Expert BREEAM Assessor insight – New Guidelines for 2014

Published on 18-04-2014 by Dr Paul Beckett

According to Wikipedia, BREEAM is “the world’s longest established and most widely used method of assessing, rating and certifying the sustainability of buildings.” Since it was first launched in 1990 250,000 buildings have been BREEAM certified and more than a million have been registered for assessment.
BREEAM is brought into play worldwide to assess the environmental performance of all types of new and existing building. It’s a brand that’s recognised more or less everywhere for setting sustainability standards and, as such, is helping the planet’s homeowners, builders and developers stay ahead of the sustainability curve.

The changing BREEAM scene – NEW for 2014

Whether you need BREEAM domestic refurbishment or a BREEAM assessor to take a look at your commercial property, it’s good to be aware of changes to the scheme. And there’s change on the horizon right now, in the shape of BREEAM UK New Construction 2014. We have our eye on the ball and we’re ready to embrace the new-style scheme with open arms.
About BREEAM UK New Construction 2014
BRE Global is working hard to update and refresh the last generation standard, BREEAM UK New Construction 2011, in light of today’s greener, more sustainable society. The new version is set to be released some time in 2014.
The idea is to improve and evolve the existing scheme, both technically and structurally, to keep it at the cutting edge of innovation. The latest version takes into account the ongoing feedback BRE Global has received from users of the scheme, as well as its specifiers and various other important stakeholders. They’re also upping standards to meet today’s tighter levels, reviewing and updating the criteria the scheme relies on. The move will deliver a robust, future proof scheme that’s as flexible as you’d expect, putting best practice right at the heart of sustainable construction, and recognising and rewarding the people who get it right.

What does getting it right mean?

A BREEAM assessment sets recognised performance measures against benchmarks to evaluate a building’s spec, design, construction and purpose. It looks at a building’s energy and water use, plus the management processes behind critical systems like the health of the internal environment, pollution, transport, materials, waste and ecology. This means you get all this:

• a benchmark that goes much deeper than regulation alone
• market recognition for buildings with a proven low environmental impact
• peace of mind knowing best environmental practice has been taken into account
• the chance to discover innovative solutions that minimise environmental impact
• the opportunity to reduce a building’s running costs while improving the working or living environment – a proper win-win
• demonstrable progress towards environmental objectives

Need an expert BREEAM Assessor?

We’ve been working with BREEAM for many years and we know from experience how valuable certification is. You’ll find us on the GreenBookLive website, where we’re listed as a licensed assessor. If you’re looking for an expert BREEAM Assessor in Sussex or the south east, give us a call.