Table 4 shows that when BREEAM, LEED, Green Star and CASBEE are compared there is variation in the standards of each scheme. BREEAM sets higher standards for building management compared to LEED and Green Star. LEED and BREEAM score equivalent scores for energy and transport whilst Green Star falls behind. In terms of health and well being issues BREEAM again exceeds the other schemes. Not surprisingly given the record breaking drought conditions in Australia up to 2010, the water conservation standards in Green Star are highest compared to the other schemes. BREEAM in the UK has the highest standards in respect of land use and ecology where the density of the population
is highest. Overall the schemes promote standards reflecting local sustainability issues and environmental conditions.
When BRE assessed the schemes under normalised conditions across all the rating criteria the following results were found as shown in table 4 (BRE, 2008). LEED, Green Star and CASBEE assessments are not equivalent to BREEAM. In a particular scenario a six star Green Star building (the highest Green Star rating possible) is less sustainable than a Platinum LEED building (the highest LEED rating possible) and approximately equal to a ‘very good’ BREEAM rated building.
Table 4. Comparison of Rating Tools