Green Globes, administered by the Green Building Initiative (GBI), is a third-party sustainability certification system that applies to new construction, existing buildings, core & shell, and interiors.
Its protocol allocates a large share of weight to energy criteria (e.g. 310 points out of 1,000 in the existing building version) to encourage real reductions in consumption.
Certification under Green Globes thus demonstrates that a building has met rigorous benchmarked reductions in energy use, water, emissions, and operations, not just rhetoric.
In many jurisdictions and incentives programs, Green Globes-certified projects qualify for additional financing or green mortgage support, reinforcing its role as both a performance tool and a market differentiator.
Pairing With Tax Incentives: Synergy For Cash Flow
When a Green Globes project also pursues key U.S. tax incentives, the result is both immediate savings and long-term operational benefits:
- Section 179D (commercial/institutional) offers deductions for energy-efficient systems; the energy modeling and documentation needed for 179D often overlaps with what Green Globes requires.
- Section 45L (residential & multifamily) provides credits for high-efficiency units; Green Globes’ multifamily protocols are designed to exceed baseline energy thresholds.
- The Energy Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for solar and renewables pairs well with the renewable energy credits in Green Globes’ scoring, allowing net cost reductions on renewable installations to flow through to both tax and certification benefits.
Tax incentives reduce the upfront burden of green upgrades; Green Globes certifies, validates, and signals those investments to the market.
Financial Benefits Beyond Tax Savings: Energy, Operations, Rents, and Resale
- Green Globes-certified buildings often include metering, performance tracking, and continuous improvement plans, which help reduce waste and optimize systems over time.
- From broader research on green certification, studies show 77% commercial properties find higher rents for green-certified buildings compared to non-certified peers.
- Green buildings also tend to achieve lower vacancy rates and faster lease-up due to tenant preference, contributing to higher net operating income (NOI).
- In the multifamily sector, Green Globes is recognized by Fannie Mae for preferential loan pricing when the certification shows at least 15% energy savings above median properties.
- By lowering operating and maintenance costs over time and improving tenant retention, certified buildings often command higher resale multiples.
Green Globes Certification: Your Gateway to Sustainable Success
For owners and consultants aiming to maximize ROI from sustainability, Green Globes is more than a badge, it is a performance roadmap.
When combined with tax incentives like 179D, 45L, and the ITC, it unlocks dual value: immediate fiscal relief and long-term asset strength.
Energy reductions translate to lower operating costs; certification provides credible proof of performance. And the market rewards certified buildings with premium rents, lower vacancy, and stronger resale potential.
In a capital market increasingly focused on ESG and net zero goals, Green Globes plus tax incentives represents a best-practice strategy to transform green building from cost into a revenue-generating asset.
Unlock the full value of your green building project, schedule a call with our experts today to maximize your benefits from Green Globes certification and tax incentives.
