Green Building Goals

Summary

This article provides a step-by-step guide to achieving BREEAM certification, covering key aspects like choosing the right assessment, conducting pre-assessments, and understanding the scoring system. It also highlights the benefits of BREEAM certification, such as increased asset value and enhanced marketability. By following these steps, building projects can improve their sustainability and achieve recognized environmental performance.

Discover how Focus360 Energy can help with BREEAM certification.

** Main Story**

Getting Your BREEAM Certification: A Practical Guide

So, you’re thinking about BREEAM certification? That’s fantastic! It can seem like a massive undertaking, but breaking it down into manageable steps really helps. This guide will walk you through the process and, hopefully, make it feel less overwhelming.

Understanding BREEAM: What’s the Big Deal?

Basically, BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a globally recognized standard for assessing how sustainable buildings and infrastructure projects are. It gives you a framework to boost environmental performance throughout the entire building lifecycle – from the initial design and construction phases all the way through to daily operations. Getting BREEAM certification isn’t just about bragging rights; it’s a real statement about your commitment to sustainability. Plus, it can seriously boost a building’s market value and attract those environmentally-minded tenants. And, frankly, who isn’t these days?

Key Steps to BREEAM Certification

Let’s get down to it. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Picking the Right BREEAM Scheme

BREEAM isn’t one-size-fits-all. There are different schemes tailored to various building types and project stages. Think carefully about your project’s specifics: is it an office, a residential building, or a retail space? Is it a new build, or a renovation? Does it have mixed use?

Choosing the right scheme is crucial for it to align with your goals, and project requirements.

2. Getting a Licensed BREEAM Assessor On Board

This is non-negotiable. A licensed BREEAM assessor is your go-to expert. They know the BREEAM criteria inside and out and can provide invaluable guidance. They’ll help you understand the requirements, conduct the assessments, and prep all the necessary paperwork. The earlier you bring an assessor in, the better – it’ll make the whole process smoother. You can find licensed assessors on the BREEAM website, it is pretty easy.

3. Doing a Pre-Assessment: A Dry Run

Think of this as a practice test before the real exam. A pre-assessment lets you see how your project currently stacks up against the BREEAM criteria. It helps you pinpoint areas where you need to improve. I remember on one project, we thought we were doing great, but the pre-assessment highlighted some major issues with our material sourcing. It saved us a ton of time and money in the long run.

4. Officially Registering Your Project

Once you’ve done your pre-assessment and addressed any glaring issues, it’s time to make things official. Register your project with BREEAM. This usually involves an online form and some fees. It shows you’re serious about certification and unlocks access to BREEAM’s resources and support.

5. Preparing and Submitting Your BREEAM Assessment

Time to roll up your sleeves and work with your assessor to gather all the evidence needed to prove your project meets the BREEAM criteria. This means design plans, specifications, construction details, operational data, the whole nine yards. Make sure everything is accurate, complete, and well-organized. A messy submission can slow things down.

6. Getting Your BREEAM Certification and Rating

After you submit, BREEAM takes a good look at everything. If you’ve met the standards, you’ll get your certification and a rating. The ratings go from “Pass” to “Outstanding,” with “Outstanding” being the top of the heap. It’s a pretty satisfying feeling when you get that certificate!

Boosting Your BREEAM Score

BREEAM looks at a lot of different sustainability factors, like energy efficiency, water management, material selection, waste reduction, and indoor environmental quality. To really maximize your score, here’s what you need to focus on:

• Energy Efficiency: Design your building to use as little energy as possible. Think high-performance insulation, efficient HVAC systems, and maybe even some renewable energy sources.
• Water Management: Reduce water use with low-flow fixtures, rainwater harvesting, and efficient irrigation. Every drop counts!
• Material Selection: Go for sustainable, locally sourced materials with a low environmental footprint. Recycled content is your friend, and minimizing construction waste is key.
• Indoor Environmental Quality: Create a healthy, comfy space for the people inside. Good ventilation, natural light, and comfortable temperatures are all important.

Why Bother with BREEAM? The Perks

Getting BREEAM certified isn’t just a feel-good thing, it’s good for business too. I mean, let’s be honest.

• Higher Property Value: BREEAM-certified buildings often fetch higher prices and rents.
• Better Market Appeal: It shows you’re serious about sustainability, which attracts eco-conscious tenants and investors.
• Lower Running Costs: Energy-efficient systems and water-saving measures can save you serious money down the line.
• Happier Occupants: BREEAM focuses on healthy indoor environments, leading to more satisfied and productive occupants. If they are happy, you are happy.
• Doing Your Bit for the Planet: It helps create a more sustainable built environment by cutting carbon emissions, saving resources, and reducing environmental impact. We can’t ignore this.

By following these steps and working closely with a licensed assessor, you can successfully navigate the BREEAM certification process and reach your sustainability goals. Your efforts will not only improve your building’s performance but also contribute to a greener future. Isnt that what we all want?