BREEAM Domestic and International Application

Buildings are responsible for significant impacts on the environment. They account for around half the UK's emissions of carbon dioxide, the main 'greenhouse' gas. However the environmental impact of a building is not restricted to energy use. The Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) is a tool that measures the overall environmental impact of a building throughout its life and provides guidance on ways of minimising the adverse effects on the global and local environment, whilst promoting a healthy and comfortable indoor environment. The assessments generate a single score, which allows buildings to be directly comparable with others within a sector. The methodology is flexible, technically robust and independently governed. As a result, BREEAM is a widely accepted and respected scheme that sets a benchmark for sustainable development in the built environment worldwide.