BUILDING RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT METHOD (BREEAM)

Prepared by: Board of Editors

BREEAM is the world’s first established method of assessing, rating and certifying the sustainability of buildings, infrastructure and comprehensive planning. BREEAM is undertaken by independent assessors using scientifically-based sustainability metrics and indices. BREEAM is an awareness of the impacts of the project type, such as energy efficiency, carbon reductions, transportation, design quality, health issues, ecology, sustainable drainage, pollution and garbage recycling.

The BREEAM evidential requirements include the following categories:

Management: This category encourages sustainable management practices.

Health and wellbeing: Encourages health and wellbeing and safety of the building users. Issues within this category reward building and specification decisions that create a healthy, safe and comfortable internal and external environment.

Energy: This category encourages the specification and design of energy efficient building solutions, systems and equipment that support the sustainable use and management of energy during the building’s operation.

Transport: This category encourages improved access to local amenities and to sustainable means of transport, including public transport and other alternative transport solutions for building users.

Water: This category encourages sustainable water use in operation of the building and its site.

Materials: This category encourages decisions which reduce environmental and social impacts of construction products used on a project.

Waste: This category encourages the reduction of waste from construction throughout the lifetime of the building.

Land use and ecology: This category encourages sustainable land use, habitual protection and creation and improvement of long term biodiversity for the building’s site and surrounding land.  

Pollution: This category addresses the prevention and control of pollution and surface water run-off associated with the building location and use.

Innovation: This category provides opportunities for exemplary performance and innovation to be recognized, that are not included within or go beyond the requirements of the credit criteria.

 

Accordingly, BREEAM rated developments are more sustainable environment that enhance the wellbeing of the people who live and work in them and help protect natural resources.∎