The most common building evaluation systems

Currently in Poland, you can apply for five certificates, although there are more around the world and it is not mandatory to obtain them. The most common include the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method). Both have been awarded in Poland for over 10 years. Other building certificates include the DGNB (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen), HQE (Haute Qualité Environmentale) and theWELL BUILDING STANDARD.

All sites – breakdown by certification system

Reduced energy consumption

The BREEAM scoring system is divided into 10 main categories. Each of them addresses a different issue related to the life of a building and its surroundings. The largest number of points, nearly half the so called credits, can be achieved by meeting the requirements in the energy, health, and wellbeing and management categories.

ENERGY

The first of the above categories focuses on energy flow in the building. In this group, you can find tasks related to the consumption and optimisation of the use of the electrical and thermal energy. This includes energy consumed for heating and cooling the facility, as well as providing artificial lighting. It is important to measure the energy consumption and to use a variety of renewable sources, e.g. to have an independant photovoltaic system. Credits can be earned by using lamps with low power consumption and intelligent controls where each user can adjust the light as needed.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

The health and wellbeing category addresses the comfort of the building’s occupants in a broad sense. The issues of satisfaction with thermal and lighting conditions are combined here. As it is well known, wellbeing is also linked to indoor air quality, and points are awarded for monitoring and maintaining that. The category also includes an assessment of the water quality in the building.

MANAGMENT

Requirements for project management, construction management for new buildings, as well as the functionality of existing facilities and their maintenance are reviewed in the management category.

POLLUTION

A major category, the elements of which also affect the occupants of the building as well as the wider and more immediate surroundings, is pollution. This can be linked to a number of elements, such as the refrigerant used in the air conditioning system, the reduction in electricity consumption, the heat source used or the lighting. Additional credits can be earned for using luminaires that minimise light pollution at night.

The BREEAM certification also integrates categories relating to materials used in construction (MATERIALS), waste management and segregation (WASTE), environmental assessment (LAND USE & ECOLOGY), consumption and metering of water management systems (WATER), transport around the site (TRANSPORT), and it rewards additional building features (INNOVATION).

However, it is important to note that in each group, certain criteria must be met in order to be able to apply for the certification at all.

Rating components

A total of seven categories are verified. These are similar to those underlying the European rating system.

These include issues related to the energy and atmosphere (ENERGY AND ATMOSPHERE). The requirements contained here deal with optimising energy consumption and generating energy from alternative sources. Moreover, if a building uses highly energy efficient luminaires, e.g. automatically controlled lamps with LED technology, it will score a few extra points.

One of the basic categories in LEED certification is the indoor air quality (INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY). This category includes issues related to the comfort of the building users. First of all, it refers to lighting (both daylight and artificial) which affects working conditions and the building environment. Furthermore, minimum requirements have been defined in this category with regard to indoor air parameters and thermal comfort.

How are the certificates obtained?

Applying for a certificate is a very complex process. The certification procedure varies depending on the type of building that is being assessed. The assessment in both systems is possible for different types of buildings. Also note that the certification process requires a qualified person, an assessor to verify the completed documents, and to supervise the construction or modernisation process, etc.

Newly built buildings

Both LEED and BREEAM certifications cover newly built buildings. They include all phases of building construction, from design, through construction, to the acceptance and commissioning.

In the case of new buildings, a provisional assessment may be given at the very beginning, still at the design stage. It is based on the investor’s declaration on the planned fulfilment of the given assumptions.

Existing buildings

Both, BREEAM and LEED certification can be awarded to the existing buildings. In both cases, the building must have been in use for more than 1 year. However, the expiry date of the certificate differs from those awarded to new buildings.

The BREEAM assessment has to be validated on an annual basis, and after a period of three years another audit is required. In contrast, the LEED certification is granted for 5 years, and after that time it must be renewed.

Other facilities

Both certification schemes also provide assessments for other building types and concepts alone
(for more information visit the usgbc.org website).

Which one to choose, LEED or BREEAM, or maybe both?

LEED and BREEAM schemes are close to each other in terms of assessing new buildings in particular categories, as well as the cost of certification. In both cases, the cost of a qualified advisor, analyses and simulations as well as the certificate itself should be added.

It is worth emphasising that a particular building can have both certificates at the same time. One of the benefits of the rating is that one can be sure that the building concerned is sustainable and the indoor conditions are comfortable for its users.

Modern LED lighting can help achieve higher ratings

Both, natural and artificial lighting are vitally important in a certified building. The final score can be significantly increased in particular when selecting the non-natural light sources.

How is this possible?

LED lighting in particular is a solution with significantly lower energy consumption compared to conventional lighting. This results in a reduction of pollutant emissions. Furthermore, by using its control system, additional certification points are scored, as one of the criteria of both rating systems is that the lighting can be operated individually by each user. This enhances the working comfort. Glare reduction at the workstation and tailored light intensity distribution are also involved. The control is also important in terms of user activity. It allows for the reduction of power during absence and standard light output during normal operation.

An important factor in the certification, apart from the indoor lighting, is the outdoor lighting and the reduction of light pollution at night. At this point, it is worth noting that suitably adapted luminaires will reduce the light flux leaving the building plot to reduce light pollution in its immediate vicinity.

Our consultants can offer you the following:

• energy-efficient lighting made with LED technology,
• a design in which we will adjust the intensity of the lights to your workstations and workplaces,
• light sources with modern optics,
• DALI, CASAMBI or Virtual Extension lighting control system,
• a system that uses renewable energy,
• a comprehensive project approach,
• assistance in financing.

Benefits of having the certification

There are numerous benefits of building certification.

In the case of LEED and BREEM, it is important to note that the rating is awarded by an independent certification body. This ensures that the building uses solutions providing a comfortable working and living environment, while also increasing employee productivity and accuracy in the case of industrial buildings. Another important advantage is the various ways to reduce building operation cost, including in particular electricity consumption. Furthermore, it is obvious that the certification increases the value of the property itself, if only by improving its image.

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