Energy
Waste
Water and Sewage
Transport
Green Blue
Buildings & land use
englishdeutsch
Tool Summary Tool Characteristics Tool Application Source of Tools Opinion of Tools

Tool summary

Name of the tool
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) for office designs

Description of the tool
BREEAM is an environmental assessment for office buildings (other BREEAM assessments cover industrial units, retail units, schools and homes (known as EcoHomes). BREEAM works by awarding `credits` for meeting different environmental targets. These are summarised on a certificate summarising performance such as Fair, Good, Very Good, or Excellent based on the distribution of credits. The client can display the certificate in the building or use in publicity material.

"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 the site
• materials: environmental implication of building materials, including life-cycle impacts
• water: consumption and water efficiency
" Building Research Establishment BREEAM ( http://www.products.bre.co.uk/breeam/)

A free pre-assessment checklist, available on the BRE Website allows a quick evaluation of the likely rating of a formal BREEAM assessment. Three pre-assessment checklists are available: A Design and Procurement Checklist for newbuild offices or office refurbishments, a Management and Operation Checklist for office buildings currently in operation, or the Core Checklist which assesses any empty office buildings. The client makes the decision as to what stage of the development the full assessment will take place (it would be costly to have multiple assessments).

Specific topic
An environmental assessment for office developments.

Sector/s of use

Waste

Energy

Water

Transport

Green/Blue

Building & Land use

0

0

0

0

0

1

M - main sector, 1 - sub sector and 0 - n/a

Scale of applications

Component

Building

Neighbourhood

City

Region

0

1

0

0

0