award winning architects

Thursday, 23 November 2006 00:00

Stride Treglown grows its Environmental Assessment Services Across the UK

Architectural practice Stride Treglown has announced that it is extending its range of environmental assessments.

Anna Da Col, Environmental Performance Manager at Stride Treglown, is overseeing the expansion of existing capabilities, which include offices and schools, and is now qualified to undertake BREEAM Eco Homes assessments. Investment in the training continues, and shortly the team will also be able to offer BREEAM assessments for retail and industrial units.

Earlier this year, Stride Treglown achieved a BREEAM Ecohomes 'Excellent' rating for its eco development Great Bow Yard in Langport, Somerset. Great Bow Yard is a waterside development of 12 low energy homes which include a range of green features. Stride Treglown is also one of the few architects in the South West with ISO14001 environmental accreditation.

For more than 10 years, BRE's Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) has been used to evaluate the environmental performance of both new and existing buildings. It is considered, by the industry, to be the measure of best practice in environmental design and management.

Buildings are rated on a scale of PASS, GOOD, VERY GOOD or EXCELLENT, and a certificate is then awarded.

BREEAM has a reputation for setting extremely high standards. To achieve a high rating for a building or development is a sign that nothing has been compromised in the design or construction. We are delighted to undertake these appraisals for eco homes, as well as for offices and schools and are continuing to invest in our range of services. We hope to contribute to ensuring good sustainable design for the future. Comments Kevin Steer, chairman at Stride Treglown.

BREEAM Assessments

Stride Treglown is a licensed BREEAM assessor for offices, schools and houses (eco-homes).

What is BREEAM?

BRE's Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) has been used to assess the environmental performance of both new and existing buildings. It is regarded by the UK's construction and property sectors as the measure of best practice in environmental design and management.

BREEAM assesses the performance of buildings in the following areas:

  • Overall management policy, commissioning site management and procedural issues
  • Operational energy and carbon dioxide (CO2) issues
  • Indoor and external issues affecting health and well-being
  • Air and water pollution issues
  • Transport-related CO2 and location-related factors
  • Greenfield and brownfield sites
  • Ecological value conservation and enhancement of the site
  • Environmental implication of building materials, including life-cycle impacts
  • Water consumption and efficiency

Credits are awarded in each area according to performance. A set of environmental weightings then enables the credits to be added together to produce a single overall score. The building is then rated on a scale of PASS, GOOD, VERY GOOD or EXCELLENT, and a certificate awarded that can be used for promotional purposes.

Why use BREEAM?

BREEAM offers a range of benefits, from environmental to financial:

  • Demonstrating compliance with environmental requirements from occupiers, planners, development agencies and developers
  • Environmental improvement, in support of a wider corporate strategy or as a standalone contribution
  • Creation of a better place for people to work and live
  • Selling point to potential tenants or customers; BREEAM specifies the sustainability performance of buildings in a way that is quick, comprehensive and visible in the marketplace
  • Achievement of higher rental incomes and increased building efficiency
  • Thorough checklist or tool for comparing buildings to facilitate best practice
  • Response to the requirements of users