Delivering Sustainable Buildings: Savings and Payback, Office Case Study for BREEAM UK New Construction 2018
Delivering Sustainable Buildings: Savings and Payback, Office Case Study for BREEAM UK New Construction 2018, was written by Christopher Ward (BRE) and Adam Mactavish (Currie & Brown) and published by BRE in 2020.
BREEAM is the leading sustainability assessment and certification scheme for the built environment. The aim of the BREEAM schemes is to encourage continuous performance improvement and innovation by assessing developments against a broad range of requirements that go beyond standard practice. BREEAM rated developments are more sustainable environments.
This BRE Briefing Paper follows on previous work BRE has undertaken with Currie & Brown in 2014 and 2017 on the cost implications of achieving BREEAM UK New Construction ratings of ‘Very Good’ and ‘Excellent’ for a model office building. These previous studies challenged the perception that sustainable buildings are inevitably more costly to build, and added to the growing evidence base demonstrating the low costs of achieving greater sustainability.
The latest study updates the previous cost models for the office building case study to reflect current construction costs and the updated requirements introduced by BREEAM UK New Construction 2018.
The Briefing Paper concludes that:
- For both ‘Very Good’ scenarios, the BREEAM related capital cost uplifts over the baseline building’s overall construction costs are less than 0.25%.
- For the two ‘Excellent’ scenarios, the capital cost uplifts are less than 0.75%.
- The updated requirements in BREEAM UK New Construction 2018 have had very little impact on the additional capital costs of achieving ‘Very Good’ or ‘Excellent’ ratings.
- The savings from the energy efficiency improvement measures required to achieve ‘Excellent’ ratings quickly payback the additional capital investment.
You can download the Briefing Paper at https://files.bregroup.com/breeam/briefingpapers/Delivering-Sustainable-Buildings-Savings-and-Payback-Office-Case-Study-BREEAM-NC-2018_BREEAM_BRE_115359_BriefingPaper.pdf
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- BREEAM Life cycle cost and service life planning.
- BREEAM value increases while costs reduce.
- BREEAM Wiki.
- BREEAM.
- Building Research Establishment.
- Delivering Sustainable Buildings: Savings and Payback – Office Case Study for BREEAM UK New Construction 2014.
- Delivering sustainable buildings: Savings and payback FB 63.
- Utilising life cycle costing and life cycle assessment.
Featured articles and news
The Building Safety Forum at the Installershow 2025
With speakers confirmed for 24 June as part of Building Safety Week.
The UK’s largest air pollution campaign.
Future Homes Standard, now includes solar, but what else?
Will the new standard, due to in the Autumn, go far enough in terms of performance ?
BSRIA Briefing: Cleaner Air, Better tomorrow
A look back at issues relating to inside and outside air quality, discussed during the BSRIA briefing in 2023.
Restoring Abbotsford's hothouse
Bringing the writer Walter Scott's garden to life.
Reflections on the spending review with CIAT.
Retired firefighter cycles world to raise Grenfell funds
Leaving on 14 June 2025 Stephen will raise money for youth and schools through the Grenfell Foundation.
Key points for construction at a glance with industry reactions.
Functionality, visibility and sustainability
The simpler approach to specification.
Architects, architecture, buildings, and inspiration in film
The close ties between makers and the movies, with our long list of suggested viewing.
SELECT three-point plan for action issued to MSPs
Call for Scottish regulation, green skills and recognition of electrotechnical industry as part of a manifesto for Scottish Parliamentary elections.
UCEM becomes the University of the Built Environment
Major milestone in its 106-year history, follows recent merger with London School of Architecture (LSE).
Professional practical experience for Architects in training
The long process to transform the nature of education and professional practical experience in the Architecture profession following recent reports.
A people-first approach to retrofit
Moving away from the destructive paradigm of fabric-first.
International Electrician Day, 10 June 2025
Celebrating the role of electrical engineers from André-Marie Amperè, today and for the future.
New guide for clients launched at Houses of Parliament
'There has never been a more important time for clients to step up and ...ask the right questions'
The impact of recycled slate tiles
Innovation across the decades.
EPC changes for existing buildings
Changes and their context as the new RdSAP methodology comes into use from 15 June.