National institute of building sciences defines six fundamental principles –
1. Optimize site potential – Whether designing a new building or retrofitting an existing building, site design must integrate with sustainable design to achieve a successful project and begins with the proper site selection, including the existing building rehabilitation.
2. Optimize energy use – Improving the energy performance of existing building is important to increase our energy independence. Operating net zero energy building is one way to significantly reduce our dependence on fossil fuel derived energy.
3. Protect and conserve water – A sustainable building should use water efficiently and reuse or recycle water for on-site use when feasible.
4. Optimize Building space and material use – A sustainable building is designed and operated to use and reuse material in the most productive and sustainable way across its entire life cycle.
5. Enhance Indoor Environmental Quality – The indoor environmental quality of a building has a significance impact on occupant health, comfort and productivity. Among other attributes, a sustainable building minimizes day lighting, has appropriate ventilation and moisture control, optimizes acoustic performance and avoids the use of material with high VOD Emission.
6. Optimize operational and maintenance practices – Designers can specialty materials and systems that simplify and reduce maintenance requirements, require less water, energy and toxic chemicals and cleaners to maintain and are cost effective and reduce life cycle costs.