BIT Building: Operate Smarter

Entire buildings or tenant-controlled spaces are eligible for BIT certification. As such, the following criteria must be met as part of that eligibility: The building must be constructed as a fixed structure on a permanent site. An individual wing or a subset of a building or tenant-controlled space is not eligible, however, a project may exclude up to 10% of the project’s gross floor area (GFA) if separately metered. No more than 20% of the project’s GFA may be classified as unfinished or unfitted. The project must contain space designed and meant to be occupied continuously for more than 30 minutes per day.

That depends on the project and how far along it may already be in its sustainable operations journey. Most projects can be certified within six months. 

BIT Building meets you where you are. Sustainable building certification programs worldwide have accomplished a considerable amount toward helping companies to reduce their CO2e emissions, meet ESG goals, and operate their buildings more efficiently. However, only 25% of existing buildings qualify for these programs, leaving the other 75% without a clear path to sustainability. BIT Building bridges that gap, providing an easy, flexible pathway to achieve better building performance and earn recognition for existing buildings no matter the age or performance level. 

• Demonstrate commitment to and be recognized for improving building performance. 
• Streamline operations with a single program for all buildings under one portfolio. 
• Access tools and resources to help improve building performance and reduce operating costs.
• Strengthen marketing and reporting through sound practices and alignment with positive brand recognition.   
• Shift resources from managing in-house sustainability standards to improving performance. 
• Gain third-party recognition for sustainability achievements to help demonstrate progress and commitment to stakeholders. 
• Empower building operators through the development of assessment and implementation skills directly related to cost-saving and performance improvements. 
• BIT Building-certified projects receive full credit under GRESB as a TIER 1 certification and help companies meet United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 

Participants gather and submit the required information for each of the 16 Best Practices for Sustainable Operations & Maintenance to achieve certification. The submitted information is then reviewed by a BIT Building program assessor who provides the participant with feedback on their goal of improving the operational performance of their building or tenant-controlled space as well as their progress towards certification.  

Participants elect when to trigger a review of their submitted information and can have their documentation reviewed either concurrently or separately. 

Separate Review 

Usually preferred by first-time users to the program, participants can elect to have the submitted documentation required for each of the 16 Best Practices reviewed upon fulfillment of the requirements of each best practice. Participants chose a separate review that would gather all the required documentation for an individual Best Practice (or a group of Best Practices) and then trigger a review by a BIT Building assessor. The certification review process consists of two rounds of reviews verifying that the project’s submissions demonstrate the implementation of the 16 Best Practices. 

Concurrent Review 

Usually preferred by repeat users of the program, participants can elect to have the submitted documentation required for each of the 16 Best Practices reviewed at the same time. Participants choosing a concurrent review would gather all required documentation for all 16 Best Practices and then trigger a review by a BIT Building assessor. 

BIT Building helps underperforming buildings improve their operations and can position them to qualify for more challenging existing green building certification programs (e.g., LEED O+M, BREEAM, ESPM, Green Globes, and BOMA 360) while providing customized guidance and recognition every step of the way. 

It depends on the certification, but in general, the answer is “yes” as long as the information meets the requirements of one or more of BIT Building’s 16 Best Practices for Sustainable Operations & Maintenance.   

See the full list of BIT certified buildings here.