BREEAM
Green Building Certification
BREEAM provides a comprehensive framework for improving and demonstrating the sustainability performance of buildings and real estate assets. By assessing areas such as energy, water, materials, health and wellbeing, ecology, and management, it helps owners and developers identify opportunities for better performance throughout the asset lifecycle. Certification provides credible evidence of sustainability achievement, supports ESG objectives, strengthens market positioning, and helps create more efficient, resilient, and future-ready buildings.
What is
BREEAM?
The BREEAM system is the world’s leading building sustainability assessment method, developed by BRE (Building Research Establishment) in the United Kingdom in 1990. Its popularity is well demonstrated by the fact that among certified buildings in Hungary, BREEAM is the most widely used rating system.
With the BREEAM certification schemes, properties with the following functions, among others, can be assessed:
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BREEAM International New Construction – New residential and commercial developments
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BREEAM Bespoke – Newly constructed, complex buildings with unique functions for which no standard assessment framework exists (e.g. sports facilities)
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BREEAM International Refurbishment and Fit-Out – Refurbishment or renovation projects
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BREEAM In-Use – Existing commercial properties
The holistic certification methodology is divided into nine categories:
Why is BREEAM certification a good investment?
01.Tenant and investor expectations
BREEAM provides a clear quality and ESG benchmark for tenants and investors, demonstrating the building’s sustainability and operational performance. Certified properties enjoy a competitive advantage in leasing and sales, particularly in the premium office market.
02.Eligibility for green financing
BREEAM certification is often a prerequisite for green financing schemes, such as green loans or preferential bank products. Certification helps reduce financing risk.
03.Sustainability benefits
Improved energy and water efficiency and more effective building operation.
04.Reduced operating costs
Meeting BREEAM requirements results in lower energy and water consumption and more efficient operation, reducing operating expenses (OPEX) and improving the property’s total life cycle cost (LCC).
The road to success
Why Greenbors?
As the leading independent consultancy in Central and Eastern Europe, we specialize in sustainability services for the real estate, infrastructure, and financial sectors.
Market-leading consultancy
We provide a comprehensive, project-spanning service package, from advisory services through to the preparation of supplementary studies.
End-to-end services
Our multidisciplinary team of experts has outstanding experience, having delivered more than 150 green building certifications over the past five years.
150+ successful certifications
Developers, property owners, general designers, operators, shopping centres, logistics facilities, and office buildings.
Client base
Our Work
Results that matter
Our clients come from different backgrounds, inlcuding real estate, retail and services, aviation, transport, light industry and finance. We also work on projects for government, public orgnisations and the third sector. Read our detailed case studies below...
How does a BREEAM project work at Greenbors?
Strategic preparation, target level definition, and gap analysis
Every BREEAM project is preceded by comprehensive strategic preparation. Taking into account the building type and life-cycle phase, we define the achievable certification target level in alignment with business, market, and ESG expectations. As part of this process, we identify critical credits, map out realistically achievable requirements, and analyze potential risks and optimization opportunities. This integrated approach ensures that the certification process is transparent, well-planned, and professionally grounded—applicable to both new developments and existing buildings.
Certification management, expert advice, and coordination
Throughout the entire certification process, we provide active professional support. Depending on client needs, we not only serve as advisors but also participate in coordinating and executing BREEAM-specific tasks, working closely with designers, contractors, and operators. As part of our comprehensive services, we aim to relieve clients of as much administrative and technical burden as possible, ensuring the certification process is transparent, well-scheduled, and successful—while actively supporting the project’s sustainability performance improvement.
Innovative approach – supported by Sustainabot AI
Greenbors manages certification processes with the support of the Sustainabot AI assistant. This innovative solution aids in interpreting requirements, quality-assuring documentation, and managing processes more efficiently, further enhancing the accuracy, consistency, and effectiveness of certifications.
Evaluation and certification
Once the necessary documentation and evidence packages are compiled, we manage the assessment and quality assurance processes of the certification body, including addressing any questions that arise, all the way through to obtaining the final BREEAM certificate.
Long-term approach – especially for BREEAM In-Use
The BREEAM In-Use certification has a limited validity period, so we support our clients not only in achieving certification but also in maintaining and renewing it, ensuring the building’s long-term high sustainability and operational performance.
BREEAM Certification Consulting and Management
Ongoing expert advice during certification
Sustainability and technical analyses
Lifecycle-based analyses
We provide full support throughout the BREEAM certification process for both new developments and existing buildings—from strategic preparation to obtaining the final certificate and (for In-Use) its renewal.
We actively support design, construction, and operational decisions to ensure sustainability goals are realized in practice and certification requirements are efficiently met.
We prepare comprehensive studies to support and optimize the project’s sustainability performance, including assessments related to energy, water, and material use.
Through LCA (Life Cycle Assessment), LCC (Life Cycle Costing), and related evaluations, we facilitate informed decision-making while reducing environmental impact and lifecycle costs.
Project coordination and expert collaboration
Innovative, AI-supported certification processes
When needed, we coordinate BREEAM-related tasks and involve external experts, ensuring transparent, well-organized, and efficient project implementation.
By leveraging the Sustainabot AI assistant, we enhance the quality, consistency, and efficiency of certifications while reducing administrative burdens.
Built For Your Needs
Our solutions
Frequently
Asked Questions
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Get in touch with us, and our experts will help you find the best BREEAM solution for your project.
BREEAM is an internationally recognised sustainability certification system. We work with BREEAM because it has been proven to increase property value, improve lettability, and help meet investor, ESG and corporate sustainability requirements.
It is important to understand that higher certification levels—especially Excellent and Outstanding—require comprehensive and integrated sustainability performance.
Achieving the Outstanding level essentially means meeting the vast majority of available credits, which is only realistic under certain site conditions and deliberate design decisions. For example, for a greenfield development located far from urban infrastructure or public transport, some credits may be difficult or impossible to achieve.
For this reason, we define a project-specific, realistically achievable target certification level for each project, aligned with its characteristics, budget, and long-term business objectives.
We provide BREEAM services for new construction projects (New Construction), newly built buildings with unique functions (Bespoke), refurbishment and fit-out projects (Refurbishment & Fit-Out), as well as existing buildings.
Ideally, as early as the concept or schematic design phase. The earlier we are involved, the more cost-effectively we can maximise achievable credits and ensure the seamless integration of sustainability solutions into the original technical scope.
Yes. At the beginning of the project, we jointly determine a realistically achievable target rating, taking into account the budget, technical constraints and project schedule.
Yes. In such cases, we carry out a preliminary gap analysis to identify the achievable rating based on the current design and to highlight where modifications are required.
The process starts with a credit strategy and gap analysis / deficiency and compliance assessment, followed by project registration, Design Stage assessment and interim certification, Post Construction assessment, and finally the achievement of the final certificate.
This depends on the size and complexity of the project, typically between 8 and 20 months. We support the project throughout the entire design and construction process.
Yes. At the end of the Design Stage, we apply for an interim certificate, which is often sufficient for financing, leasing or marketing purposes.
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