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As sustainable building certifications become more integral to compliance, asset value, and tenant expectations, BREEAM is often at the heart of conversations with our clients in facilities management and commercial real estate.
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is the world’s longest-established and most widely used sustainability assessment for buildings. It assesses everything from:
Energy performance
Water use
Indoor health and well-being
Materials and waste
Transport and accessibility
Ecology and pollution control
The BREEAM certification prcoesses uses ratings ranging from 'Pass' to 'Outstanding', which gives a trusted benchmark for environmental performance - whether you're managing a brand-new office or a heritage property under refurbishment.
Is BREEAM mandatory in the UK? While it is not mandatory, there are certainly great benefits for landlors. In practical terms, BREEAM is more than a badge - it's a framework that validates how well a building performs, helping you align with critical objectives:
Cost control: Encourages efficient HVAC, lighting and maintenance strategies.
Lifecycle planning: Offers clear guidance on sustainable upgrades and asset longevity.
Occupant satisfaction: Promotes healthy air quality, lighting, and thermal comfort - reducing complaints and boosting retention.
At Karsons Consulting, our services naturally align with BREEAM goals. These include...
Thermal modelling to predict and optimise energy loads;
Carbon strategy planning for MEES, ESOS and Net Zero pathways;
Condition surveys and maintenance specifications that support sustainable asset management.
Let’s address the elephant in the room: “Is it worth the cost?”
The answer, increasingly, is yes. Here’s why:
With MEES standards tightening and EPC band B expected by 2030, BREEAM helps you stay ahead of regulatory risk.
Whether you're undergoing an ESOS audit or implementing NZC upgrades, BREEAM aligns perfectly with carbon reduction goals.
Some green grants, loans, and government schemes require or reward third-party sustainability benchmarks like BREEAM.
Sustainability-conscious tenants - especially in sectors like finance and tech - actively seek out green-certified spaces. A good BREEAM rating can be a lease clincher.
This is a common misconception. While BREEAM has schemes for new construction, BREEAM In-Use is specifically designed for existing properties - commercial or residential. It helps you measure operational performance and implement upgrades over time. If you're managing ageing assets or legacy stock, BREEAM In-Use can guide improvements without starting from scratch.
EPCs measure energy efficiency only, while BREEAM takes a holistic view - including materials, pollution, water use, waste, transport links, and even the well-being of occupants. Think of BREEAM as a more detailed and strategic framework that supports multiple compliance and ESG targets in one go.
Absolutely. Many buildings begin their BREEAM journey with a “Pass” or “Good” and work upwards. The process itself is valuable - it gives you a roadmap for future investment, allows you to demonstrate intent to stakeholders, and often uncovers low-hanging fruit for efficiency gains.
Remember: BREEAM isn’t about being perfect today - it’s about setting the right direction for tomorrow.
Cost varies depending on the scheme (e.g. In-Use, Refurbishment), size of the building, and how much preparatory work is needed. But don’t let cost deter you - many improvements required for BREEAM are already part of good FM practice, like HVAC upgrades, lighting retrofits, or waste management protocols.
No major disruptions are typically required. BREEAM In-Use, for instance, relies heavily on documentation, operational data, and visual inspections. We schedule assessments around building operations and communicate clearly with stakeholders to ensure minimal impact.
In fact, many of our clients use BREEAM as an engagement opportunity - sharing progress with tenants to highlight their sustainability efforts.
Perfectly. BREEAM helps you move from reactive to proactive mode. For example:
Encouraging predictive maintenance aligned with energy-saving goals
Highlighting material lifecycle costs so you choose durable, sustainable options
Identifying where plant and systems are underperforming or non-compliant
At Karsons, we layer BREEAM-aligned thinking into our condition surveys, capital expenditure forecasts, and FM tenders - so you're not duplicating effort.
Today’s compliance is tomorrow’s baseline. While not mandatory, BREEAM is increasingly requested by ESG-conscious occupiers, institutional investors, and public sector clients. Getting ahead now puts you in a stronger position when:
Your lease is up for renewal;
A tenant requires ESG reporting;
You’re preparing for MEES or EPC upgrades.
Even without certification, aligning with BREEAM principles gives you tangible benefits - from reduced bills to a better-performing asset.
They’re important - but BREEAM gives you the full picture. EPCs are modelled, not measured. MEES is legally required, but narrowly scoped. BREEAM spans energy, water, waste, health, transport, and management - giving your portfolio a performance advantage beyond bare compliance.
Not technically, but it helps immensely. Our team at Karsons has deep experience aligning assessments with compliance, refurbishment, and FM operations. We translate the technical criteria into real-world action plans, so you’re not chasing scores - you’re building a smarter building.
Whether you're a facilities manager, landlord, or commercial portfolio director, BREEAM is a tool - not just for bragging rights but for better buildings.
Karsons Consulting are members of the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers, The Association of Consultancy and Engineering, British Institute of Facilities Managers and the Building Services Research and Information Association.
