MEP

Question 1

What is BREEAM and LEED and what do they stand for?

Answer 1

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment, Environmental Assessment Method)

An international scheme that provides independent third-party certification of the assessment of the sustainability performance of an individual building or infrastructure project. Assessment and certification takes place at several stages in the built envrionment life cycle, from design and construction to in use.

“LEED” stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.”

t is a certification program run by the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and includes rating systems for everything from design to construction, operation and maintenance of homes, buildings and even complete neighborhoods.

Question 2

What is the latest version of BREEAMs assessment criteria?

Answer 2

BREEAM new Construction Version 6 was released in August 2022

Question 3

What are some BREEAM headline assessment categories?

Answer 3

Management
Health and wellbeing
Energy
Transport
Water
Materials
Waste
Land use and Ecology
Pollution
Innovation

Question 4

What are key advantages of BREEAM certification?

Answer 4

Demonstrates a level of achievement
Compliance can lower environmental impact
Improves the internal environment for for building users
Can reduce operating costs
Can increase market value if owner was to sell or rent building

Question 5

What are the BREEAM rating thresholds

Answer 5

Outstanding (above 85%)
Excellent (70% to 85%)
Very Good (55% to 70%)
Good (45% to 55%)
Pass (30% to 45%)
Unclassified (under 30%)

Question 6

What is MVHR?

Answer 6

Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) provides fresh filtered air into a building whist retaining the energy that had been used to heat the building

Question 7

How much is MVHR?

Answer 7

Typically included £5k per unit for an 100% affordable scheme, trim cooling included was an E/O cost of £2.5k