BREEAM certification (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology)

BREEAM certification is a globally recognized sustainability certificate based on high quality standards and a transparent evaluation system. The certification evaluates the entire life cycle of buildings based on various categories and awards a seal of quality in five (BREEAM new build certification) or six (BREEAM existing building certification) grades according to a simple points system:

• BREEAM Outstanding/Outstanding,
• BREEAM Excellent/Excellent,
• BREEAM Very Good,
• BREEAM Good/Good,
• BREEAM Pass/Satisfactory and
• BREEAM Acceptable (In-Use/Inventory only).

In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, BREEAM certification is available for new-build projects and existing properties.

BREEAM new build: sustainability certification even before construction begins

BREEAM new building is a performance-oriented assessment and certification system for new buildings.
The aim of the BREEAM system is to reduce the environmental impact of new construction projects throughout their entire life cycle.
Therefore, not only individual measures are assessed, but also the impact of measures on the entire life cycle of a property.

The BREEAM New Build system assesses social, economic and environmental factors in the following ten categories: energy, water, materials, transportation, waste, environment, health and well-being, management, land use and ecology and innovation.

Find out more about the BREEAM new build criteria here

For the system to be used effectively, sustainability goals must ideally be included at the start of the planning process so that measures can be defined and implemented at an early stage.
By identifying optimization potential at an early stage and implementing measures to increase energy efficiency, you can minimize the operating costs of your property right from the start.
Orientation towards the BREEAM requirements also gives you planning security, as the system’s specifications comply with both EU norms and German laws and standards.

As the BREEAM New Build system is based on internationally recognized standards, it is represented as a certification system with similar requirements in many other countries in addition to Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

BREEAM Portfolio: Sustainability certification for existing properties

The certification BREEAM Existing Buildings V6.0 offers existing building owners, investors, operators and tenants/users the opportunity, retrofit sustainability criteria to buildings and improve the long-term operation of your building.
The primary aim is to reduce the environmental impact of existing buildings on the environment, lower your operating costs and improve the overall performance of your property.
The BREEAM certificate for existing buildings provides you with a quality standard that has been tried and tested over many years and a transparent assessment principle.

In the BREEAM inventory system, influencing factors are assessed in the following nine categories: Management, Health and Wellbeing, Energy, Transportation, Water, Materials, Resilience, Soil and Ecology and Emissions.

Find out more about the BREEAM portfolio criteria here

BREEAM certification of existing buildings can be applied to all models of commercial and residential buildings.
These include office and residential complexes, detached houses, hotels, educational establishments and department stores.

As BREEAM experts, we evaluate your existing building in terms of sustainability and derive optimization options for you.
The BREEAM In-Use System certificate is awarded internationally and is therefore also familiar to your target group abroad.

BREEAM International

Various country-specific BREEAM versions are available for the international market, for example for Spain, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the USA.
The BREEAM International system is applicable in all countries that do not have their own BREEAM standard.