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BREEAM New Construction for USA projects

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BREEAM International New construction is the standard used for new developments in the US and provides a framework for constructing more sustainable buildings.

The BREEAM New construction

The BREEAM New construction standards are used to assess the design, construction, intended use and future-proofing of new building developments. This includes the local, natural or human-created environment surrounding the building.

Adaptations for US projects

BREEAM International New construction

The BREEAM International New construction standard is used for new developments in the US. This standard provides a framework to encourage clients and designers to strive for the most sustainable building within the constraints of the project. Certificates can be issued at the design stage (noted as interim BREEAM rating based on the design) and post-construction to confirm the final BREEAM rating.

Learn more about the standard

Download the technical standard

Adaptations for US projects

BREEAM International New construction provides a means of adapting section weightings to reflect the context specific to the country of assessment. There can be marked differences in environmental conditions in different countries, or even within regions of the same country and we aim to reflect that in the weightings process.

The US has been divided into 10 regions. The regions have been set after considering climate, energy use, transport availability, population density, ecology and other factors.

Each of these regions have their own environmental category weightings and approved standards which will account for the variations in standards adopted (such as the multiple versions of ASHRAE 90.1) and the regulatory baseline in place. Adopting this regional approach ensures that any BREEAM certified project exceeds regulations while still meeting international best practice.

Where weightings have not been set for a particular region in the US, BRE will work with Assessors to review and create the data set required to determine the weightings. Assessors should reach out to BRE when they have a BREEAM project in a region in which the weightings and standards have not been published.

Region One weightings

Region Four weightings

Region Five weightings

Region Six weightings

Region Seven weightings

Region Eight weightings

Building types that can use BREEAM International New construction

BREEAM International New construction can be used to assess most types of new buildings, including residential and new-build extensions to existing buildings.

For new-build developments that do not fall within the scope of BREEAM International New construction, BRE offers a bespoke service. This involves tailoring criteria in the existing standards to the developments specific use, sustainability opportunities and its location. This tailoring takes place prior to the development being fully designed and constructed to maximize the benefit of its application.

For more information regarding this process and whether it is a suitable option for your project, please read our Guidance Note BREEAM Bespoke Process.

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Benefits of BREEAM New construction

The New construction standards benefit property investors, developers, owners and occupiers by:

Supporting routes to net zero
Providing independent, third-party assurance on asset performance and sustainability
Enhancing economic and social value
Contributing to environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals
Mitigating environmental impact
Reducing operational costs
Providing one assessment for multiple sustainability outcomes
Supporting disclosures and reporting requirements
Driving sales and rental values

Register your interest for BREEAM Version 7 New Construction

BREEAM New Construction Version 7 is set for full release later this year. This update ensures that BREEAM’s building assessment, benchmarking, and certification criteria remain aligned with the latest scientific data on energy efficiency and Net Zero Carbon (NZC), focusing on whole life carbon.

Key Version 7 highlights:

Enhanced guidance on Net Zero Carbon (NZC) strategies
Updated energy performance benchmarks
Improved support for operational energy modelling
Alignment with the latest scientific data and EU taxonomy classification criteria
Greater convergence with other BREEAM schemes

A pre-release of the BREEAM New Construction Version 7 technical manuals (UK and International), along with a comprehensive summary of changes document, are now available for review. Read more here.