>Sustainability is an important issue not just in terms of global warming and carbon footprint but in all aspects of humanity’s input to the environment. Many companies both large and small together with central and local government are insisting that their trading partners have ‘green credentials.’ BRE (the Building Research Establishment) has established international standards for environmental assessments. With the acronym BREEAM these standards have been used to rate new buildings for several years, but a revised version ‘BREEAM In Use’ is now available.
The assessment can be carried out on line by company personnel but a licensed BREEAM In Use Auditor will need to be appointed to verify the assessment and issue the certifcate.
SGBA has a licensed BREEAM In Use Auditor in their ranks who can advise on the process and the advantages to be gained from participating in the programme. The assesment will lead to improvements in the performance of buildings, their management and the operational efficency of the organisation.Issues examined can include
- energy
- water
- materials and waste
- health and wellbeing
- pollution
- transport
- land use and ecology
Ignoring this topic could have a detrimental effect on a company’s business.
