Target BREEAM Excellence

Summary

This article guides you through the steps to achieve BREEAM Excellent certification for your building project. We’ll cover the certification levels, the assessment criteria, and practical advice for maximizing your score. Follow these steps to contribute to a more sustainable built environment.

Discover how Focus360 Energy can help with BREEAM certification.

Main Story

Pursuing BREEAM certification? It’s a solid move, signalling real commitment to greener building practices. This guide is all about targeting that ‘Excellent’ rating – boosting your building’s environmental cred and, let’s be honest, its market value too. So, how do we navigate this BREEAM process? Let’s dive in.

Understanding the BREEAM Landscape

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) uses a tiered system; think Unclassified, Pass, Good, Very Good, Excellent, and Outstanding. Each level reflects the building’s sustainability performance, based on a percentage score. Aiming for ‘Outstanding’ is fantastic, but ‘Excellent’ is widely respected. I mean, it shows real dedication to sustainability in design, construction, and operation. It’s a sweet spot. Here’s the breakdown:

• Unclassified: Less than 30%
• Pass: 30-44%
• Good: 45-59%
• Very Good: 60-74%
• Excellent: 75-89%
• Outstanding: 90% or higher

Roadmap to BREEAM Excellent

So, what are the actionable steps to achieving an Excellent rating?

Get a BREEAM Assessor Onboard

First things first, you need a licensed BREEAM assessor. They’re not just ticking boxes; they’re your guides through the whole process, from initial assessment to the final stamp of approval. And, honestly, getting them involved early – right from the design stage – can make a huge difference. Why? Because it means sustainability is baked in, maximizing your score. I remember once, working on a project in London, we brought in the assessor late, and we ended up having to retrofit some pretty major elements which, while achievable, was an unneeded stress.

The All-Important Pre-Assessment

Think of a pre-assessment as a health check for your project. It reveals your building’s potential BREEAM rating early on. It flags up areas you can improve, helping you set realistic targets for that ‘Excellent’ goal. By getting to grips with the scoring system you can see how your building will measure up and plan accordingly.

Core Areas to Focus on

BREEAM looks at a range of areas, like energy use, water, materials, waste, indoor environment, and innovation. Getting to ‘Excellent’ means doing well across the board.

Energy Smart

Think about energy-efficient tech and design to slash energy use. That means renewables, good insulation, and efficient heating and cooling.

Water Wise

Conserve water with low-flow fixtures, rainwater harvesting, and efficient irrigation.

Material Choices

Go for sustainable and local materials with a low environmental footprint. Recycled content, responsible forestry, and waste reduction are key.

Waste Not, Want Not

Plan your waste management carefully. Reduce, reuse, and recycle during both construction and operation.

Breathe Easy

Good air quality, comfy temperatures, and natural light are vital. Use low-VOC materials, good ventilation, and smart building design.

Get Innovative

Don’t just do the basics. Try smart building tech, advanced energy systems, or clever design ideas that boost sustainability. It’s all about pushing boundaries. In my experience I’ve found that you can’t do something too wild in this section, but its an important area to focus on!

Track, Tweak, Triumph

Keep tabs on your progress against BREEAM criteria as you design and build. Be ready to adjust your game plan if needed. Keep chatting with your BREEAM assessor. Communication is key, addressing issues and staying compliant isn’t always easy, but worth it.

Document, Document, Document!

Keep detailed records throughout. Design specs, material certifications, construction logs, and operational data – everything. It’s essential for proving compliance and showing your building’s green credentials to the BREEAM team. This is an area many people can fall down on, so make sure you are meticulous!

Aim for Innovation Points

Seek out innovation credits by using cutting-edge green solutions. Show leadership in sustainable building – it seriously boosts your chances of ‘Excellent’. Explore new tech and designs that go beyond the usual.

Post-Build Check

Once built, do a review with your assessor. Check the actual performance matches what you planned. Fix any issues and provide the paperwork to wrap up the certification.

So, there you have it – a roadmap to BREEAM ‘Excellent’. It’s a challenge, sure, but the rewards – both environmental and economic – are well worth the effort. Plus, let’s face it, it feels good to build something truly sustainable, doesn’t it?