LEED vs.

LOTUS
Comparison of Two Green Building
Certification Systems
 USGBC vs. VGBC

USGBC VGBC
• Established in 1993 • Established in 2007
• Non-profit organization • Non-profit organization
• Established member of WGBC • Prospective member of WGBC
 Certification Systems: LEED vs. LOTUS

LEED
• First rating system released in 1998
• Developed in the US
• International market
• In November 2017:
> 47,000 certified project in the world
34 certified project in Vietnam
LOTUS
• First rating system released in 2010
• Developed in Vietnam
• Vietnamese market
• In November 2017:
22 projects in process of certification
15 certified project in Vietnam
 Rating Systems
LEED: 5 main systems LOTUS: 5 systems

Building Design + Construction

Interior Design + Construction

Building Operations + Maintenance

Neighborhood Development

Homes
Equivalence between Rating Systems

No LOTUS system

In development
 Certification Ratings

0-43 points 44-60 points 61-71 points 72-82 points 83-118 points
Uncertified Certified Silver Gold Platinum

40% 50% 60% 80% 40% 55% 65% 75%

LEED BD+C vs. LOTUS NR
 Categories LOTUS NR: 9 categories
LEED BD+C: 7 categories • Energy (31 points)

• Integrative Process (1 point) • Water (13 points)

• Location and Transportation (16 points) • Materials (9 points)

• Ecology (9 points)
• Sustainable Sites (10 points)
• Waste & Pollution (8 points)
• Water Efficiency (11 points)
• Health & Comfort (14 points)
• Energy and Atmosphere (33 points)
• Adaptation & Mitigation (10 points)
• Materials and Resources (13 points)
• Community (6 points)
• Indoor Environmental Quality (16
points) • Management (10 points)
 Equivalence between Categories

• Different names of categories but,

overall, the complete scope
covered by all categories is similar

• LEED BD+C and LOTUS NR are both

holistic rating systems
 Categories Weighting
LEED credits transposed in
LOTUS Categories - Weighting
LOTUS Categories - Weighting

Energy Energy
7% Water 9% Water
2%
26% Materials 6% Materials
13% 28%
Ecology 9% Ecology
Waste & Pollution Waste & Pollution
16%
11% Health & Comfort 13% Health & Comfort
12%
Adaptation & Mitigation Adaptation & Mitigation
4% 11% 7%
10% Community 8% 8% Community
Management Management
 Prerequisites and Credits
LEED
• 12 prerequisites (PR)
• PR and credits based on US
regulations, codes and standards
• PR and credits based on US
construction practices
• Most adapted for developed
countries
LOTUS
• 15 prerequisites (PR)
• PR and credits based as much as
possible on Vietnamese regulations,
codes and standards
• PR and credits based on Vietnamese
construction practices
• Adapted for Vietnam
 Energy related Credits and Prerequisites
Energy LEED LOTUS

Passive Design 

Energy Use Reduction  

Renewable Energy Production  

Energy Monitoring and Management  

Natural Ventilation 
in Energy Use
Energy efficient air-conditioning Reduction


in Energy Use
Energy efficient artificial lighting Reduction


Demand Response (decrease peak electricity demand) 

Green Power (not applicable in Vietnam) 

 Water related Credits and Prerequisites

Water LEED LOTUS

Water Efficient Fixtures  

Water Efficient Landscaping  

Water Monitoring  

Rainwater harvesting  

Water recycling/reuse  

Cooling Tower Water Use 

Materials related Credits and Prerequisites

Materials LEED LOTUS

Material Reuse  

Materials with Recycled Content  

Non-baked Materials 

Timber from sustainable sources  

Rapidly Renewable Materials 

Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction 

Environmental Product Declarations 

 Ecology related Credits and Prerequisites

Ecology LEED LOTUS

Environmental Impact Assessment  

Construction Activity Pollution Prevention  

Habitat Restoration  

Development Footprint / Open Space  

Green Roof 
Site Selection: Sensitive Land Protection, High-priority site

and Surrounding Density
 Waste & Pollution related Credits and
Prerequisites
Waste & Pollution LEED LOTUS

Wastewater Treatment 

Refrigerants  

Demolition and Construction Waste  

Dedicated Recycling Storage Area  

Light Pollution Minimisation  

 Health & Comfort related Credits and
Prerequisites
Health & Comfort LEED LOTUS

Indoor Smoking  

Fresh Air Supply  

CO2 Monitoring  

Hazardous Materials  

Daylighting  

External Views  

Thermal Comfort  

Acoustic Performance 

Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan 

 Adaptation & Mitigation related Credits and
Prerequisites
Adaptation & Mitigation LEED LOTUS

Flood Resistance 

Storm Water Runoff  

Heat Island Effect  

Green Transportation  

Local Materials  
Community related Credits and Prerequisites

Community LEED LOTUS

Community Connectivity  

Public Space 

Access for People with disability 

 Management related Credits and
Prerequisites
Management LEED LOTUS

Integrative Process  partly

Construction Stage 

Commissioning  

Maintenance 

Accredited Professional  

Green Management 
 LEED: adapted to Vietnam?
Some requirements are mandatory in LEED when they offer points in LOTUS.
Most projects in the US would follow these requirements in any case but for projects in
Vietnam, it is already a significant improvement.
LEED LOTUS
• Fundamental Commissioning (PR) • 3 points in Credit Man-3 Commissioning
• Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance equivalent • 2 points in Credit H-1 Fresh Air Supply
(PR)
• Construction Activity Pollution Prevention • 2 points in Credit Eco-1 Construction
(PR) Environmental Management Plan
• 2 points in Credit WP-3 Dedicated Recycling
• Storage and Collection of Recyclables (PR)
Storage Area
 LEED: adapted to Vietnam?
Some aspects that are mandatory in the US are not included in LEED when those are not
mandatory in Vietnam and would need to be encouraged.

LEED
• No requirements for access for people with
disability
• No requirements on wastewater treatment
• No requirements on flood resistance
• No requirements on safety during construction
LOTUS
• Include a credit for access for people with
disability
• Include a prerequisite to comply with all the
relevant wastewater regulations and standards
• Include a prerequisite and credit on Flood
resistance
• Include a prerequisite on safety during
construction
 Certification Process

LEED
• 100 % online: registration, agreement,
submissions, assessment
• 2 stages: Preliminary certification
(optional) and Final certification
LOTUS
• Registration and agreement by paper
• Submission through any method:
hosting site, USB, DVD, etc.
• Assessment by email
• 2 stages: Provisional certification
(optional) and Full certification
 Documentation Process

LEED LOTUS
• Credit templates with all information • Category Submission forms with
to fill in general information on credits to fill in
 Fees
LEED
• Registration Fee: 1,200 $US for non-
member; 900 $US for members
• Certification Fee: 2 options: Split review
(separate design stage and construction
stage) or Combined review
• Inquiries: Project Credit Interpretation
Request: $220/credit
• Appeals:
Complex credits: $800/credit
All other credits: $500/credit
LOTUS
• Registration Fee: 11,000,000 VND
• Certification Fee: 1 option with
combined verification of design stage
and construction stage
• Inquiries: Technical queries and CIR:
fees are not applicable
• Appeals:
5 credits maximal, fees are not applicable
Registration + Certification Fees

Phí Đăng ký dự án : 11,000,000 VND/dự án

Phí Cấp chứng nhận

Quy mô dự án (GFA, m2) (Việt Nam đồng)
(chưa bao gồm 10% VAT)
Dưới 5.000 m2 55.000.000 đồng
Từ 5.001 m2 đến 10.000 m2 88.000.000 đồng
Từ 10.001 m2 đến 15.000 m2 110.000.000 đồng
Từ 15.001 m2 đến 25.000 m2 132.000.000 đồng
Từ 25.001 m2 đến 50.000 m2 198.000.000 đồng
Từ 50.001 m2 đến 75.000 m2 264.000.000 đồng
Từ 75.001 m2 đến 100.000 m2 330.000.000 đồng
Trên 100.000 m2 396.000.000 đồng
 Registration + Certification Fees
LEED * LEED *
Project Size LOTUS
(non-member) (member)
66,000,000 VND
4,000 m2 3,950 $US 3,150 $US
(≈3,000 $US )
10,000 m2 / 99,000,000 VND
7,120 $US 5,743 $US
107,639 sq ft (≈4,500 $US )
30,000 m2 / 185,400,000 VND
18,960 $US 15,430 $US
322,917 sq ft (≈8,500 $US )
70,000 m2 / 209,000,000 VND
28,700 $US 23,400 $US
753474 sq ft (≈9,500 $US )
407,000,000 VND
150,000 m2 28,700 $US 23,400 $US
(≈18,500 $US )
400,000 m2 407,000,000 VND
28,700 $US 23,400 $US
(≈18,500 $US )

* For LEED, fees of the Combined review is used.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT

LOTUS Certification
certification@vgbc.org.vn

Membership
membership@vgbc.org.vn

Education and Training

education@vgbc.org.vn

General enquiries
info@vgbc.org.vn
or visit: www.vgbc.org.vn