Third-party assessment of compliance
As the world’s premier third-party verification organization, GBCI offers federal agencies and the Department of Defense a robust analysis of your work to meet the Guiding Principles, coupled with dedicated technical support.
Guiding Principles Assessment by GBCI
Step 1: Register
Register by review and distributing the Guiding Principles Assessment Handbook, completing the registration form and paying the registration fee. GBCI will ensure you have all relevant program materials, including instructions on how to connect with a GBCI team member and ask questions. If you’re also pursing LEED certification, we’ll streamline the process to avoid duplicative work.
Step 2: Apply
Review the appropriate Guiding Principles Assessment Technical Guide to learn about the process and explain all options for compliance and documentation. You’ll then submit your completed application and remit the review fee.
Step 3: Review
GBCI will conduct a review of your application. You’ll receive a report for each phase of review with opportunities to submit revised or updated information should GBCI have questions.
Step 4: Compliance
After the last phase of review, you’ll accept GBCI’s assessment results. Compliant projects will receive an official GBCI certificate.
Guiding Principles Assessment Fees (per building)
New pricing to go in effect May 1. Learn more.
Note: Buildings also pursuing LEED certification do not incur registration or review fees for the Guiding Principles if applications are submitted in tandem.
| Silver, Gold or Platinum USGBC Members | Minimum | Organizational or Non- USGBC members | Minimum | |
| Registration | $1,200 | $1,500 | ||
| Design Review | ||||
| Project gross floor area (excluding parking): less than 250,000 sq ft | $0.047 /sf | $2,325 | $0.055 /sf | $2,740 |
| Project gross floor area (excluding parking): 250,000 - 499,999 sq ft | $0.045 /sf | $11,625 | $0.053 /sf | $13,760 |
| Project gross floor area (excluding parking): 500,000 - 749,999 sq ft | $0.041 /sf | $22,500 | $0.049 /sf | $26,625 |
| Construction Review | ||||
| Project gross floor area (excluding parking): less than 250,000 sq ft | $0.016 /sf | $775 | $0.018 /sf | $910 |
| Project gross floor area (excluding parking): 250,000 - 499,999 sq ft | $0.015 /sf | $3,875 | $0.018 /sf | $4,585 |
| Project gross floor area (excluding parking): 500,000 - 749,999 sq ft | $0.014 /sf | $7,500 | $0.016 /sf | $8,875 |
| Appeals | $500 (per Requirement) | |||
Guidance for federal agencies
The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) provides guidance to help federal agencies comply with the 2016 Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings, which were issued by the Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) on February 26, 2016.
The assessment by GBCI is a comprehensive verification of all six categories included in the Guiding Principles:
1. Employ integrated design
2. Optimize energy performance
3. Protect and conserve water
4. Enhance indoor environmental quality
5. Reduce environmental impact of materials
6. Assess and consider climate change risks
The Guiding Principles are used by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to score federal agencies' progress and compliance within the "Green Buildings" category on annual agency OMB Sustainability/Energy Scorecards. The Department of Defense incorporates the Guiding Principles requirements into their Unified Facilities Criteria High Performance and Sustainable Building Requirements, UFC 1-200-02, the criteria against which GBCI conducts the third party review.