Specific Environmental Skills

Particularly in the construction and development industry a variety of environmental and sustainability skills are required to support the delivery of projects. Many of the skills can only be obtained through a dedicated higher education degree, for instance regarding environmental noise. Particularly with regards to sustainability there are a number of specific skills that will benefit any major development or construction project. These skills relate to BREEAM, Code for Sustainable Homes and Building Energy Assessements and a range of training courses are available to assure a suitablelevel of qualification.

BREEAM

BREEAM is a UK benchmark to measure the sustainable design and construction of new and refurbished non-residential buildings. The family of BREEAM methodologies comprises:

  • BREEAM healthcare
  • BREEAM retail
  • BREEAM offices
  • BREEAM industrial
  • BREEAM courts
  • BREEAM prisons
  • BREEAM multiresidential

In addition BREEAM bespoke is available for buildings that fall outside the scope of the pre-defined assessment methodologies and a number of standards focussing on internationqal developments exist.

Achieving a particular BREEAM level of sustainable design and construction is increasingly a requirement that is put on new development, either through funding requirements or increasingly through local planning policies.

Achieving the more ambitious levels of the BREEAM methodology requires thorough consideration and careful planning. Early consideration greatly improves the potential of including sustainability measures in a cost effective manner. Planning for Sustainability provides a comprehensive range of services to support planning and design teams delivered by appropriately trained consultants.

BRE delivers BREEAM training courses for each of the specific BREEAM standards. In addition experienced BREEAM professionals can apply for the accreditation of "BREEAM Accredited Professional" or BREEAM AP by sitting an exam with BRE. Early 2009 BRE planned to offer a specific training course thay would lead to the accreditation.