The Multi Building Single Rating (MBSR) approach refers to the process of certifying multiple buildings under one Green Star certification.

This approach allows Green Star users to streamline their registration, certification fees and documentation requirements. Generally, an MBSR rating includes one single submission addressing all buildings captured under the rating. However, some credits must be documented per building. This is because the Green Star Buildings, Design & As Built and Interiors rating tools and associated Green Star trademarks have been developed to apply to single buildings, and the certification must communicate a clear and accurate assessment of a building.

Using the MBSR approach is subject to NZGBC approval, and project teams wishing to use it must seek confirmation with the Green Star team through a Technical Question before registering the project. The query must respond to all criteria and provide supporting evidence. This process is to protect the integrity of the certification, how the trademark is communicated, and ensure the assessment and certification is robust and in line with current processes.

Eligibility Criteria

Project teams wishing to certify using the MBSR approach should meet the following criteria and address them in an initial technical question.

There are five mandatory criteria that must be met for projects to be considered for an MBSR approach.

1. The buildings are to be owned as a package and must be bought and sold together.
   If the buildings are sold separately the Certified Rating ceases to be an accurate representation of the original certification. If at any time we are made aware that the buildings are, or will be, sold separately, we reserve the right to cancel the registration or certification.
   
   
2. A commitment needs to have been made to deliver the buildings at the same time and under the same contract.
   If changes to the timeframe or staging of any of the buildings mean that they will be unable to be delivered together, the decision may be made that the MBSR approach is void and the buildings will need to be registered independently for separate certifications.
   
   
3. The buildings should sit near each other, with minimal chance of a building being constructed between them.
   This is to ensure the boundaries of the certification remain clearly defined and reduces the risk of buildings not included in the original certification being perceived as being Green Star certified later on.
   
   
4. The buildings should have the same use.
   Use of each building should be the same. This means the activity occurring within the buildings are the same, such as all industrial warehousing, or commercial buildings. The consistency in use is required to minimise potential differences in impact across the buildings and to ensure the final Certified Rating is representative of the sustainability attributes of all the buildings.
   
   
5. The buildings should have the same design.
   The designs should be the same. This means the buildings have the same height, massing and materiality. This is to ensure the final rating is an accurate representation of each building.

Please note that the eligibility criteria for the use of MBSR was updated by NZGBC on 27/11/2024. Projects not yet registered from this date onwards are subject to the updated criteria. (Registration includes online execution of the Certification Agreement and payment of the certification fee invoice).

Rating Tools
This approach is applicable for projects registering under the below rating tools:

• Green Star – Design & As Built 

Please note that the MBSR approach is different from Portfolio Certification, Volume Certification, and Site Wide Credits.

We reserve the right to cancel project registrations where an MBSR approach has been used without prior approval, or where the project is not being delivered in line with the approved approach, after it has been registered. An alternative option is to use the Site Wide credit approach. This approach offers more flexibility, and each project still achieves its own Green Star rating.

If your project does not meet the above criteria and you are wishing to streamline the certification approach for multiple projects, please contact the Green Star team to discuss options.