<aside> ℹ️ Here you will read about:

• What the two main building certification schemes are, their strengths and weaknesses.
• How do LEED and BREEAM complement and are different from each other. </aside>

5.6.4. Certification schemes

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) are two of the most widely recognised and utilised sustainability assessment methods for buildings.

LEED [114]

LEED is a green building rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). It aims to encourage sustainable building practices and design, promoting environmental responsibility, energy efficiency, and occupant health. LEED offers a comprehensive set of guidelines and criteria for new construction, existing buildings, and various building types.

LEED and Embodied Carbon**:** LEED addresses embodied carbon through the Low Carbon Design and Construction (LCDC) credit. This credit focuses on reducing the environmental impacts associated with the construction and materials used in a building. To earn the LCDC credit, projects need to demonstrate a commitment to reducing embodied carbon emissions and using low-carbon materials in their construction process.

The LCDC credit encourages the following strategies:

1. Material reuse and recycling: Encourage the use of salvaged, reclaimed, or recycled materials to reduce the demand for new resource extraction.
2. Low-carbon materials: Give preference to materials with low embodied carbon, promoting the use of products with lower carbon footprints.
3. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Conduct an LCA to assess the environmental impacts of different material choices, including embodied carbon.
4. Carbon offset: Offset a portion of the project's embodied carbon emissions through carbon credits or other verified offset mechanisms.

Limitations of LEED [115]:

1. Focus on energy efficiency: While LEED covers a range of sustainability aspects, it places significant emphasis on energy efficiency and resource conservation. Some critics argue that it might not adequately address other critical environmental and social issues.
2. Global adaptability: LEED was developed primarily for the United States, and while it has been adapted for other countries, some aspects may not be entirely applicable or relevant to certain regions or building types.
3. Cost and complexity: Pursuing LEED certification can be costly and time-consuming, particularly for smaller projects or organizations with limited resources. The complexity of the rating system may also deter some projects from seeking certification.
4. Focus on new construction: LEED has historically been more oriented toward new construction projects, although there are efforts to incorporate existing buildings and retrofit projects.

BREEAM [116]

BREAM is another widely used sustainability assessment method, developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) in the United Kingdom. It evaluates the environmental performance of buildings, communities, and infrastructure projects.

BREEAM and Embodied Carbon: BREEAM addresses embodied carbon within its "Embodied Carbon in Construction" category. This category evaluates the environmental impacts associated with the materials used in the construction process, including greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion, and other ecological factors.

To earn points in this category, BREEAM encourages projects to implement the following strategies: