BRE Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) is a voluntary measurement rating for green buildings that was established in the UK by the BRE. Since its inception it has since grown in scope and geographically, being exported in various guises across the globe. Its equivalents in other regions include LEED North America and Green Star in Australia, and HQE in France.
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History
BREEAM was established in 1990 as a tool to measure the sustainability of new non-domestic buildings in the UK [1]. It has been updated regularly in line with UK building regulations and underwent a significant facelift on 1 August 2008, called BREEAM 2008[2].
Building Types
The standard covers these main building types[3]:
- Retail
- Offices
- Education
- Prisons
- Courts
- Healthcare
- Industrial
- Specialised buildings assessed under the BREEAM Bespoke method
BREEAM 2008
The main changes in the new version of BREEAM are:
- A new two stage assessment process: Design stage and Post Construction
- Introduction of mandatory credits
- A new rating level of BREEAM Outstanding
International growth
The BREEAM standard is now being exported under the responsibility of a division of the BRE called BREEAM international. The standard is set to be used in regions such as the Gulf (BREEAM Gulf) and Europe. BRE Global (the organization running the BREEAM scheme) is a founding member of the Sustainable Building Alliance, a network whose overall objective is to develop common metrics for the key issues and allow comparisons between the different rating schemes[4].
In order to become a BREEAM International assessor the individual must have attended one of the assessor training courses.
Future development
On June 16, 2009, it was announced that the BRE had signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together with the French CSTB (Centre scientifique et technique du bâtiment) and its subsidiary CertiVéA to develop a pan-European building environmental assessment method. The CSTB are one of the organisations behind the French Haute Qualité Environnementale (High Environmental Quality) standard, which has similarities to BREEAM. It is hoped that this will eventually result in the development and promotion of a common assessment method throughout the European Union, aligned with the work of the international Sustainable Building Alliance.[5]
Notes
- ^ "About BREEAM buildings". Building Research Establishment Ltd. http://www.breeam.org/page.jsp?id=13. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
- ^ "BREEAM 2008 Update". Building Research Establishment Ltd. http://www.breeam.org/page.jsp?id=104. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
- ^ "A new face for BREEAM". Building. http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=32&storycode=3115416. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
- ^ Kennett, Stephen (2008-10-28). "Dutch to adopt BREEAM". Building. http://www.building.co.uk/sustain_story.asp?sectioncode=284&storycode=3126140&c=3. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
- ^ UK & France sign MOU to develop common single rating tool for environmental assessment certification, BRE, June 16, 2009
External links
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