Summary
This article provides a step-by-step guide to maximizing your BREEAM points, covering crucial aspects from early planning to material selection and innovative solutions. By following these actionable steps, you can elevate your building’s sustainability and achieve a higher BREEAM rating. Remember, early engagement with a licensed BREEAM assessor is critical for success.
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** Main Story**
Introduction: Let’s Talk BREEAM Excellence
Okay, so you’re aiming for a top-notch BREEAM rating? That’s fantastic! The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, or BREEAM, is basically the gold standard globally for sussing out how sustainable a building actually is. And, let’s be honest, getting a high BREEAM score isn’t just about ticking boxes; it’s about showing everyone you’re serious about sustainability. This can translate to a fatter wallet, with the market valuing your project higher, reduced running costs and more importantly a healthier environment for its occupants.
So, how do you ace it? This article is your comprehensive guide on how to maximise your BREEAM score and go for gold on your certification.
Step 1: Get in Early, Plan Smart
The golden rule? Start thinking BREEAM from day one. Seriously. Integrating sustainability right from the get-go means you can weave in eco-friendly bits and pieces smoothly. Forget that, and you could be facing expensive changes down the line. Basically, it sets you up for a successful assessment. Importantly, collaborate with a licensed BREEAM assessor right at the start. Their experience is worth it’s weight in gold to navigate the tricky BREEAM criteria and maximise your projects potential. You can avoid those costly mistakes.
Step 2: Nail Down Your Sustainability Goals
Next up, work with your BREEAM assessor to set crystal-clear, measurable sustainability goals. These need to line up with the BREEAM categories that matter most to your project. Think of these goals as your roadmap, guiding every decision you make during the project. Don’t forget to prioritise sustainable materials, indoor air quality, how efficient your project uses water, and how it performs for energy use. They’re the big hitters.
One thing, and this is a biggie: hitting your target score doesn’t automatically get you certified. You need to tick every box, meet all those BREEAM prerequisites, or you could be in for a nasty shock. Ensure all aspects of compliance are met.
Step 3: Understanding BREEAM Inside and Out
Alright, time to get your head around the BREEAM methodology itself. You need to understand the assessment criteria, the scoring system, and what the different certification levels actually mean. Why bother? Because knowing how BREEAM judges different parts of sustainability is key to racking up those points. And this knowledge gives you the power to make better informed decisions throughout the project. Research and understand the different weighting factors assigned to each category, as some – like energy, health and well-being, and materials – carry more weight than others.
Step 4: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Get everyone involved: architects, engineers, contractors, the lot. And make sure you promote open communication and shared responsibility for hitting those sustainability targets. If you work together, everyone will be on the same page, pushing towards the same goal. This has been crucial on all the previous projects I’ve been involved in. A strong team, is a successful team.
Step 5: Sustainable Materials and Construction Techniques
Always, and I mean always, put sustainable materials first. Look for stuff with a low environmental impact across its entire lifecycle. Think recycled content, responsible sourcing, durability. And when it comes to construction, go for techniques that cut down on waste, use resources efficiently, and minimize your footprint. Maybe modular construction? Prefabricated components? They’re worth a look.
Step 6: Energy-Efficient Building Design
Designing for energy efficiency is a no-brainer. Try to minimise energy consumption by incorporating innovative architectural and engineering solutions to optimise building performance and reduce reliance on non-renewable energy sources. Don’t forget those passive design strategies to minimize energy needs, and, of course, use renewable energy sources wherever you can. I remember one project where we managed to reduce energy consumption by 40% simply by optimising the building’s orientation to maximize natural light and ventilation. It can be done.
Step 7: Water Conservation is Key
Let’s talk water. Develop a strategy to conserve this precious resource. Install water-efficient fixtures and technologies to reduce water consumption throughout the building. Implement landscaping practices that minimize water usage, and promote water harvesting and reuse. Think about greywater recycling – it’s a winner.
Step 8: Prioritizing Health and Well-being
Why not focus on making the indoor environment healthy and comfortable? Maximise natural light, make sure the air’s good, and keep the temperature just right. After all, a healthy indoor environment doesn’t just make people feel good, it also bags you some serious BREEAM points. Implement systems and solutions to control indoor pollutants effectively. In a prior project, we got to include a green wall, it was great to see the benefits this brought to the overall project!
Step 9: Innovation and Beyond
If you want to stand out, then you need to explore new and innovative solutions that go beyond those conventional practices. Pursue novel approaches to energy efficiency, material selection, waste reduction, and water management. Innovation is rewarded in BREEAM assessments and sets your project apart. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box! Look for opportunities to incorporate smart technologies and integrate building systems for optimal performance.
Step 10: Keep on Monitoring and Improving
Don’t just build it and forget about it. Continuously monitor and assess the building’s performance throughout its lifecycle. Regular reviews help identify areas for improvement, ensure sustainability goals are being met, and maintain a high BREEAM rating over time. You can’t expect the high BREEAM rating to stay that way without any attention! Implement effective monitoring and control systems. It’s a continuous journey, not a one-off thing.
Conclusion: Building a Sustainable Future
If you follow these steps and work closely with your BREEAM assessor, you can definitely maximise your BREEAM points, achieve a higher rating, and help build a more sustainable world. That said, every project is different, so it’s really crucial to get tailored advice from a licensed BREEAM assessor to help you ace it. Also, remember to do a full lifecycle analysis to understand the environmental impact of all your design choices. I hope this helps!
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