The Development of Green Office Building Assessment Criteria in Thailand in the New Normal Era

Abstract

This research aims to study and compare green building assessment criteria in Thailand and those in other countries, including studying office building management in the new normal era, as well as to propose guidelines for the development of green office building assessment criteria in Thailand in the new normal era. This qualitative research investigated green building assessment criteria in Thailand and those in other countries, consisting of the websites: Thai's Rating of Energy and Environmental Sustainability (TREES), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), WELL Being Standard (WELL), Comprehensive Assessment System for Building Environmental Efficiency (CASBEE), and Building Research Establishment Energy and Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) and related documents, as well as collected verbal accounts from five experts related to office building management and green building assessment. Data were then analyzed using content analysis and gap analysis techniques. The findings showed that, in addition to the three factors of place, people, and process, on which the office building management in the new normal era concentrates, building managers had to allocate the operating budget for maximum value as well. Due to the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019, affects the operations of various business organizations and the overall economy. As a result, business organizations reduced business profits while there was an increasing cost for implementing building management measures and policies to build the confidence of tenants and building users. However, most green building assessment criteria still focused on the energy consumption and the environment of the building. Therefore, the development of green office building assessment criteria in Thailand in the new normal era should add more criteria on health and well-being of tenants and building users.