BREEAM: Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method Explained

BREEAM, which stands for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, is a sustainability assessment method for buildings, infrastructure and communities. It is used to assess how well a project or asset performs across a range of environmental and social categories.

For businesses, developers and property teams, BREEAM can help demonstrate that a building has been designed, refurbished or managed with sustainability in mind. It can also support wider goals around energy performance, carbon reduction and responsible property management.

What Is BREEAM?

BREEAM is an internationally recognised sustainability assessment and certification method. According to the official BREEAM website, it assesses sustainability performance using a structured approach, with ratings awarded based on the credits achieved.

BREEAM can be applied to different types of projects and assets. This includes new construction, refurbishment, fit-out, buildings already in use and larger community or infrastructure projects.

The aim is to help project teams consider sustainability throughout the building lifecycle. This can include design decisions, construction practices, operational performance and long-term asset management.

How Does BREEAM Work?

BREEAM assessments are carried out using defined criteria and evidence requirements. A licensed BREEAM assessor reviews how a project or building performs against the relevant standard and awards credits where requirements are met.

The final score determines the BREEAM rating. Ratings can range from Pass through to Outstanding, depending on performance.

BREEAM Assessment Categories

BREEAM assessment categories vary depending on the scheme being used, but they commonly cover areas such as:

Energy performance
Water efficiency
Health and wellbeing
Materials and resource use
Waste management
Transport and accessibility
Land use and ecology
Pollution reduction
Management processes
Innovation

These categories help assess whether a building is being planned or operated in a way that reduces environmental impact while supporting better long-term performance.

BREEAM Schemes

BREEAM includes different schemes for different project types.

BREEAM New Construction is used for new building projects. It helps project teams consider sustainability from early design through to completion.
BREEAM Refurbishment and Fit-Out applies to existing buildings being upgraded, adapted or fitted out. It can support projects aiming to improve building performance without starting from new construction.
BREEAM In-Use is designed for buildings that are already operational. It helps owners, occupiers and managers assess existing performance and identify areas for improvement.
BREEAM also has standards for infrastructure and communities, helping wider developments consider sustainability beyond individual buildings.

Who Uses BREEAM?

BREEAM is commonly used by property developers, building owners, investors, occupiers, architects, project teams and sustainability professionals.

It may be used to meet planning requirements, support ESG strategies, improve asset value or demonstrate sustainability performance to stakeholders.

For organisations with large property portfolios, BREEAM can also provide a consistent way to assess and compare buildings.

Benefits of BREEAM Certification

BREEAM certification can help businesses demonstrate that sustainability has been considered throughout a project or asset’s lifecycle.

Potential benefits include:

Clearer evidence of building sustainability performance
Support for ESG and sustainability reporting
Improved focus on energy and resource efficiency
Stronger alignment with stakeholder expectations
Better understanding of building performance risks
Recognition through an independent certification process

For organisations focused on carbon accounting, BREEAM can also help link building performance with wider energy and emissions reduction goals.

BREEAM and Carbon Reporting

BREEAM is not a carbon reporting framework in the same way as SECR or UK SRS. However, it can support carbon-related goals by encouraging better building design, improved energy performance and stronger operational management.

Energy performance is often a key part of BREEAM assessments. This means businesses may need reliable data on building energy use, efficiency measures and operational performance.

For organisations already tracking emissions, BREEAM can provide useful context around how buildings contribute to energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Best Practices for BREEAM Preparation

Businesses planning for BREEAM should begin early, ideally before key design or refurbishment decisions are finalised.

Recommended steps include:

Identify which BREEAM scheme applies to the project or asset
Engage a qualified BREEAM assessor early
Review sustainability goals at the start of the project
Collect evidence throughout design, construction or operation
Monitor energy and resource performance
Coordinate responsibilities across project, facilities and sustainability teams
Use building performance data to support future improvement

Starting early can make the assessment process smoother and help businesses gain more value from BREEAM.

Conclusion

BREEAM is a widely used sustainability assessment method for buildings, infrastructure and communities. It helps organisations understand how sustainability is being considered across design, construction, refurbishment or operation.

Although BREEAM is not primarily a carbon reporting scheme, it can support wider carbon accounting and sustainability goals by improving visibility over building performance. For businesses looking to reduce environmental impact, improve asset quality and strengthen ESG reporting, BREEAM can form a useful part of a wider sustainability strategy.