Environmental Impact Assessment Programs and Regulations

environmental Impact Assessment Programs and RegulationsIntroductionThis chapter ordain give a polish of the commencement process of environmental Impact Assessment Programs (EIAP) for grammatical twistings for contrastive countries and different regions of the world as a reflection on the continuing evolution of twist environmental judgement wights. This chapter includes two sections the first section pull up stakes present the initial structure and types for EIAP and will likewise comp ar slightly computer broadcastmes on their categories and weight schemes to anticipate the directions of future developments for construct environmental pass judgmentment course of studys. Understanding how EIAP for structures developed oer the past 20 years is the primary(prenominal) outcome of this chapter as it will provide evidence for the research supposal and justifications for the methodologies undertaken in this research.ObjectivesThe main aim of this chapter is to re post the development process of EIAP for twists its categories, charge frames and methodologies used in underdeveloped these courses. It will set as a starting point in developing an evaluation tool in particular spirited for the Egyptian environment. To achieve this aim around objectives stupefy been consider round off and comp ar different types of EIAP for structures from variety of regions, emphasizing on their categories of taskment, weighting systems and their current developments.Investigate the future development direction for EIAP for makes.The development of EIAP for creates plait sector contribute significantly to elan vital phthisis all all over the world. It is responsible for 38% of the world primary vigor consumption and the carbonic acid gas emission resulting from these huge levels of consumption, as shown in take to 2-1 (BP Statistical Review of World vital force, 2008, International Energy Agency (IEA) Statistics Division, 2008). A people o f experts retrieve that the edifice sector in the world could foster reducing 1.8 trillion t singles of CO2 before Kyoto target in 2012 (World Business Council for Sustain qualified cultivation 2009 report). accord to the UNEP 2007significant gains can be made in efforts to assail global warming by reducing si unsanded use and amend zippo aptitude in constructs.There argon number of ways that a grammatical construction could affect its surrounding environment on its life-time time. During different distributor points row substantials, construction, operation and demolition, also, through different comp angiotensin-converting enzyments, mental synthesiss could cast a huge intrusion on the environment (UNEP 2007). For example soil pollution, emissions into the stress, weewee spills, deplete generation, resource consumption, local upholds, impacts associated with transportation and cause on biodiversity (Gangolells M, et al., 2009). In addition to the previous environmental impacts, mental synthesiss affect peoples health instanter. As (Theodore 1996 ) reported, in that location are a lot of health problems that could be linked to makes directly especially to poor indoor(a) step i.e. the sick building syndrome.According to (UNEP 2007) it has long been established that to achieve an might-effective world, governments, businesses and individuals must trans dramatis personae the building sector. wizard of the approaches that shit been adopted to address the building sector effects on the environment were developing political platforms to quantify buildings act. Environmental impact judicial purpose programs (EIAP) for buildings were in the first place conceived as instruction to recognize best practice, promote color buildings and to provide a unified and coherent base for buildings to be compared on. Recent studies showed that EIAP have been a key factor in improving buildings devise as effortless (pennenvironment pdf). T his movement towards sustainable and putting surface buildings has been growing rabidly since the second half(prenominal) of the 80s leading to the development of various methods for evaluating the environmental performance of buildings (Cole, Yudelson and Fedrizzi, 2008). The number of EIAP for buildings has change magnitude significantly in the past two decades, as shown in Figure 2-2. From 4 programs in the 80s to more than(prenominal) than 25 program straightway actively used worldwide. This increase in the number of EIAP for buildings or the revolution as Yudelson describe it, will likely continue over the next a few(prenominal) years (Cole, , Yudelson).In countries all over the world -especially the developed countries- on that point is a growing interest in understanding how to reduce the building sector impacts on the environment. This is partially manifested in continues development of EIAP for buildings, distributively by introducing impudently estimation to ols, or by developing and refining the real ones. In recent years, the trade for evaluating building performance was increasing, with clients demanding buildings that chance on the exaltedest competency standards and have minimum effects on the environment (U.S. spirt create Council (USGBC), 2005).The time line progress for the environmental programsEnvironmental buildings or green buildings from the market point of view could potentially save money on might bills, cut global warming pollution and help to stiff future energy. Therefore there are growing demands for building class as green or environmentally cozy. some other aspect that verify the current success of EIAP for building is that a lot of conferences have been and alleviate are held for the environmental impacts of buildings and the best way to develop and assess it (Cole, -, Yudelson). EIAP are straight off considered a driving force to develop buildings industry.EIAP were first conceived as a mean to quan tify the success of a building in achieving reduced impacts on the environment during its life time. They were also developed to accomp each with standards from organizations like ANSI, ISO, ASHARE, ASTM and CEN. The structure and components of EIAP are always changing to cope with the latest sports in building standards. These changes include categories of perspicacity, assign weighting, impacts computation, equal efficiency and example techniques. EIAP assess buildings either on performance bases on prescriptive bases. They were initially developed as in automatic (cole,) but with the higher demands from the market some programs are mandatory in some parts of the world now for example-. around organizations and local authorities now demand a sealed qualification to be attained by the building in align to be authorized. For example EIAP were first bearinged to assess certain aspects of buildings broadly speaking energy, water and material use. They were also firstly vi sualizeed for certain types of buildings. raw(a) developments to EIAP for buildings include expanding the judgment categories to include every dot and component of a building during its life time. The new generations of programs are moving towards a more across-the-board view of sound judgement rather than it creation for unless(prenominal) one type of buildings or one aspect of building elements. New additions to freshwater clean 2008 and LEED 2009 included the introduction of new chance variables to assess new types of building (ref for Leed and bream weather vanesites). EIAP also assess buildings in different stages headinging, construction, operation and demolish. With number of these programs being in use for several years spotting the developments directions for EIAP for buildings could be recognize and analyse.In the first generation of EIAP like and , sound judgments were usually made by a qualified trinity party. In recent years web found judgement have been introduced, for example in - and LEED V3 2009 (ref for Leed and bream websites). This came as a reaction to the market demand for an easy to use initial legal opinion. EIAP outcomes are a security measure grade (,), a report () or a to acknowledge the grade of a building in achieving its environmental targets. Recent additions to EIAP for building included the introduction of an heavy(p) rate for outstanding innovations in green building as in in LEED and -in freshwater bream (ref for Leed and bream websites). This comes as a result of the current need on the market for green buildings to achieve the highest the huge competition.The success of EIAP in reshaping the building industry is undeniable. In recent years, EIAP have been playing a bad role in moving the building industry into a more environment conscious directions, as presented in (Cole, 2003)..There is little doubt that building environmental assessment methods have contributed enormously to furthering the prom otion of higher environmental expectations, and are directly and indirectly influencing the performance of buildings.This current success of EIAP for buildings is considered one of the -in the world (usgreen building council). This success derives from the ability of these programs to offers a common grease for formers, governments and buildings owners, to assess building performance and be recognized for good practice.This chapter will focus on certification programs that deal with evaluation and assessment of buildings to serve as a starting point in developing a specific program aimed at the Egyptian environment needs. From the author viewTypes of twist Assessment systemsEIAP for buildings could be divided to two types according to what they assess in a building. The first type assesses one or more of the building aspects to find out how it will affect the environment and how well the buildings elements will score against environmental standards, for example on energy efficie ncy or materials choice. Programs like R-2000 and slide fastener STAR assess mainly building energy efficiency (R-2000, 2007, ENERGY STAR, 2009). These types of assessment methods sometimes are specifically designed for a certain type of buildings like P-mark for prefabricated houses and GreenCalc for Dutch stain buildings (Technical seek initiate of Sweden, 2009, GreenCalc, 2009). Also for some programs the assessment is done to only one stage of a building, for example ATHENA for design stage only and NovoClimat for after operation stage only (ATHENA, 2009, Natural Resources Canada, 2009). The assessed buildings either pass the assessment and given a certificate or a qualification grade, or fail to qualify and be given guidance on how to improve the assessed element of their building.The second type of EIAP assesses building as a whole against a set of categories to find out the building total impacts on the environment. These types of programs always include a wide simulacru m of categories of assessment ranging from site design and energy efficiency to water employ and recycling management. They also cover different building types with specific consideration for each type, for example in BREEAM, LEEDS and HK- commit there are specific versions to assess steads, schools, retail and healthcare. These programs assess a building on different stages design, construction, operation, caution and demolition stage in some programs. Usually a certificate or a qualification grade is purityed to the assessed building to define its standard. postpone 2-1 presents EIAP that will be reviewed in this study.Developed in Canada in 1982 the R-2000 is a voluntary program encouraging builders to build energy- competent houses that are environmentally friendly and healthy. It includes an energy efficiency standard for new houses that is continuously updated. It also includes comprehensive training and education courses for builders. The R-2000 standard assesses energy consumption performance for a house through a series of technical requirements (minimum envelope requirements, internal respiration system requirements, combustion system requirements, energy performance target, lights and appliances, indoor air quality and environmental features/eco-management) (Natural resources Canada, 2009, R-2000, 2007). During the first few years of industriousness the R-2000 program didnt attract the anticipated Canadian building practice (Horvat et al., 2005, Adair, 1996), this was repayable to write R-2000 homes by uncertified builders that lead to a failure of real performance of the program standards.Being more expensive (6-10%) to build R-2000 home in coincidence to regular building.Being ductile is what helped the R-2000 (2005 edition) program stay in the current market and being able to be applied to any type of homes. Another advantage is producing homes with 30%-40% energy savings (R-2000, 2007, Horvat et al., 2005).P-mark system (Sweden, 1989 )P-mark came as a reaction to the manufacturers of prefabricated houses in Sweden need for an assessment program that assures the market of the quality of their houses. P-mark is a voluntary program. It was developed for design and after construction stages. P-mark authorities use the method of unannounced inspections to assure quality control procedures after operation. 5% of the finished houses is inspected and measured annually. The inspections are on performance bases for the finished homes on air-tightness of the building envelope, air exchange rates, air-tightness of ducts, healthful pressure levels and heat requirement, to verify compliance with P-mark requirements P-mark certificate is considered a form of quality assurance in Sweden (Technical look for Institute of Sweden, 2009, Horvat et al., 2005, Swedish Institute for Technical Approval in Construction SITAC, 2007, website)One advantage to the application P-mark was that it has helped the Sweden market in reducing comp laints from people about the failure of prefabricated homes (Anneling, 1998). The upgrades that have been made to the P-mark in recent years involved improving the assessment categories to include 1) Testing for ventilation, air-tightness of houses and ventilation ducts, 2) Inspection for HVAC performance, water-tightness of the kitchen or toilet (Technical Research Institute of Sweden, 2009).The Building Environmental Performance Assessment Criteria (BEPAC) is a voluntary EIAP specifically for moneymaking(prenominal) buildings. It assesses the building on five categories energy use, indoor environment, ozone protection, resource conservation, and transportation. BEPAC was Canadas first non-residential environmental assessment tool and has influenced a lot of the programs that followed for example BREEAM Canada, GBTool, C-2000 and GreenGlobes. On its first version it used an experienced third party to undertake the assessment. As a reaction to concerns regarding the costs of use a n expensive third party to carry out the assessment in BEPAC the self-assessment version of BEPAC was developed. It allows facility staff to evaluate their own buildings. It contains a program for substance abuser training. This new addition has been criticized as the facility staff dexterity be not experienced enough to carry out an assessment. BEBAC adjudicate consistency has been questioned and this led to the assessment not being used often in the Canadian market (SDIC, 2009, Marshall, 2008, DEH, 2000, Bond, 1999).Eco-profile (Norway, 1995)Eco-Profile is a simple environmental assessment method which was developed to be easy to use to encourage the expenditure of the scheme. It assesses life cycle effects of a building on away environment, resources and indoor climate (Boonstra and Pettersen, 2003, Strand and Fossdal, 2003). The program uses 82 parameters to assess the building performance and then given a grade. The grading scale is 1 for Low environmental impact, 2 for Me dium impacts and 3 for Greater impact (Strand and Fossdal, 2003). Eco-Profile is not currently used in the Norwegian market. It has not been marketed since 2002 due to funding limitations with the Norwegian Building Research Institute. Even though more than 60 commercial buildings have been assessed by this program in 2000-2001 it is not considered a successful one as it didnt continue, as presented in (Boonstra and Pettersen, 2003)so far Eco-profile cannot be said to have been a successSome of the suggested utility for the program included simplifying the program by presenting one advocate instead of three and reducing the number of the assessed parameters. Another direction for improvement will have to include updating the weighting of parameters. (Boonstra and Pettersen, 2003, Strand and Fossdal, 2003)(Andresen, 2005, Krishnan Gowri, 2004., Hasegawa, 2003, G. Assefa et al., 2007).GreenCalc (The Netherlands, 1997)GreenCalc is an assessment program for Dutch buildings especially commercial and industrial. It uses computer tool to count the buildings environmental load in terms of cost. It is divided into four modules 1) material module choice of materials, quantities and insulating values. 2) Energy module energy consumption in operation phase (use of building, air-conditioning, ventilation and lighting. 3) Water usage water consumption in the operation phase (facilities, sanitary facilities and rainwater). 4) Mobility accessibility from home to crap place location, public transport and own transport. Assessment is performed in comparison to a benchmark building designed to 1990s standards. The benchmark for environmental index for 1990s building is 100 and current building is 150-300. The program predicts that buildings in 2050 will achieve environmental index of 2000 (Seo et al., 2005, GreenCalc, 2009).The latest version of the program GreenCalc+ has tried to cope with the highly developed market of green buildings. It included expanded simulation model ing with the designer being able to evaluate the effects of better insulation, glazing, efficient lighting systems, and solar energy systems as design options. It updated its energy consumption prediction method to be able to calculate the Energy Performance Norm option (GreenCalc, 2009).ENERGY STAR (US, 2000)ENERGY STAR is a program to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. It is operated by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy. It assesses harvest-tides as well as buildings, for example lighting fixtures, home electronics, office equipment, heating and cooling equipment. The building certificate is for residential (single/multi-family and renovated houses) and commercial buildings (ENERGY STAR, 2009, Horvat et al, 2005). Criticisms to ENERGY STAR buildings came from it being more expensive than other constituted buildings especially on design and material aspects. Studies proved that these costs are accepted because the building save on run ning costs (i.e., the HVAC system) (Tanmay Tathagat 2007, Horvat et al, 2005).In recent development to the program and as a reaction to meet the escalating demands for energy savings, modifications have been applied to its minimum energy saving requirements. initially in 2000 the ENERGY STAR label required a building to be at least 30% more energy efficient (heating, cooling and water heating) than a comparable one built to the 1993 object lesson Energy Code. Also the building should be 15% more efficient than the state energy code. New modification in 2007 demanded that a building must be at least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code IRC (ENERGY STAR, 2009).(Roosa, 2007, Greg K and pileus E, 2003).(Yudelson and Fedrizzi, 2008b, Greg K and Capital E, 2003, ENERGY STAR, 2009).2.5.1.7 NovoClimat (Canada, Qubec, 2000)NovoClimat was initially conceived to allow Quebec builders to increase the energy efficiency of their homes. It was dev eloped by the Quebec Agency for Energy Efficiency (Natural Resources Canada, 2009, Horvat et al., 2005). The assessment is done to the building in construction stage and after completion. A typical Novoclimat home will score EnerGuide rating of between 78 and 80 (http//www.ottawasnewesthomes.com/novoclimat-for-gatineau-new-homes.php, http//www.aee.gouv.qc.ca/en/my-home/novoclimat/). It is a voluntary program inspired by Canadas National Model Energy Code. What makes this program different is the fact that it connects energy efficiency and air-tightness to the durability of the building envelope. The new Novoclimat 2007 aimed directly to quantify the effects it makes to a building, by setting a goal to improve a buildings energy performance by a minimum of 25% (Efficient Energy Agency, 2008, Natural Resources Canada, 2009).http//www.ottawasnewesthomes.com/novoclimat-for-gatineau-new-homes.phphttp//www.aee.gouv.qc.ca/en/my-home/novoclimat/(Salomon and Nigel, 2006, Robert C, 2003, Natu ral Resources Canada, 2009, Horvat et al., 2005).2.5.1.8 ATHENA (Canada, 2000)Athena is North American software for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for buildings. It assesses industrial, institutional, office, multi-unit/single family residential homes and also assesses both(prenominal) new buildings and renovations to live buildings. It is for design stage only to help in deciding which materials to use as it recognizes more than 90 materials and simulates over 1,200 different assembly combinations (structural and envelope). According to ATHENA institute 2009, this software takes into vizor the environmental effects of material manufacturing, (including resource extraction and recycled content), related transportation, on-the-scene(prenominal) construction, regional variation in energy use and other factors, building type and assumed lifespan, maintenance, repair and replacement effects, demolition and disposal, operating energy emissions and pre-combustion effects, embodied prima ry energy use, global warming potential, solid waste emissions, pollutants to air, pollutants to water and natural resource use. ATHENA (4) Impact Estimator, is the newest version of the program and was released in 2009. As most of the new generation of EIAP, ATHENA (4) newest edition included improving simulation modeling. The software will help designers choose a design from up to five design scenarios. It is also more flexible in handling data flows with more impact measures. Another new feature is the ability to choose new regions to assess (ATHENA, 2009).Eco-Quantum (The Netherlands, 1998)Eco-Quantum is a LCA based computer tool. It starts by entering building data, then the calculation section and finally the output results. It has two versions one for offices and the other for interior(prenominal) buildings. It calculates the environmental effects during the entire life span of a building. This includes the impact of energy, the maintenance during the use phase and the diffe rences in the durability of parts of the construction related to the life span of the building. The program has an advantage of being easy to use. As a reaction to the evolving market for environmental assessment, Eco-Quantum V3 latest additives included improving assessment categories. Not only it assess materials and energy flow, it now also takes into account the possibility for selective demolition, recycling, ozone depletion, human toxicity and ingathering reuse ((Kortman, 1999, Breedveld, 2007 Forsberga Malmborgc , 2004, ISPRA, 2009). MAK refernceBEAT (Denmark, 2001)The Building Environmental Assessment Tool (BEAT) is a LCA based tool. BEAT is a relation database designed using Microsoft Access. The user must supply type of building, estimated lifetime of the building, geometry of the building, number of floors above/ infra ground, roof pitch, number of windows in the building, % of facade area covered by windows and natural or mechanical ventilation. BEAT assessment is for design stage only. It can be used both for supporting the general design choices early in the design phase, and later for supporting the more small design choices. The total environmental effects are the sum of multiplying the environmental effect by a weighting factor.Motivated by both the increased requirements to the energy performance of buildings and the recent developments for simulation tools for building assessment, the Danish Building Research Institute (SBi) is studying a project to develop BEAT. It is studying how to facilitate the use of BEAT by integrating it into new simulation software called BSim. This will allows both energy and environmental assessments to be performed in one operation. The new program is expected to be flexible in respect to the anticipated Canadian Environment Network (CEN) requirements. first signs of the anticipated merge suggest that it is useful to support decision during design phase (Pedersen, F., Hansen, K., Wittchen, K. B., Grau, K., Johnsen, K. (2008). Combining building thermal simulation methods and LCA methods. In C. Rode, proceeding of the 8th Symposium on Building Physics in the Nordic Countries Nordic Symposium on Building Physics 2008, NSB2008, Copenhagen, June 16-18, 2008, Vol. 2 (pp. 605-611). Lyngby DTU.(The Danish Building Research Institute, 2007).LCAid (Australia, 2001)LCAid is the Environmental Life Cycle Assessment Design Aid software package developed by department of public works and run categories. It is to nominate the largest impacts over the building life cycle. It is user friendly decision making tool used to evaluate the environmental performance of design options over its life span. The program inputs are raw materials, building product manufacture, energy, and water. Outputs include resource extraction, emissions to air, water, land and waste, demolition reuse, recycling and disposal. The software outputs identify the areas that have the greatest impact on the environment so it could be reduced by other solutions. LCAid improvements included to separates the environmental impacts within each indicator into four stages construction, operation, maintenance and demolition (Eldridge, 2002, Graham, P. 2000).Green Globes (Canada, 2000)Green Globes is a system to manage the assessment of environmental designs. It is an online assessment for green buildings. The system requires the client (i.e. property manager, owners of commercial and multi-residential buildings) to complete an online confidential questionnaire at design stage. Another stage of the assessment is an online report from a third-party at the construction stage. The categories of assessment for green Globes are site, energy, water, emissions and indoor environment. It was developed based on BREEAM/Green Leaf as their upgrade or as their web-based tool. It was much(prenominal) anticipated and there was an immediate uptake to it with more than 100 users registered for existing building assessments only in 2 002. One of the reasons for the huge uptake could have been that the program was filling the gap for an online assessment method that is related to BREEAM. To be certified a building will have to achieve at least 35% of the total number of 1,000 points. New edition of Green Globes are in the line of developing the program to consider the building surrounding environment and not only the building itself. The new tool for Continual Improvement of Existing Buildings (CIEB) will look at aspects such(prenominal) as resident transportation opportunities (ECD, 2009, Boonstra Pettersen, 2003, Green Globes (2009).BEES (US, 2002)Building for Environmental and economic Sustainability (BEES) is a program to help making an environmental but cost effective building. BEES measures the life time effects of the building and its components. The categories of assessment are in terms of Global warming, Acidification, Eutrophication, Resource Depletion, Indoor Air Quality, warm Waste, First Cost and Future Cost. The software strength comes from the extensive assessment for economic performance of a building using the American friendship for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard. It produces results for environmental performance and economic performance and an overall performance as shown in Figure 2-9. All stages of buildings construction are analyzed from the row material manufacture and transportation to the waste management. The program is unendingly developing by adding assessment categories and new materials to the software database in ordinate to keep up to date with the latest editions in the green designs. BEES 4.0 fail to the newest data from U.S. EPA and have more than 200 building products in its database (BEES, 2007, Lippiatt, et.al., 2002).Programs that assess the whole building.BREEAM (UK, 1990)The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), initiated as a tool for assessing the environmental performance of a building. BREEAM asse ssment is divided into 9 categories Management, Health Comfort, Energy, Transport, Water, Materials, Land Use, Ecology and Pollution. It was initially started as a questionnaire based tool. These questionnaires were designed for each stage of a building from design to post-operation. The actual ascribe were given to a building only on two stages apprehension design stage and the preparation of construction stage. One criticism for BREEAM was that finished buildings sometimes differ from the design. This has been addressed in the latest version of BREEAM (2008) by introducing a post construction assessment. This assessment will ensure that all the specifications stated in the design are carried out in the actual building (BREEAM, 2009, BERR, 2008, Howe, 2008). Another criticism for BREEAM was that design teams used to copy whole paragraphs of the checklists provided by BREEAM and put it in the design specification to get the citations from the assessor. Also a lot of credits coul d have been obtained from number of very small additives to the design (for example put sheds). These credits will help buildings in getting a high rating without necessarily being green as a whole. In BREEAM 2008 mandatory credits was introduced to address this problem. These credits will ensure a minimum application of a holistic view of green concept in the rated buildings. Also by making the Code for Sustainable Homes and BREEAM or equivalent mandatory in April 2008, this will secure sustainable measures in larger developments (BREEAM, 2009, BERR, 2008, Howe, 2008, Glasson et al., 2005).BREEAM initially didnt include benchmarks for number of criteria it used to make case to them. This was designed to help BREEAM being flexible. In BREEAM 2008 a lot of credits have been expanded especially setting benchmarks for CO2 emissions to align with the new Environmental Performance Certificate (EPC). BREEAM assess new and existing building for deferent types of buildings Courts, homes, Industrial buildings, Multi-Residential, Prisons, Offices, Retail and Education. Latest developments in BREEAM 2008 included expanding the assessed building types to include BREEAM Healthcare and BREEAM Further Education. As a reaction to the evolving market of green buildings and the urge to use the highest environmental developments in buildings industry a new rating level (BREEAM outstanding) has been introduced in 2008. This will enable advance(a) designs to be recognized for being leaders in their domain (BREEAM, 2009).HK-BEAM ( Hong Kong, 1996)The Hong Kong Building Environmental Assessment Method (HK-BEAM) is a voluntary environmental assessment program for buildings. It was originally developed by Real Estate nurture Agency but it is owned now by BEAM Society. The program main assessment categories are site, materials, energy, water, indoor environment and innovative aspects and its award classifications are Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. It was the first program to f inalize its assessment only when the building is completed. HK-BEAM is updating periodically to keep up with the industry standards and regulations. New versions were released on 1999, 2003 and 2005. The latest version HK-BEAM 4/04 has a lot of modifications to respond to the developing market of green buildings. BEAM 2004 highlighted the increasing importance of Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) by making it necessary to obtain minimum credit for it in order to be eligible for a grade. The grade awarded is based on percentage of applicable credits gained both for IEQ and overall assessment. BEAM is considered a very successful assessment tool. Though being voluntary program, in 2003, over