TPS assists FCO in achieving exemplary environmental building standards

• British Embassy in Berlin secures first ‘BREEAM In-Use -International Award
• British Embassy in Manila receives BREEAM “Excellent” rating

The BREEAM Awards 2010, held as part of the Ecobuild conference in London this March, recognised new standards in environmental benchmarking. Highlighting best practice, event organisers BRE awarded the British Embassy in Berlin the first ever BREEAM In-Use International award, praising the key role of TPS, BREEAM assessor, leading architectural  design and project management consultancy and a division of leading UK support services company, Carillion plc.

The BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) awards,  organised by BRE Global, were held to celebrate the most successful sustainable buildings. This year the event saw the presentation of an international award celebrating a new application of BRE’s environmental benchmarking BREEAM assessment: ‘BREEAM In-Use’, to the British Embassy in Berlin.

The scheme was created to assist building managers with reducing their running costs and improving the environmental performance of their buildings via a periodic review process post design and construction, rather than just at the design stage.

Steve Webster, from Schal, TPS Consult’s project management, arm was the BREEAM In-Use assessor for the British Embassy in Berlin.He explained:“Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff and Johnson Controls, the FM provider, had to work hard to maintain functionality of the building whilst ensuring high environmental standards were being adhered to.

“Building managers obviously notice and appreciate the benefits of any changes implemented as part of environmental benchmarking processes; however it’s often a lot more difficult to positively promote these changes to occupants. We’re finding that BREEAM In-Use is different from other environmental benchmarking schemes out there – it’s a far more holistic approach to assessment compared with what is currently available to building managers post design and construction in Europe.”

BREEAM In-Use is directly improving the quality of the working environment for buildings’ occupants by giving them a healthier atmosphere to work in. Proof of this can be found in reports of absenteeism falling as a result of less stress from improved lighting and better ventilation.

Assessment criteria that fall under scrutiny include a building’s materials, waste, water, ecology, pollution, transport, management, and health and wellbeing. A percentage score is then formulated from the findings which is translated into a score, which – in the case of the British Embassy in Berlin - was “Very Good” . As the occupants of buildings receive tangible benefits of environmental benchmarking, life is in turn being made easier for building managers.

TPS was initially invited to offer expertise on the project as a result of an existing relationship with the FCO. Having been instrumental in setting up with BRE the FCO BREEAM, a scheme that can look at any FCO building around the world, TPS had previously assessed and benchmarked a number of FCO new builds and rebuilds worldwide. These included the new Embassy in Manila which was officially opened in July 2008.  Bolstering its status as a model of sustainable design, the British Embassy building received a rating of "Excellent" from the UK-based green building rating system, BREEAM, the first British Embassy building in the world to receive this rating.

Martin Townsend, Director of the BREEAM, arrived in Manila to witness the unveiling of the British Environmental Excellence Award certificate awarded to the British Embassy. A reception was held on 15th March 2010 in the Embassy’s lobby. In attendance were Embassy officials and guests, including members of the Philippine Green Building Council (PhilGBC) and Vice Chairman of the Climate Change Commission Heherson Alvarez, who congratulated the British Embassy for having built an energy-efficient and environmentally sound structure.  

Judi Leon, Head of Sustainable Operations at the FCO, said: “We are very pleased that the sustainable measures incorporated into the design of our Embassies in both Berlin and Manila has been recognised in this way by BRE. We will continue to use FCO BREEAM to help us identify appropriate ways in which we can make our new builds and major refurbishments greener.”

In conjunction with the FCO and BRE, TPS played a key part in the development of BREEAM In-Use, an adaptation deriving from the industry leading BREEAM method of assessment. Previously BREEAM In-Use had only been released to United Kingdom projects however; this successful pilot assessment of the British Embassy in Berlin has proved that the scheme could be put to great use in Europe too.

Whilst TPS has so far seen exemplary environmental benchmarking results come to fruition from previous BREEAM assessments, building managers of “green” buildings compliant with legislation at the time of their design and construction are now finding that the fast moving, ever changing nature of legislation geared towards improving corporate green credentials and sustainability are creating a need for similar assessment post design and construction, in efforts to stay compliant.

The pressure for building managers and businesses to make the effort in reducing their total cost of occupancy is fast making BREEAM In-Use a necessity rather than a desirable corporate accreditation to fit with green Corporate Social Responsibility policies. Commenting on the buildings recognised at the Awards, BRE Global Chief Executive Carol Atkinson said: “‘These buildings have comprehensively demonstrated their remarkable environmental credentials, whilst also providing attractive and commercially viable accommodation, workplaces and community facilities.”

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