Beyond Certification: A Social-Level Evaluation Framework for Green Buildings through Community Perception and Design Visibility

Abstract

While existing green building certification systems such as LEED, BREEAM, and CASBEE have advanced technical standards for sustainable construction, they often neglect the social dimension of sustainability—how green buildings are perceived, accepted, and understood by the public. This study addresses this gap by proposing a conceptual framework that supplements traditional evaluation systems with three socially oriented dimensions: Community Acceptance, Green Property Awareness, and Visual Perception. Developed through a qualitative synthesis of interdisciplinary literature from environmental psychology, green design, and social sustainability research, the framework is presented as a three-dimensional Venn model, emphasizing the intersection of symbolic visibility, public engagement, and intuitive recognition. It offers a new lens for assessing the social resonance of sustainable architecture, providing practical guidance for designers, planners, and policy-makers aiming to align technical performance with public perception. The framework also contributes to ongoing discourse on inclusive sustainability practices by linking green building evaluation with broader global goals such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Although conceptual in nature, the model lays a foundation for future empirical research, including the development of measurable indicators and participatory evaluation tools.