BREEAM

As part of our commitment to sustainability we are licensed to carry out BREEAM assessments for offices.

For over a decade, BRE's Environmental Assessment Method has been used to assess the performance of new and existing buildings. It is regarded by the UK's construction and property sectors as a measure of best practice in environmental design and management. Gaining an "Excellent" rating can boost client's environmental credibility at a time when sustainable construction is becoming increasingly important.

How BREEAM works

BREEAM assesses the performance of buildings in the following areas:

Management: Overall management policy, commissioning site management and procedural issues;
Energy Use: Operational energy and carbon dioxide (CO2 issues);
Health and Well Being: Indoor and external issues affecting health and well being;
Pollution: Air and water pollution issues;
Transport: Transport-related CO2 and location related factors;
Land Use: Greenfield and brownfield sites;
Ecology: Ecological value conservation and enhancement of site;
Materials: Environmental implication of building materials, including life cycle impacts;
Water: Consumption and water efficiency.

Developers and designers need to consider these issues at the earliest opportunity to maximise their chances of achieving a high BREEAM rating.

Credits are awarded in each area according to performance. A set of environmental weightings then enables the credits to be added together to produce a single overall score. The building is then rated on a scale of PASS, GOOD, VERY GOOD, EXCELLENT or OUTSTANDING and a certificate awarded that can be used for promotional purposes.