finance with available finance, including a systematic, consistent and quantitative framework for consideration of environmental targets. The tool uses input describing existing infrastructures and availability of finance from user charges, public budgets and other sources. Based on the specification of the future service targets and projection of future finance, the model quantifies the resulting gap between the demand for expenditure (to invest in, operate and maintain infrastructure) and the supply of available funds. The tool can also be used to analyze the financial effects of different policy and regulation scenarios.

Sector(s): Waste, Water and Sanitation
Lifecycle Phase(s): Strategic PlanningPublic authorities identify the needs and long-term vision for infrastructure development., FinanceDevelopers decide how to pay for their project.
Type(s) of Tool: Economic / Financial ValuationsAnalyses the economic/financial value and risks related to projects.
Organization: Consulting Engineers and Planners (COWI)/EAP Task Force/OECD

EDGE is a tool to estimate the resource use of buildings already during the planning phase and awards projects that save resources. The cloud-based platform has a sophisticated set of city-based climate and cost data, consumption patterns and algorithms for predicting the most accurate performance results. On this basis, the tool calculates additional costs to build green and how long it takes to earn back the money through operational savings. With EDGE, the IFC aims to deliver a solution to prove the business case for building green and unlock financial investment. Based on the performance, buildings can receive a certification.

Sector(s): Buildings
Lifecycle Phase(s): Concept DesignTechnical experts broadly outline the project’s basic characteristics., Detailed DesignTechnical experts further elaborate the Concept Design., ConstructionThe asset is constructed in line with design, budget and timeline., Operation and MaintenanceInfrastructure assets are managed and maintained during their use time.
Type(s) of Tool: Rating SystemsProvide quantifiable sustainability ratings and / or certification for projects or assets.
Organization: International Finance Corporation (IFC)
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