When it comes to meeting environmental targets, the Government has got commercial property squarely in its sights. Commercial buildings are responsible for around half of the UK’s energy consumption and carbon emissions, which is why the Chancellor has targeted all buildings to be carbon neutral by 2019. It is also the reason why there is so much focus on relevant standards, especially the Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) which is currently the UK’s best known and most widely used system. The BRE reckons that around a quarter of all commercial buildings built each year are BREEAM assessed and that there are some 100,000 buildings in the UK which have been assessed under the scheme.
BREEAM has been the subject of quite some criticism in the past but has been revised extensively over the last few years. The scheme was re-launched for new buildings in 2011 and a version for refurbishments and fit-outs is being developed for launch in 2012.
Doubtless BRE is very much aware of the Ska fit-out rating system launched by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in 2009 and revised in March 2011. Having competing standards does not always help firms to understand their obligations in this remorselessly complex area, but the new standards are a welcome development nonetheless.
To have a look at one of Claremont’s BREEAM projects please click here.










