BREEAM, LEED and Green Star are to collaborate in an effort to bring their environmental assessment rating tools into line

The UK, US and Australian bodies will 鈥渕ap and develop common metrics to measure emissions of CO2 equivalents from new homes and buildings鈥�.

A working group will look at ways of achieving a better level of consistency in how and what the rating tools measure and how that information is reported.

Romilly Madew, chief executive of the Green 黑洞社区 Council of Australia, said: 鈥淐limate change is a global problem, so it is vital that we find a global solution.鈥�

Matt Kitson, head of the sustainability group at Hilson Moran(pictured), said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great start. So long as it鈥檚 a flexible scheme, taking local and climatic issues into consideration, it can only be a good thing.

鈥淚f the intention is to learn from each other鈥檚 experience and to improve the assessment methods, then I鈥檓 all for it.鈥�

The agreement was signed at Ecobuild in London last month. The sustainability event also saw the launch of BREEAM In-Use, a scheme to help facilities managers reduce running costs and improve the environmental performance of buildings.

It offers an online assessment tool and a third-party certification process.

The scheme is in three parts:

  • asset performance 鈥� inherent performance characteristics of the building based on its built form, construction and services;
  • building management performance 鈥� policies, procedures and practices related to building operation; consumption of such resources as energy and water; environmental impacts such as carbon and waste generation; and
  • organisational effectiveness 鈥� understanding/implementation of policies, procedures and practices; staff engagement; and delivery of key outputs.

Source

黑洞社区 Sustainable Design