The construction sector is responsible for roughly 37 % of global greenhouse‑gas emissions, so decarbonising our built environment is essential. Achieving net‑zero carbon means addressing both the operational emissions from running buildings and the embodied carbon in materials and construction processes. BREEAM’s latest schemes provide a structured framework to tackle these impacts while rewarding projects that move beyond minimum compliance. The Building Research Establishment (BRE) is the organization responsible for developing and maintaining BREEAM standards, setting sustainability benchmarks and certification methods for the industry. This guide explains how BREEAM certification dovetails with net‑zero strategies and how you can maximise the overlap.
New to BREEAM? Check out our What is BREEAM? explainer, our step‑by‑step How to get BREEAM certified guide and our BREEAM assessments service overview.
A net‑zero carbon building is one that minimises energy consumption through efficient design, renewables and smart controls; uses low‑impact materials and optimised construction methods to cut embodied carbon; and offsets any residual emissions through credible schemes. Decarbonising the sector also means phasing out on‑site fossil‑fuel combustion and supporting grid decarbonisation. Demand‑side response—shifting energy use to coincide with high renewable generation—helps reduce carbon intensity by addressing operational emissions from running buildings (with the building's operational energy being a key factor in determining net zero carbon status). Crucially, successful net‑zero pathways rely on early energy modelling (SAP, SBEM or dynamic thermal modelling) and whole‑life carbon assessment (WLCA) to inform design decisions, with reducing carbon emissions as a core objective throughout the building lifecycle.
BREEAM’s Energy category provides a direct route to operational carbon savings. In Version 7, Ene 01 shifts from prescriptive demand metrics to performance outcomes, rewarding projects for achieving low predicted energy‑use intensity and carbon emissions. To maximise these credits:
By targeting these credits, project teams effectively follow a net‑zero pathway. Early involvement of a BREEAM assessor and energy modeller ensures that outputs from SAP, SBEM or dynamic simulation feed into both BREEAM submissions and your net‑zero strategy.
Embodied carbon represents a substantial portion of a building’s lifecycle footprint, making it essential to assess the associated carbon emissions from materials and construction processes. Mat 01 – Building life‑cycle assessment requires projects to conduct LCAs at concept, technical and post‑construction stages. Credits are awarded for comparing against embodied‑carbon benchmarks and submitting data to a public database, aligning with RICS Whole‑Life Carbon Assessment. Achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating now requires carrying out an LCA; ‘Outstanding’ projects need at least five credits.
Integrating BREEAM’s LCA requirements with our Whole‑Life Carbon Assessment service allows you to satisfy both regulatory obligations and voluntary net‑zero targets. It also helps you evaluate material options (e.g., timber vs steel) and identify opportunities to reuse or recycle components, supporting circular‑economy principles. Considering end of life impacts in lifecycle assessments is crucial to fully account for embodied carbon, including emissions from deconstruction or disposal.
BREEAM is holistic, so credits in other categories contribute to net‑zero goals:
Improving your BREEAM rating in these categories often leads to lower total carbon and resource use, delivering co‑benefits for net‑zero strategies. BREEAM V7 also emphasizes resilience BREEAM, supporting building adaptability to climate change and promoting occupant health through enhanced wellness and resilience criteria. By achieving higher BREEAM ratings, projects can contribute positively to ecological and societal outcomes, such as biodiversity net gain, reduced environmental impacts, and improved occupant wellbeing.
To extract the most value from BREEAM while meeting net‑zero objectives, consider the following practical steps:
These strategies are equally important for existing buildings, where BREEAM assessment and net zero annex frameworks guide sustainability improvements and help achieve net zero in both new and refurbished projects.
Real-world examples across the built environment show just how effectively BREEAM certification drives meaningful progress toward net zero carbon buildings and genuinely reduces global carbon emissions. When you apply BREEAM's rigorous framework, construction projects achieve measurable carbon reductions, improve energy efficiency, and set new standards for sustainability performance that actually work.
Take this standout UK commercial building we've seen - it achieved a remarkable 40% reduction in operational energy use and a 30% cut in embodied carbon emissions. The project team accomplished this by integrating energy-efficient systems, optimising the building fabric, and prioritising renewable electricity throughout the design and construction stages. They leveraged BREEAM assessments to set clear sustainability targets, monitor energy performance, and ensure that every measure contributed to minimising carbon emissions and achieving net zero ambitions.
In the residential sector, we've worked with European developments that used building life cycle assessment and embodied carbon assessments to achieve a 25% reduction in energy demand and a 20% decrease in carbon emissions. By adopting sustainable building practices and tracking progress against energy performance benchmarks, these teams ensured their projects met stringent environmental performance standards and contributed positively to reducing emissions in the built environment.
Government-led projects are also leading the way, and we've seen some impressive results. A recent refurbishment by the Government Property Agency in the UK resulted in a 50% reduction in carbon emissions and a 30% drop in energy use. The project implemented a flexible demand response system and transitioned to renewable energy sources, using BREEAM certification to guide operational energy use improvements and in-depth carbon reporting. This approach not only supported national emission reduction targets but also demonstrated how public sector buildings can achieve net zero carbon goals in a cost-effective manner.
BREEAM's emphasis on whole life carbon and embodied carbon assessments has led to significant reductions in embodied emissions during construction. For example, we've seen studies on low-carbon materials where applying BREEAM's embodied carbon assessment methodology resulted in a 25% reduction in embodied carbon from the construction stage alone. This highlights just how important early-stage carbon assessments and third-party assurance are in delivering sustainable solutions and minimising the carbon impact of new construction and refurbishment projects.
Beyond environmental impact, BREEAM certification delivers real economic growth and enhances asset value. Our research indicates that buildings with strong sustainability performance and BREEAM certification often command higher rental rates and sale prices, reflecting the growing market demand for net zero carbon buildings and resilient, future-proof assets.
These industry examples underscore how effective BREEAM is in supporting the achievement of net zero carbon goals, reducing operational and embodied carbon emissions, and driving sustainable building practices across the sector. As the building sector responds to the climate emergency and evolving building regulations, BREEAM provides a trusted, third-party verified pathway to achieving net zero, reducing energy use intensity, and contributing positively to a sustainable future. By embedding BREEAM into your construction projects, you can demonstrate leadership in carbon reduction, meet national and global emissions targets, and deliver buildings that are truly fit for the challenges of climate change.
BREEAM certification and net‑zero strategies are complementary. BREEAM offers a robust framework for documenting and verifying sustainability performance, while net‑zero targets push design teams to cut operational and embodied carbon. By leveraging BREEAM’s energy, materials and resilience credits, you can lower emissions, improve occupant wellbeing and protect natural resources. The key is early, integrated design and coordination across disciplines.
Get started with our net‑zero and BREEAM consultancy
Our consultants specialise in BREEAM, net‑zero carbon and whole‑life carbon assessment. Contact us to explore how we can integrate net‑zero strategies into your BREEAM certification or to discuss a Zero‑Carbon Transition Plan for your project. You can also dive deeper into related topics with these resources:
Align your next project with net‑zero carbon and let BREEAM certification be the proof. Get in touch today to start your journey.
