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Find answers about the BOMA BEST Building Certification Program for existing buildings,
from BOMA BEST Sustainable and BOMA BEST Smart to eligibility, certification levels, costs,
verification and portfolio certification.
The basics of the BOMA BEST Building Certification Program, the value it brings to your building and which buildings qualify.
The BOMA BEST Building Certification Program is an internationally recognized certification and management framework that helps owners, managers and operators improve the way existing buildings are run.
It provides a practical roadmap for assessing current practices, identifying opportunities for improvement and demonstrating operational performance through independent third-party verification. There are currently two programs: BOMA BEST Sustainable and BOMA BEST Smart.
BOMA BEST focuses on how buildings are operated day to day, including the policies, systems and processes that influence performance.
The program provides a structured framework for strengthening operations, tracking performance and supporting continuous improvement. Certification also provides independent validation of building practices and performance, helping owners demonstrate leadership to tenants, investors and other stakeholders.
BOMA BEST helps building teams identify what is working well, where gaps exist and where improvements can have the greatest impact. More than 4,000 buildings are certified today, and the annual BOMA BEST Buildings Report tracks how certified buildings are performing across energy, water and waste.
For owners reporting to investors, BOMA BEST certification is also recognized in GRESB reporting.
For existing BOMA 360 users looking to pursue BOMA BEST, we are committed to providing you with specialized guidance and support as you onboard. See FAQ for BOMA 360 Users.
BOMA BEST supports a wide range of existing building types, including the following asset types:
To be eligible, a building must have been in operation for at least 12 months and have at least one active occupant. Additional requirements vary by asset type and occupancy.
Both BOMA BEST Sustainable and BOMA BEST Smart offer five certification levels:
Certification levels are based on meeting applicable Baseline Practices and the score achieved.
Yes. Organizations with five or more buildings can participate through the BOMA BEST Portfolio Stream.
Rather than verifying every building at the same time, 20% of the portfolio is verified each year. This spreads verification activity across the five-year cycle while supporting greater consistency across multiple buildings.
Once the annual verification sample is met and fees are paid, every building in the portfolio receives Baseline certification, while verified buildings are certified at the level their score achieves.
BOMA BEST Sustainable focuses on the broader operational performance and sustainability of the building.
BOMA BEST Smart focuses specifically on how technology is integrated into building operations and used to support performance.
Owners and managers can pursue the program that best matches their objectives.
A practical approach to making building operations more sustainable.
BOMA BEST Sustainable is a certification and management framework focused on the operational performance and sustainability of existing buildings.
It helps owners and building teams assess current practices, identify opportunities for improvement and strengthen performance across areas such as energy, water, indoor air quality, waste, resilience and accessibility.
BOMA BEST Sustainable assesses building operations across:
The program looks at the policies, plans, and procedures that support strong building performance over time. The Field Guide for Sustainable Buildings contains the questionnaire outlining the requirements for each focus area.
BOMA BEST Sustainable is designed for owners, managers and operations teams looking to improve building performance and demonstrate that strong operational practices are in place.
It suits teams certifying a single building for the first time, and those managing large portfolios across several asset classes.
No. BOMA BEST is designed to support continuous improvement, no matter where your building sits right now. It is not only for buildings that are already performing at a high level.
The certification process helps teams understand current practices, identify gaps and establish priorities for improvement.
After certification, your team keeps access to the BOMA BEST Hub to track utility performance and update the questionnaire as improvements are made.
Using technology to optimize the building experience.
BOMA BEST Smart focuses on how technology is integrated into building operations and management.
It helps owners and managers assess how effectively technology supports operations, sustainability, safety and security, connectivity and the user experience.
BOMA BEST Smart looks at how technology is incorporated into operational plans, policies and management practices. It guides owners and managers on digital transformation of their building to optimize operations, drive sustainability, improve safety and security, connect building systems, enhance the user experience and deliver value to stakeholders.
It considers how technology can support:
The focus is not simply on having technology in place, but on how effectively it is integrated into the way the building operates. The Field Guide for Smart Buildings contains the questionnaire outlining the requirements for each focus area.
BOMA BEST Smart is designed for building and portfolio teams that want to better understand how technology supports day-to-day operations and long-term building performance.
It can help teams identify strengths, gaps and opportunities in the way building systems and technology are managed.
You do not need a dedicated IT team. The questionnaire is written for the building managers who run day-to-day operations, and it is tailored to each asset class.
From registration and verification to fees, timelines and portfolio certification.
The process is straightforward:
For more information, see What to expect during your verification.
The amount of work depends on the building, certification stream and how much documentation is already available.
Many questions relate to practices building teams already manage, such as tracking performance, managing risk and documenting operational procedures.
For some buildings, certification is mainly about bringing this information together. For others, the process identifies gaps that need to be addressed.
The goal is not simply to complete a questionnaire, but to improve how the building operates over time.
No. BOMA BEST is designed to be achievable in-house by building owners, managers and operations teams at the Baseline level. The questionnaire uses practical, operations-focused language, and the BOMA BEST Field Guide outlines the requirements and provides templates to complete where applicable.
Some owners choose to work with consultants, particularly for larger portfolios or specialized technical areas.
BOMA BEST provides tools and resources to help participants understand and complete the program.
These include the Field Guide, Calculator, and BOMA BEST Hub, as well as support from the BOMA BEST team.
For BOMA BEST Sustainable, the Applicability Tool helps you identify which questionnaire questions apply to your building. Portfolio reviews are also available for any users in the portfolio stream that utilizes company wide policies.
BOMA BEST Baseline Practice Templates are also available to help you achieve our mandatory requirements.
Once certified, you can also access marketing materials such as certificates, plaques, window decals and social media assets to promote your achievement.
Certification fees vary depending on asset type, size and certification stream.
The BOMA BEST Fee Calculator can provide a quick estimate, but the fee schedule sets out the full rates, or you can contact the BOMA BEST Team for guidance.
BOMA BEST certification lasts five years. In the Single Stream, buildings are individually verified and certified for five years. At the end of the term, buildings recertify by applying again.
The Portfolio Stream provides a continuous pathway for organizations with five or more buildings. Participants pay annual fees and verify 20% of the portfolio each year, so every building is verified at least once during a five-year period. Portfolio certifications remain active as long as annual fees and verification requirements are met.
The BOMA BEST Sustainable and BOMA BEST Smart certifications can be used to earn points in the BC1.2 Operational building credit of the GRESB Real Estate Standards. For more information, see GRESB section in the BOMA BEST How-To Manual.
Get in touch with the right team for your building’s location.
Certification and account support for buildings and portfolios across the U.S.
For all other markets and multi-country portfolios worldwide.
