Sustainability Front and Centre
The conversation around sustainability practices and how residential developers can positively influence the realm of ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) has never been more prescient or needed. Investors and owners alike are increasingly committed to providing healthier, smarter buildings for their residents that are more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
The Benefits of Sustainable Development
When it comes to sustainable development, we think the benefits create better value, not only for the asset, but also for the residents and the owner-operators.
• For the asset: reduced lifecycle costs, higher resale value, higher lease rates and occupancy, future-proofed energy efficiencies
• For the resident: improved indoor air quality, reduced utility costs, future-proofed living features, health-conscious spaces that inspire better wellbeing
• For the owner-operator: reduced lifecycle costs, reduced energy costs, waste reduction, higher rents, higher leasing demand and renewed leases
Key Certifications You Need to Know About (or Have)
As part of the services we offer, we’re proud to contribute to our clients’ certifications when it comes to sustainable building practices. There are tonnes of resources out there when it comes to becoming certified in the sustainable built environment, so we’ve broken down the top certifications we help our clients achieve here:
BREEAM Sustainability Assessment Method: BREEAM is a third-party certification of an asset’s environmental, social, and economic sustainability performance. BREEAM measures the sustainable worth of a scheme in a variety of ways, including the health and wellbeing of residents, land use, and material specification, to name a few. BREEAM certification can either take place at the design and construction stage or the operations and refurbishment stages. Pre-approval for BREEAM can be a worthwhile exercise in determining the achievable rating and implications for Capex.
LEED Certification: LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership. LEED is for all building types and all building phases, including new construction, interior fit-outs, operations and maintenance, and core and shell. To date, LEED have certified more than 100,000 commercial and residential buildings in 167 countries.
Fitwel Building Certification: Fitwel is one of the world’s leading Ccrtification systems, committed to building healthier environments for residents. It was created by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and US General Services Administration as a means of assessing the health-affecting aspects of the built environment to improve resident wellbeing.
WELL Accredited Professional Certification: Whereas LEED and BREEAM focus more on the built environment, WELL focuses on the health of residents. WELL aims to advance health and wellbeing in buildings globally through a variety of factors, including air quality, design, and sound considerations. WELL launched in October 2014 and have over 1,500 certified projects in the UK and Ireland.
Active Score: Active Score rates the mobility, quality, and efficiency of buildings and the active travel amenities they provide and facilitate. Active Score informs and influences developers on infrastructure, facilities, and accessibility to transport sources. To date, Active Score has over 172 certified and pending schemes across the UK, US, and Ireland.
Wired Score: Wired Score assess and certify digital connectivity and smart technology of a building in both homes and offices. It aims to certify how future-proofed buildings are to import new technology capabilities such as 5G. There are four ratings which can be achieved ranging from certified to platinum. Certification can be applied for at any stage of a building’s life cycle.
Ready to position your scheme to meet the highest standards of sustainable building practices? Reach out to our team!