Follow-up of environmental certifications – A study of the four most widely used systems in Sweden

Sammanfattning: The present thesis investigates the demands for follow-ups determined within the largest four environmental certification systems in Sweden, BREEAM-SE, LEED, Miljöbyggnad, and GreenBuilding. This study was narrowed down to only include environmental certifications of newly developed commercial constructions. Furthermore, the different problems and risks that can occur alongside follow-up demands within an environmental certification will be discussed as well as the positive effects of such a follow-up. There has been a significant increase in the classification of constructions in the last decade. Today, the majority of large construction projects undergo an environmental certification. The certification of newly developed buildings start with the planning documents and has a large impact on how buildings are constructed, built, and maintained. The certification process is often intricate and involves many different parties such as engineers, architects, and constructions workers. Demands for follow-ups will vary in both layout and scope depending on the environmental certification system after it has been commissioned. Controlling and ensuring that the project plans have been met after commissioning allow buildings to, at a greater extent, live up to expectations and classification grades. Thereby, the risk of having a misleading certification grade even in the management phase is reduced. A supervised and planned commissioning as well as demands on a new certification of the building, which confirms an acquired grade, strengthens the recognition of the building on the market.