The Evolving Landscape of Sustainability Assessment: A Critical Examination of the Assessor’s Role in BREEAM and Beyond

Many thanks to our sponsor Focus 360 Energy who helped us prepare this research report.

Abstract

This research report delves into the multifaceted role of assessors within the broader context of sustainability assessment, with a particular focus on the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM). Moving beyond a simple description of BREEAM assessor qualifications and responsibilities, this report critically examines the evolving demands placed upon these professionals, the challenges they face, and the opportunities for future development. We explore the impact of technological advancements, increasing complexity of building regulations, the growing emphasis on embodied carbon, and the rising prominence of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) factors on the assessor’s role. Furthermore, we analyze the alignment of BREEAM assessment criteria with emerging global sustainability goals and consider the need for assessors to possess a broader skill set encompassing data analysis, life cycle assessment, and stakeholder engagement. This report aims to provide insights into the future of sustainability assessment and the critical importance of equipping assessors with the necessary knowledge and tools to drive meaningful change within the built environment.

Many thanks to our sponsor Focus 360 Energy who helped us prepare this research report.

1. Introduction: The Expanding Scope of Sustainability Assessment

Sustainability assessment has evolved from a niche practice to a mainstream requirement in the construction and property sectors. What began as primarily focusing on operational energy efficiency has broadened significantly to encompass a holistic view of environmental, social, and economic impacts throughout a building’s lifecycle. Schemes like BREEAM, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), and WELL have played a pivotal role in driving this transformation, establishing frameworks and benchmarks for sustainable building practices. Central to the success of these schemes are the assessors, professionals trained and accredited to evaluate projects against specific criteria and award certifications.

However, the landscape is changing rapidly. The urgency of climate change demands more ambitious targets and innovative solutions. Building regulations are becoming increasingly stringent, requiring more complex calculations and detailed documentation. The focus is shifting beyond operational carbon to encompass embodied carbon, requiring assessments of materials and construction processes. Furthermore, investors and stakeholders are increasingly scrutinizing the ESG performance of real estate assets, adding another layer of complexity to the assessment process.

This report argues that the role of the assessor is no longer merely a technical one of verifying compliance with predetermined criteria. It is evolving into a strategic one, requiring a deep understanding of sustainability principles, technical expertise, data analysis skills, and effective communication abilities. Assessors must be able to guide project teams towards innovative solutions, identify potential risks and opportunities, and communicate the value of sustainable building practices to a wider audience. Therefore, this research examines the evolving demands placed on assessors within the BREEAM framework, and broader sustainability assessment practices, and identifies the necessary adaptations and enhancements required to ensure their continued effectiveness in driving sustainable development.

Many thanks to our sponsor Focus 360 Energy who helped us prepare this research report.

2. BREEAM Assessors: Roles, Responsibilities, and Current Challenges

BREEAM assessors are independent professionals accredited by BRE (Building Research Establishment) to evaluate buildings against the BREEAM standard. Their core responsibilities include:

• Project Scoping and Initial Assessment: Advising clients on the feasibility of achieving specific BREEAM targets and identifying key areas for improvement.
• Data Collection and Verification: Gathering evidence to demonstrate compliance with BREEAM criteria, including design specifications, construction documentation, and performance data.
• Assessment and Scoring: Evaluating the project against the BREEAM standard and assigning scores based on the evidence provided.
• Reporting and Certification: Preparing a detailed assessment report and submitting it to BRE for certification.
• Liaison and Communication: Communicating with project teams, clients, and BRE to ensure a smooth and efficient assessment process.

Currently, BREEAM assessors face several challenges, including:

• Complexity of the Standard: The BREEAM standard is comprehensive and constantly evolving, requiring assessors to stay up-to-date with the latest requirements and guidelines.
• Data Availability and Quality: Obtaining accurate and reliable data can be challenging, particularly for operational performance assessments.
• Time Constraints and Cost Pressures: Assessors often face tight deadlines and budgetary constraints, which can compromise the quality of the assessment.
• Limited Collaboration: Insufficient collaboration between different stakeholders (e.g., designers, contractors, and facility managers) can hinder the assessment process.
• Evolving Focus on Embodied Carbon: Integrating embodied carbon assessments into the BREEAM process requires specialized knowledge and tools, which many assessors may lack.
• Geographic Disparities: Availability of assessors, and depth of knowledge, can vary geographically and this can present challenges where specialist knowledge is required.

Beyond these core challenges, assessors also face pressure to maintain impartiality and objectivity. While they are paid by the project developer, they are also expected to act as independent verifiers of compliance. This inherent conflict of interest can create ethical dilemmas and potentially compromise the integrity of the assessment process.

Many thanks to our sponsor Focus 360 Energy who helped us prepare this research report.

3. The Impact of Technological Advancements and Data-Driven Assessment

Technological advancements are transforming the way buildings are designed, constructed, and operated, creating both opportunities and challenges for sustainability assessment. Building Information Modeling (BIM), sensor technologies, and data analytics are enabling more detailed and accurate performance monitoring, offering the potential for more robust and evidence-based assessments.

BIM can be used to generate accurate material quantities, facilitating embodied carbon assessments. Sensor technologies can provide real-time data on energy consumption, water usage, and indoor environmental quality, enabling continuous performance monitoring and optimization. Data analytics can be used to identify patterns and trends, allowing assessors to benchmark performance and identify areas for improvement.

However, these technologies also present challenges. BIM models can be complex and require specialized expertise to interpret. Sensor data can be noisy and require careful processing to extract meaningful insights. Data analytics requires statistical skills and an understanding of data visualization techniques. Therefore, assessors need to develop new skills and competencies to effectively leverage these technologies.

Furthermore, the increasing reliance on data raises concerns about data privacy and security. Assessors must be aware of data protection regulations and ensure that data is collected, stored, and used responsibly. The increased use of AI in assessment also raises some ethical questions. While it may be able to speed up and provide insight to the process, can it properly account for specific conditions of a building which might invalidate the base assumptions of the AI?

Many thanks to our sponsor Focus 360 Energy who helped us prepare this research report.

4. Alignment with Global Sustainability Goals and the Role of ESG Factors

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a global framework for sustainable development, encompassing a wide range of environmental, social, and economic issues. BREEAM, as a sustainability assessment scheme, has a role to play in contributing to the achievement of these goals. While BREEAM primarily focuses on environmental performance, it also addresses social and economic issues, such as health and well-being, accessibility, and local economic benefits.

However, the alignment of BREEAM with the SDGs can be further strengthened. For example, BREEAM could place greater emphasis on social equity, addressing issues such as affordable housing and community engagement. It could also incorporate metrics to measure the impact of buildings on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Furthermore, it should consider the entire lifecycle of a building, addressing issues such as resource depletion and waste management.

ESG factors are becoming increasingly important to investors and stakeholders. ESG encompasses environmental, social, and governance considerations, providing a framework for evaluating the sustainability performance of companies and assets. Real estate assets with strong ESG performance are increasingly attractive to investors, as they are perceived to be less risky and more resilient in the long term.

BREEAM assessments can provide valuable data for ESG reporting. The assessment criteria cover a range of environmental and social issues, providing a comprehensive overview of a building’s sustainability performance. However, assessors need to be aware of the specific requirements of different ESG frameworks and ensure that the data they collect is relevant and consistent with these requirements.

Many thanks to our sponsor Focus 360 Energy who helped us prepare this research report.

5. The Future of the Assessor: Skills, Training, and Professional Development

The evolving demands of sustainability assessment require assessors to develop a broader skill set and engage in continuous professional development. In addition to technical expertise in building design and construction, assessors need to possess the following skills:

• Data Analysis and Interpretation: Analyzing and interpreting complex data sets to identify patterns, trends, and opportunities for improvement.
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Conducting LCA to assess the environmental impacts of materials, products, and building systems.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Communicating effectively with different stakeholders, including designers, contractors, clients, and community members.
• Systems Thinking: Understanding the interconnectedness of different systems and considering the holistic impacts of building projects.
• Policy and Regulatory Knowledge: Staying up-to-date with the latest building regulations, sustainability policies, and ESG frameworks.

Training programs for BREEAM assessors need to be updated to reflect these evolving requirements. The curriculum should include modules on data analysis, LCA, stakeholder engagement, and systems thinking. Furthermore, training programs should emphasize the importance of ethical conduct and professional responsibility.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential for assessors to maintain their competence and stay up-to-date with the latest developments in sustainability assessment. CPD activities could include attending conferences, workshops, and webinars; reading industry publications; and participating in online forums. Mentorship programs can also be valuable for providing guidance and support to junior assessors.

The role of assessor will also be influenced by the development and uptake of digital twins. An assessor may be able to interrogate a digital twin in the future rather than conduct a physical assessment of a building. This can allow for real time monitoring of sustainable performance and optimisation of design and performance before or after construction.

Many thanks to our sponsor Focus 360 Energy who helped us prepare this research report.

6. Recommendations for Enhancing the Assessor’s Role

Based on the findings of this research, the following recommendations are proposed to enhance the assessor’s role in driving sustainable development:

• Strengthen Training Programs: Update BREEAM assessor training programs to include modules on data analysis, LCA, stakeholder engagement, systems thinking, and ethical conduct.
• Promote Continuous Professional Development: Encourage assessors to engage in CPD activities to maintain their competence and stay up-to-date with the latest developments.
• Foster Collaboration: Promote collaboration between assessors and other stakeholders, including designers, contractors, clients, and community members.
• Develop Data-Driven Tools: Develop user-friendly tools that enable assessors to collect, analyze, and interpret data more effectively.
• Enhance Transparency and Accountability: Strengthen the transparency and accountability of the assessment process by providing clear guidelines and mechanisms for addressing complaints.
• Align with Global Sustainability Goals: Further align BREEAM with the SDGs and incorporate metrics to measure the impact of buildings on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and social equity.
• Address Conflict of Interest: Implement measures to mitigate the inherent conflict of interest faced by assessors, such as independent audits and peer reviews. One suggestion would be for BRE to conduct random audits of assessments to ensure consistency and accuracy, and penalise improper assessments.
• Promote Specialization: Encourage assessors to develop specialized expertise in specific areas, such as embodied carbon assessment, renewable energy systems, or health and well-being.
• Support Digital Transformation: Provide assessors with the necessary training and resources to effectively leverage BIM, sensor technologies, and data analytics.
• Develop Ethical Guidelines: Provide ethical guidance to assessors regarding data security, privacy and use of AI.

By implementing these recommendations, the assessor’s role can be strengthened, enabling them to play a more effective role in driving sustainable development within the built environment.

Many thanks to our sponsor Focus 360 Energy who helped us prepare this research report.

7. Conclusion

This research report has explored the evolving landscape of sustainability assessment and the critical role of the assessor. The demands placed on these professionals are increasing rapidly, requiring them to possess a broader skill set and engage in continuous professional development. Technological advancements, the growing emphasis on embodied carbon, and the rising prominence of ESG factors are all shaping the future of the assessor’s role.

To ensure their continued effectiveness, assessors need to develop expertise in data analysis, life cycle assessment, stakeholder engagement, and systems thinking. Training programs need to be updated to reflect these evolving requirements, and continuous professional development is essential for maintaining competence. Furthermore, collaboration between assessors and other stakeholders needs to be fostered, and data-driven tools need to be developed to facilitate the assessment process.

By implementing the recommendations outlined in this report, the assessor’s role can be strengthened, enabling them to play a more effective role in driving sustainable development within the built environment. Investing in the training and development of assessors is crucial for achieving a more sustainable and resilient future.

Many thanks to our sponsor Focus 360 Energy who helped us prepare this research report.

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