How does BREEAM measure sustainability?

Luke Aminu, graduate sustainability consultant, Mott MacDonald.

Sustainability is a fundamental aspect of building design in the United Kingdom and in many instances is integrated into projects through the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM). However stakeholders, especially clients, are often unclear how much the BREEAM process may cost and what benefits it brings. What’s the point? Exactly what value can BREEAM add to the built environment?

The overall aim of BREEAM is to mitigate the life cycle impacts of new buildings on the environment in a robust and cost effective manner. How successful a project has been in accomplishing this is quantified by its performance across a number of individual issues in a range of environmental categories. There is a common misconception that BREEAM primarily assesses the energy performance of a building. But it also measures issues relating to the management of the building, health and wellbeing, transport, water use, materials, waste generation and management, land use, ecology and pollution impacts.

How can BREEAM add value to a building?

BREEAM encourages energy efficient building solutions, systems and equipment that will contribute to a reduction of CO₂ emissions. A recent example is a new office in Cambridge in which Mott MacDonald are tenants. Using BRE’s own energy calculator, the building achieved an energy performance ratio for new constructions of 0.63, which equated to ten out of 15 credits under BREEAM 2011 and met the energy performance required for an overall ‘Outstanding’ rating. A building CO₂ emissions rate of 16.1 was also achieved, a 34% reduction compared to the notional building target. This was a result of the specification of features such as energy efficient LED lighting and photovoltaic panels, as well as air source and ground source heat pumps.

Water use is another area in which this project benefited from BREEAM, with a 25% improvement in water consumption compared with the baseline. This was a result of highly efficient sanitaryware fittings and the inclusion of leak prevention measures.

BREEAM can also bring social benefits, though these are more difficult to quantify. Successful implementation of the health and wellbeing criteria can result in a much improved internal environment for building occupants, in terms of indoor air quality, thermal comfort and access to daylight. In its report ‘Health, Wellbeing & Productivity in Offices’ the World Green Building Council states that more efficient ventilation and reduced pollution can result in productivity gains of up to 11%. Healthier and more productive staff can itself lead to commercial benefits for an organisation.

The challenges of successfully integrating BREEAM

Like all positive change, the sustainability gains offered by BREEAM must be carefully planned for and the plan rigorously implemented. Often BREEAM is treated as an ‘add on’ to gain planning approval, or BREEAM assessors are appointed as an afterthought. In such cases, projects are likely to perform badly. It is key that the BREEAM process is engaged early in a project’s timeframe, preferably before the preparation and brief stage ends, so that realistic targets can be set and ultimately achieved. Improvements in building performance can result in reduced operational costs and greater occupant wellbeing. However, potential benefits from good design can only be realised if the building operator runs the building in line with the BREEAM requirements throughout occupation. If this takes place, the result can be a building with a high level of sustainability that makes a lasting economic, social and environmental contribution.

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