Background to BREEAM Education

The development of BREEAM Schools was supported and funded by the Department for Education and Skills(DfES). The scheme will form the basis of an independent and credible certification scheme against which the Department will set robust, achievable and cost-effective targets for new and refurbished school projects. BREEAM Schools replaces the Schools Environmental Assessment Method (SEAM) published by the DfES as a self-assessment tool in 1995, and has now evolved into BREEAM Education to encompass other education establishments. The UK Government has committed itself to evaluating all procurements using BREEAM Education.

About the Scheme

BREEAM Education assesses schools, education buildings, as well as further education projects against a diverse range of environmental issues covering the impacts of buildings on the environment at global, regional, local and indoor levels.

For each issue there are ‘credits’ available where specific levels of performance or process are achieved. Overall, more than 100 credits are available covering a wide range of environmental impacts. The levels of performance required to achieve credits is generally above the regulatory minimum. No credits are mandatory although compliance with statutory requirements under Part L of the Buildings Regulations is necessary before a BREEAM rating can be awarded.
 

How EcoConsulting can Help
For more information about conducting a BREEAM Education assessment, or on detailed advice on how to achieve the best rating, please contact us. By appointing us early in the design phase (RIBA Stage A/B), our BREEAM AP accreditation will help you achieve 2 Innovation credits, facilitating whatever rating you require.

> BREEAM & EcoHomes In Brief

> BREEAM

      - BREEAM Offices

      - BREEAM Retail

      - SBEM / TAS Calculations for BREEAM

> Code for Sustainable Homes

> EcoHomes

      - NHER SAP assessments for EcoHomes

> BRE Certification Benefits

"The Government is linking the largest schools capital investment programme since the Victorian era with education reform, to provide flexible, inclusive, attractive learning environments that teachers want to teach in and pupils want to learn in.

It is important that such investment also provides a key opportunity for reform and innovation in school design, improving the environmental performance of our schools and realising the many benefits of more sustainable buildings. We are therefore delighted that the new BREEAM Schools scheme is ready to run."

UK Schools Standards Minister David Miliband, November 2004