Green guide to specification, certified environmental profiles and BREEAM

In June 2017, BRE published a new document entitled 'Green guide to specification, certified environmental profiles and BREEAM'.

The selection and procurement of construction materials makes a major contribution to the life cycle impacts of a building across the environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainability.

Much is said about materials selection and many sources of information are available mostly at the level of an individual material.

Through its built environment certification scheme, BREEAM, BRE has encouraged a more whole building level consideration of materials through the use of robust and science-based approaches during the design and procurement of buildings, infrastructure and others aspects of the built environment.

BRE’s Green Guide ratings and Environmental Profiles Certification scheme has been at the forefront of the environmental assessment of the built environment using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

However, the current focus on whole building LCAs reflects a strategic shift in the approach taken in sustainability assessment of the built environment within the BREEAM family, and the implications of this shift on the future of Green Guide ratings and Environmental Profiles Certification is described in this document.

This document is relevant for product manufacturers, Trade Associations, BREEAM Assessors, clients, specifiers and designers alike.

This article was originally published here by BRE Buzz on 16 June 2017. It was written by Susie Waddington.

--BRE Buzz

[edit] Find out more

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• BRE Buzz articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
• BES 6001 Responsible sourcing of construction products.
• BREEAM.
• Cradle to cradle product registry system.
• Material resource efficiency in construction: Supporting a circular economy.
• Recyclable construction materials.
• Sustainable materials.