JCVA provides expert sustainability consulting services to help your projects meet internationally recognized standards like WELL, LEED, EDGE, and BERDE certifications. Our team guides you through sustainable design strategies, compliance requirements, and certification processes to maximize environmental performance and reduce operational costs.
BERDE (Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence) is the Philippines’ national voluntary green building rating system, developed by the Philippine Green Building Council (PHILGBC). It assesses how a building performs in areas such as energy, water, materials and site, with criteria suited to the Philippine climate and regulations. JCVA Terra guides projects through BERDE certification, from registration to assessment.
BERDE and LEED are both green building rating systems that assess sustainability across energy, water, materials, indoor environmental quality, site and operations. LEED is developed by the U.S. Green Building Council and is recognized internationally. BERDE is developed by the Philippine Green Building Council for the Philippine context, so it aligns more closely with local regulations, climate and market conditions. Both councils are members of the World Green Building Council. Their documentation, scoring and assessment procedures differ.
Timelines depend on the rating system, project type and stage. For new construction, certification is usually completed after construction, once documentation, testing and reviews are finished. For existing buildings, it depends on available building data and any performance improvements needed. Some certifications require renewal; WELL and Fitwel, for example, require recertification every three years. Cost depends on project size, target level, rating system fees, consultant scope, testing and commissioning, and any physical upgrades needed.
It depends on your project type, stage, sustainability goals, budget and target market. LEED suits projects seeking international recognition, while BERDE aligns closely with the Philippine context. EDGE focuses on measurable energy, water and materials efficiency, and WELL and Fitwel focus on occupant health and wellness. The best approach is to assess the project first, then choose the certification, or combination, that offers the most value.
Yes. Office, commercial and retail fit-outs can be certified during renovation, interior construction or major improvement works. Existing buildings can pursue certification based on current performance, operations, policies and management practices, often without major construction. The process usually involves assessing current performance, identifying improvements, and implementing operational or efficiency measures. LEED, EDGE, WELL, BERDE and Fitwel each offer pathways that may apply, depending on the building and project scope.
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