Articles

What is BREEAM and why does it matter?

Posted by Nick Franks

Many buildings now proudly display a BREEAM certificate. In this article, we explain what BREEAM is, how it has evolved, and why it remains relevant as the construction industry places increasing emphasis on whole-life carbon, operational performance and Net Zero targets.

What is BREEAM?

BREEAM covers a range of sustainability assessment methods for all types of buildings. They are considered the leading certification system for environmental performance, creating benchmarks for buildings to meet through their whole-life performance, from design and specification through to construction and operation.

Under BREEAM New Construction Version 7 (V7), the focus has shifted beyond design intent alone. Greater scrutiny is applied to predicted performance outcomes, supported by robust data and whole-life carbon assessment, covering both operational energy and embodied carbon associated with materials, manufacture, transport and construction.

To support this, BREEAM New Construction Version 7 is structured around ten assessment categories. Projects are awarded credits within each category based on demonstrated compliance with performance criteria. V7 places greater focus on verified evidence, such as lifecycle assessments and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). The total score determines the final BREEAM rating, which ranges from Unclassified through to Outstanding.

Read our article about BREEAM V7 here.

What does BREEAM stand for?

BREEAM stands for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method. There are multiple assessments for different types of building. For the purposes of this article, we are focusing on BREEAM New Construction Version 7.

What are the BREEAM assessment categories?

There are 10 BREEAM assessment categories, with credits awarded within each. Together, these categories are designed to improve environmental performance across the whole life of a building – from early concept and design, through construction and operation and end of life.

In V7, the balance of these categories has shifted. Greater emphasis is now placed on categories linked to whole-life carbon, embodied carbon, energy performance and verified environmental data, rather than relying primarily on design-stage commitments. This reflects a move towards assessing modelled outcomes, ensuring that sustainability performance is demonstrable, comparable and robust over the full life cycle of a building.

1. Land Use and Ecology

In the ecology category, assessors are looking for projects that have carefully evaluated their sites. This means that they need to have considered whether it was previously developed and possibly contaminated – and that appropriate remediation has taken place. Long-term management and maintenance should be established too.

Within BREEAM V7, this category places greater focus on protecting and enhancing biodiversity, rather than simply minimising harm. Projects are expected to assess ecological risks associated with the build and, where applicable, identify opportunities to deliver biodiversity net gain.

2. Pollution

To meet the BREEAM criteria for the pollution category, project owners should take action to prevent and control pollution. This action needs to consider light and noise pollution as well as land, water and air emissions.

3. Waste

BREEAM aims to encourage a circular economy, which means that projects should work to reduce materials going to landfill. Projects are therefore expected to reduce construction and operational waste, prioritising reuse, recovery and recycling wherever feasible. Consideration should also be given to how materials can be reused or recovered at end of life, rather than treated as disposable after demolition.

Under this approach, design decisions play an important role. Efforts should be made to reduce the need for future adaptation of the building, which would require additional materials, while also supporting design for disassembly, allowing building elements and components to be more easily separated, reused or recycled as requirements change over time.

4. Energy

To make more sustainable buildings, projects need design solutions that promote sustainable energy use. This means that building designs should enhance energy efficiency and reduce carbon footprints. Accurate ways of measuring and improving energy use should also be implemented in the building’s design and construction.

In BREEAM V7, this goes beyond design intent, with a stronger focus on outcome-based performance – assessing how a building is expected to perform in use, not just how it is designed to perform on paper.

Energy credits target operational energy benchmarks, particularly within Ene 02, which requires projects to model and compare predicted energy performance against defined benchmarks. This encourages designs that genuinely reduce operational energy demand and carbon emissions, supported by robust modelling, monitoring strategies and clear plans for ongoing performance optimisation during construction and operation.

5. Management

Management is an important category of BREEAM certification. It means that building projects need to adopt sustainable management practices throughout the lifecycle of the building. In other words, from design to demolition. This will help to ensure that sustainable development goals are continuously worked on throughout the operational phase of the building.

6. Water

This category highlights the importance of efficient and sustainable use of potable water. It ensures that projects implement ways to monitor and manage water consumption, as well as find ways to reduce use and prevent loss through leaks.

7. Health and Wellbeing

BREEAM also takes the lives of future occupants into consideration when assessing a building. This means that projects need to develop ways to secure inhabitants’ comfort, health and safety. In addition, they should also actively design and implement methods to improve the quality of life of future users of the finished building.

8. Materials

In this category, BREEAM assessors' focus is turned to the materials used in the design, construction and maintenance of a building. These should be sourced responsibly, and wherever possible, materials that have low embodied impact should be chosen. This impact should be considered throughout a material’s life cycle, from extraction to recycling.

9. Transport

In this category, project owners are encouraged to think about how they can offer future building occupants better access to sustainable transport. For instance, they may need to consider the building’s access to public transport or the provision of a cycle storage facility.

10. Innovation

BREEAM also includes an Innovation category, which rewards projects that go beyond standard best practice. This can include achieving exemplary performance within specific categories or using approved innovative technologies and approaches that deliver clear sustainability benefits.

A word on resilience

Resilience is an important theme within BREEAM New Construction Version 7 and is embedded across multiple categories. It reflects the growing need to understand and manage climate risks, extreme weather and other shocks over the full life of a building.

Projects are encouraged to identify and manage risks relating to occupants’ evolving needs, particularly where these could affect future energy use, adaptability or operational efficiency. In addition, BREEAM V7 recognises the importance of preparing buildings for the transition to a Net Zero economy, encouraging design and operational strategies that reduce carbon dependency and support long-term decarbonisation pathways. Embracing resilience will protect the long-term asset value.

Ways to support building users and the wider social community continue to be encouraged and recognised, reflecting the role resilient buildings play in supporting wellbeing, inclusivity and long-term social value.

What are the benefits of using BREEAM?

There are many benefits of BREEAM.

Firstly, the certification inspires building designers, specifiers and constructors to explore innovative solutions and use materials more effectively. This can help to drive progress in environmental design.

In a market that is increasingly demanding greater sustainability, BREEAM also helps building projects to stay in step with clients’ needs. Its emphasis on more responsible use of materials and futureproofing may also reduce the ongoing operational costs of finished buildings and make a property more attractive for investment.

Finally, BREEAM’s inclusion of health and wellbeing as a category means that the end user is not overlooked. This means that BREEAM certified buildings will include a focus on their wellbeing and comfort while living and working within the finished building.

Is BREEAM still relevant?

As the construction industry responds to climate change, sustainability is no longer optional or aspirational – it is increasingly shaped by planning policy, investor expectations and regulation. Local authorities, particularly in major cities, are introducing stricter requirements around whole-life carbon assessment, embodied carbon reporting and long-term operational performance. At the same time, ESG frameworks are placing greater pressure on developers, owners and occupiers to demonstrate credible, transparent environmental outcomes.

In this context, BREEAM remains highly relevant because it continues to evolve in line with these demands. The introduction of BREEAM V7 reflects a clear response to the industry’s shift towards Net Zero commitments, whole-life performance and data-driven decision-making.

As sustainability expectations continue to rise, BREEAM’s role is not simply to recognise best practice, but to provide a structured framework that helps projects respond to tightening requirements while limiting environmental impact in a robust and credible way.