Achieving net zero carbon certification with BREEAM

In this blog, we explore how BREEAM provides a practical route for achieving low carbon buildings and share how our expert team of BREEAM Assessors can help you meet your sustainability goals.

The built environment plays a pivotal role in the global drive to reach net zero carbon. Accounting for around 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the construction sector carries a significant responsibility, and opportunity, to lead meaningful change in this journey.

According to the UK Green Building Council (GBC), the built environment must deliver the following reductions by 2035, compared to the 2018 baseline:

• 76% total emissions reduction 
• 57% reduction in embodied carbon in non-domestic buildings 
• 81% reduction in operational carbon in non-domestic buildings 
• 50% reduction in embodied carbon in domestic buildings
• 86% reduction in operational carbon in domestic buildings

Every new building, retrofit and refurbishment presents a crucial opportunity to reduce emissions at scale. The earlier that sustainability is integrated into design decisions, the greater the potential for impact.

BREEAM (the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) remains the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for buildings. Its structured approach allows your project team to target, measure, and certify asset performance across multiple categories – from energy use and materials to health, transport, and ecology.

As Nathan Kempson, our Senior Sustainability Consultant, explains: “In utilising BRE’s environmental assessment methodology (BREEAM), we can help reduce energy use intensity and carbon emissions through both building design and material choice. By targeting Energy credits, projects can follow a net zero pathway, guiding the building’s operational design. 

“Furthermore, through the use of Life Cycle Assessment within the Materials category, the whole-life carbon metric (from concept design through to final construction) can be assessed, reported and fed back to the design team – meaning reductions in embodied carbon can be made from very early stages, working in conjunction with cost saving exercises.” 

This integrated approach supports the UK’s broader net zero carbon targets, ensuring that both operational and embodied carbon are addressed at the same time. It also aligns closely with the principles of the Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard, which provides a consistent industry framework for defining and verifying net zero performance. Discover more in our guide to the UK’s Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard.

Achieving a BREEAM rating isn’t just about certification. It’s about showing your clients and stakeholders that your organisation is serious about sustainability and that you’re taking clear steps to reduce carbon emissions, improve efficiency and create long-term environmental value. 

A comprehensive BREEAM net zero strategy can help your organisation:

• Benchmark carbon performance against internationally recognised standards such as the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard
• Cut both operational and embodied carbon emissions through smart design, material, and energy strategies
• Enhance the value of your asset while also strengthening investor confidence and attracting sustainability-focused tenants 
• Provide robust evidence for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting, helping to support compliance with various regulations

At Encon Associates, our expert BREEAM Assessors have over 25 years of experience delivering BREEAM assessments across a diverse range of projects. We offer a one-stop shop for all BREEAM requirements relating to the transition to zero carbon, including energy calculations, dynamic modelling, and whole-life carbon assessments, to name but a few. All assessments are carried out in-house by us, ensuring that every credit, calculation, and carbon metric contributes to your organisation’s net zero carbon certification goals. 

So, are you ready to accelerate your progress towards your net zero carbon targets? Get in touch to discover how we can help you deliver low carbon buildings that will stand the test of time.