BREEAM Certification: A Guide

Summary

This article provides a comprehensive guide to achieving BREEAM certification, covering key steps such as early planning, team involvement, and leveraging expert advice. It emphasizes the importance of understanding BREEAM criteria and incorporating sustainable practices throughout the project lifecycle. By following these steps, building projects can enhance their sustainability performance and achieve BREEAM certification.

Discover how Focus360 Energy can help with BREEAM certification.

** Main Story**

BREEAM Certification: Your Route to Greener Buildings

So, you’re thinking about BREEAM certification? Great! It’s a fantastic way to show you’re serious about sustainable building. Plus, it unlocks a whole host of benefits – from boosting your property value to simply doing the right thing for the planet. This guide will walk you through the steps involved, helping you navigate the process and really maximize your project’s green credentials.

Start Early, Set Goals

Seriously, the earlier you start thinking about BREEAM, the better. Like, right at the beginning of the project. This allows you to weave sustainability into the very fabric of your design and construction plans. I remember once, working on a project where we only considered BREEAM halfway through. What a headache! It meant redesigning significant portions of the building. Don’t make the same mistake.

Get a qualified BREEAM assessor on board early to help you set clear, achievable sustainability goals. And make sure those goals are tailored to the specific BREEAM scheme that applies to your project – whether it’s BREEAM In-Use, New Construction, or Refurbishment & Fit-Out. Having well-defined objectives is key; it’s the roadmap that keeps everyone on the same page.

Build Your Dream Team and Pre-Assess

Bring in everyone – architects, engineers, contractors, facility managers… the whole gang! Open communication is vital. Everyone needs to understand the BREEAM criteria and how the scoring works. It’s a team effort, after all.

Then, work with your BREEAM assessor to conduct a pre-assessment. Think of it as a practice run. This will give you a sneak peek at your project’s potential BREEAM rating. It highlights areas where you can improve, letting you tackle any weaknesses before the official assessment. Trust me, this pre-assessment is worth its weight in gold; it’ll help you refine your strategies and up your chances of achieving the certification level you’re aiming for.

Focusing on Key BREEAM Categories

Understanding the BREEAM categories is key, but you don’t have to tackle everything at once. Prioritize the ones that are most relevant to your specific project. Here are a few of the big ones:

• Energy: Focus on energy-efficient design. Think about building orientation to maximize sunlight, high-performance insulation, and even renewable energy sources. Not only is it good for the environment, but it also slashes those operational costs. Who doesn’t like saving money?
• Materials: Choose materials that are kind to the planet. Look for recycled content, responsible sourcing, and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). Using sustainable materials reduces your carbon footprint and boosts your building’s environmental performance.
• Water: Develop water-saving strategies. Install water-efficient fixtures, rainwater harvesting systems, and drought-tolerant landscaping. It’s all about responsible water management.
• Waste: Implement waste reduction strategies during construction and operation. Encourage recycling, reuse materials, and dispose of waste responsibly. Let’s keep that stuff out of landfills, shall we?
• Health and Wellbeing: Make sure your building is a healthy and comfortable place to be. Good indoor air quality, natural daylighting, comfortable temperatures, and acoustics are essential. Happy occupants are productive occupants, and healthy occupants are happy occupants. It’s a win-win!

Innovation and Continuous Improvement

Don’t be afraid to get creative! Exploring innovative sustainable design and construction techniques can earn you extra credits. Think about advanced stormwater management systems, smart building technologies, or even exceeding the minimum energy efficiency requirements. Just make sure you document everything meticulously to demonstrate your commitment to sustainability.

Keep a close eye on your project’s performance against the BREEAM criteria. Regular reviews will help you spot areas where you can improve and ensure you stay on track. Don’t be afraid to use feedback from your BREEAM assessor and project team to fine-tune your strategies and optimize your sustainability performance. It’s all about that constant improvement.

The Big Day: Final Assessment and Certification

Alright, you’ve put in the work, you’ve dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s. Now it’s time for the formal assessment. The BREEAM assessor will review all your documentation and verify that you’ve met the BREEAM criteria.

Based on their assessment, your project will receive a BREEAM rating: Pass, Good, Very Good, Excellent, or Outstanding. So, aiming for Outstanding, are we?

By following these steps and embracing sustainable practices, you’ll not only improve your building’s environmental impact and secure BREEAM certification but also contribute to a more sustainable future. Plus, let’s be honest, it’s good for business. Increased property value, lower operating costs, improved occupant well-being, and enhanced marketability… what’s not to love? Think of it like a mark of quality, showing everyone that you are committed to sustainability. And in today’s market, that really does matter. Don’t you think?