Design

The 2008 BREEAM Awards have gone to eight developments around the UK – more than double the number of award winners in 2007.

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method), the widely used environmental assessment method for buildings, started giving awards to the building projects that reach the highest level of certification in 2005.

“The BREEAM Awards have grown considerably over the last three years and competition was again very strong,” said BREEAM director Martin Townsend of the BRE, who announced the awards.

“These developments are good examples of extremely high standards, showing the great strides the construction industry is taking to progress and be recognised for environmental responsibility.”

The award winners include the Matthew Hay Building at the University of Aberdeen, which incorporates a highly efficient facade making the most of natural daylight and low-carbon technologies as well as a rainwater harvesting system, and DEFRA’s headquarters in Alnwick, which feature photovoltaic collectors and a visible display of rainwater and energy consumption.

Other projects include sustainable homes in Illingworth, which improve on standard building regulations by 44%, a retail centre in Bristol, an industrial warehouse in Croydon, student residences in Lancaster and an office retrofit in London. All feature improved energy efficiency through technologies like natural ventilation, using renewables, rainwater systems and other innovations.

“For more than a decade BREEAM has set the standard for green buildings. The rate at which its use is growing demonstrates the importance investors, clients, developers and tenants increasingly attach to buildings designed to significantly reduce environmental impacts,” commented Paul King, chief executive of the UK Green Building Council.

For further information:
www.bre.co.uk
www.bre.co.uk/filelibrary/BREEAM_Awards_2008_PRESS.pdf