Geçen haftalarda Çevre Dostu Binalar Derneği ÇEDBİK'in BREEAM Türkiye adaptasyonu için iyi niyet anlaşması imzaladığı toplantıda BREEAM direktörü Martin Townsend ile tanışma fırsatını yakaladık. BREEAM, İngiliz BRE tarafından geliştirilmiş bir sürdürülebilir bina değerlendirme sistemi. Bay Townsend'e günlüğümüze katkıda bulunmak isteyip istemediğini sorduğumuzda, bize aşağıdaki yazıyı yolladı.
"The debate about sustainability of buildings is becoming more and more international in its nature, not just so that large business can compare different buildings in their portfolio's, but with the increasing awareness of the impact that buildings have on the environment both in terms of their construction and use. There is a need to ensure to ensure that we learn from best practise on a global level. For many years BREEAM has long been instrumental in helping the UK meet sustainability targets by setting best environmental practice standards that go over and above national Building Regulations. With the introduction of the first effective system for assessing the environmental performance of buildings, and today is the most respected and replicated assessment method in the world, having become synonymous with high standards. Recent changes to BREEAM, now also mean that the tool is becoming increasingly adopted worldwide.
BREEAM's key objectives are to improve the environmental performance, the functionality, flexibility and durability of buildings, but also to improve the internal environment for occupants. Recent studies have shown that BREEAM has helped save 4.5 million tonnes of CO2 since its inception. However, they also recognise that having a building that performs efficiently in terms of environmental standards is ineffectual if the occupants are not satisfied with their surroundings. BREEAM is therefore a holistic method of assessing sustainable buildings, striving to reduce resource consumption of buildings, but also dealing with various issues such as the thermal or acoustic comfort of the occupants, the impacts associated with the transport of people to and from the buildings, or the various sources of pollution relating to the construction and use of a building. To ensure that the tool not only provides responds to the needs of the market, but also embraces the latest thinking. BREEAM is developed with industry stakeholders, but with a strong independent governance, the result is a realistic balance between technical rigour and highly cost effective assessment and certification.
It was the success of this system, coupled with the demand from countries and multinational organisations outside the UK, which inspired BREEAM to develop a methodology that could meet the demands of the international market. It was a tall order; to come up with a tool that would remain faithful to the strict parameters set by BREEAM, yet would be flexible enough to allow for differing political, geographical and climatic contexts. The team was indeed determined that the BREEAM International system should recognise the specificities of each market and be tailored to the local context and local conditions. The result? Two geographical schemes and an International Bespoke scheme enabling the assessment of any building in any location around the world.
The first of those geographical schemes is BREEAM for Europe, and August 2008 marked the start of a pilot period for the European tool. The nature of the continent, with its many languages, regulations, climatic conditions and personalities, has meant that the initial method produced is one that will change and evolve to suit the many sub-regions that fall within the overall region of Europe. The challenge for the development team has lain with the need to maintain a degree of comparability across the region, yet promote the use of local codes and standards. This is of particular importance when it comes to keeping the costs down - as it enables clients and contractors to work with already-familiar local regulations to achieve their sustainability goals, rather than adopting new - and often inappropriate - standards and practises. It has been said in the past that BREEAM is an expensive option, given its high standards adopted from the UK's well-established system; however this potential extra cost is cancelled out by the savings made through sticking to equivalent local codes and standards.
Three schemes are already available under BREEAM Europe: Industrial, Offices and Retail. All three of the schemes work on the principle of a master technical manual, which applies to the whole region, and an appendix of country reference sheets which explain in detail how the criteria differ in each country. This might include local codes and standards to be used by design teams to demonstrate compliance with a BREEAM issue, or changes in the BREEAM requirements to ensure relevance of the criteria. For instance, BREEAM issues such as cycle racks or waste recycling have to be tailored depending on the country and the infrastructure available in that country. It is through the development of these reference sheets that BREEAM for Europe becomes not only possible, but the best option for assessing the environmental performance of buildings in the region. Country reference sheets are currently being developed for all European countries through careful research by both BRE and local consultants working on pilot projects in each country. This process will be continued until country reference sheets exist for all European countries.
It is through this approach that BREEAM hopes to achieve a more aligned system of regulations and practises in Europe. The comparability, knowledge sharing and commonality that the BREEAM methodology brings to the metaphorical table should provide a veritable feast of sustainable buildings in the European market. This knowledge sharing will also provide a means for supporting governments and key organisations towards achieving their environmental targets.
Many experts have emphasised the need for countries to have their own assessment systems, created and operated by them, tailored to the country's unique conditions. Put simply, BREEAM agrees. Therefore a programme has been set in place to assist countries in developing their own guidance, setting their own weightings and creating their own criteria based on their laws, practises and national context whilst remaining consistent with the BREEAM International approach. The Dutch Green Building Council is the first country to create its own country-specific methodology, assisted by BREEAM, and the scheme is currently being piloted following the successful production of the first draft of the technical guidance manual.
As mentioned at the start of this article, BREEAM has developed two geographical schemes and an International Bespoke scheme. It is through the Bespoke scheme that BREEAM can truly offer assessments in any location around the world. In order to adapt the already established UK Bespoke process for use internationally, it was necessary to streamline procedures to make Bespoke a less complex and more cost effective process. Having completed this work, BREEAM now offers the possibility of tailoring criteria to assess any building, anywhere. What this means in practise is that buildings located outside of the scope of the geographical schemes, as well as those not falling under one of the standard building types, can have the criteria tailored and a unique assessment method produced for their building.
Sounds ambitious? It is. And BREEAM isn't stopping there. In keeping with the never-ending quest to improve a building's performance over its life, BREEAM is now turning its attentions to completing the cycle of buildings' assessment. BREEAM for Communities, was launched at INSITE 09 in June, is a means to examine buildings at the masterplanning level - assessing at Outline and Detailed Planning stages. The result of this is twofold: authorities deal with sustainability issues at the earliest possible stage, and by providing a certification tool that addresses planning policies, the planning process itself is speeded up. With current reports that buildings are often suffering from delays of months, if not years, then the scheme is surely coming at the right time. These same delays are costing millions in lost revenue annually and therefore a clear and transparent methodology that assists both the development and planning industry in implementing planning policies will not only save time, but money too.
Most of the environmental impacts of a building relate to its operation, and it is a well-known fact that new builds make up a tiny proportion of the building stock both in the UK and internationally. Therefore to truly improve the environmental performance of our buildings we should additionally be examining them when in operation, as even buildings designed to encompass green principles can perform poorly if not operated correctly and responsibly. The BREEAM In Use scheme which was launched on 3rd March 2009 offers a long-awaited solution. Through the scheme, BREEAM provides a method of assessment on an asset, management and organisational level for buildings - bringing with it the opportunity to reduce costs, increase occupant satisfaction and demonstrate how sustainability can work in reality - qualities which translate in any language. This system not only travels well, but cheaply too, as the method is self-assessment and takes as little as four hours to complete.
BREEAM International is ultimately a tool through which sustainability goals can be achieved on an international level. Up until this point, although many of us have wished to improve the buildings we live and work in; we have felt inhibited by the financial implications. The environment and the economy have long been pitted against one another and many feel that they must choose between their pocket and the planet. This article has proved that BREEAM offers a realistic, cost-effective solution to this and demonstrates that these old sparring partners need not do battle after all. It is possible, with the BREEAM system to - sustainably - "have it all". Another problem which hampered the introduction of a genuine international assessment tool was that irrelevant, inappropriate tools were often imposed upon regions, without considering local equivalents. This valid concern was a primary focus for BREEAM when developing the International scheme. Its solution is perhaps best summed up by the eminent M Scott Peck, who pronounced that we should share our similarities and celebrate our differences, and it is with this firmly in mind that we present BREEAM International."
Martin Townsend
Director of BREEAM
BRE Global
www.breglobal.com
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