Certifications

LEED and BREEAM certifications are internationally accepted certification programs indicating a building has a certain level of environmentally-conscious design.

Student Accommodation, Stoneybatter Place, Dublin – BREEAM Very Good

Charlemont Square Block 2

Commercial Office, Charlemont Square, LEED Gold

What is BREEAM Certification?

BREEAM is an acronym that stands for the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology. BREEAM is the world-leading sustainability assessment method for the built environment and infrastructure.

Project owners around the world rely on BREEAM to achieve their sustainability goals and improve the performance of their assets. The BREEAM framework is used to assess whole life performance, from new build projects to refurbishment and fit-out.

BREEAM supports ESG solutions in:

Net Zero Carbon

Whole Life Performance

Health & Social Impact

Circularity & Resilience

Biodiversity

Disclosures & Reporting

BREEAM Assessment Categories

BREEAM provides a holistic sustainability assessment framework, measuring sustainable value in a series of categories and validating this performance with third-party certification.

Each of these categories addresses influential factors, including low impact design and carbon emissions reduction; design durability and resilience; adaption to climate change; and ecological value and biodiversity protection.

  • Management
  • Water
  • Energy
  • Transport
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Resources
  • Resilience
  • Land Use & Ecology
  • Pollution
  • Materials
  • Waste
  • Innovation
BREEAM Ratings

A BREEAM certified rating reflects the performance achieved by a project and its stakeholders, as measured against the BREEAM standard and its benchmarks. The rating enables comparability between projects and provides assurance on performance, quality, and value of the asset.

The BREEAM ratings range from:

BREEAM Rating Unclassified ☆ Pass ★ Good ★★ Very Good ★★★ Excellent ★★★★ Outstanding ★★★★★
% score
<30
≤30
≤45
≤55
≤75
≤85

These are reflected in a series of stars on the BREEAM certificate.

What is LEED Certification?

LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a widely used rating system for green buildings across the globe developed by the non-profit organisation U.S. Green Building Council.

LEED offers a comprehensive framework that promotes healthy, efficient, and cost-effective building practices for various types of buildings. LEED certification is applicable to a variety of building types, including new constructions, interiors, operations and maintenance, and core and shell.

LEED Certification - Categories

To achieve LEED certification, a project earns points by adhering to prerequisites and credits that address carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health, and indoor environmental quality.

Projects go through a verification and review process by GBCI and are awarded points that correspond to a level of LEED certification: Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79 points) and Platinum (80+ points).

Platinum

80+ points earned

Gold

60-79 points earned

Silver

50-59 points earned

Certified

40-49 points earned