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BREEAM Domestic Refurbishment

BRE Global is developing a new standard to enable the sustainable refurbishment of existing housing titled BREEAM Domestic Refurbishment. The standard aims to provide a single standard in order to assess the environmental performance of housing refurbishment works. The standard will:

  • Provide a rating for refurbishment projects to demonstrate the environmental credentials of refurbishment work itself with a rating of Pass to Outstanding;
  • Set targets for existing homes and refurbishment works that promote a move towards achieving the C80 target and beyond as well as other key environmental policy objectives;
  • Be based on EcoHomes, Building upon and complementing the Code for Sustainable Homes, EcoHomesXB and BREEAM In-Use;
  • Be developed with input from industry stakeholders and experts being both inclusive and transparent.

Whilst recognising the challenges, limitations and restriction placed on some existing homes, the scheme will underpin the step-change required to ensure sustainability is maximised when refurbishment is carried out.  This includes minimising waste, energy and water consumption, having a comfortable internal environment, reducing and/or mitigating the impacts of flooding, using environmentally sensitive materials and promoting wellbeing of occupants and communities.

How is the standard being developed?

The first stage has already been completed with two stakeholder workshops held in August 2009.  BRE Global are now developing the criteria and methodology and are meeting with senior industry representatives to guide the development and implementation of the standard.  The standard will be launched later this year as a pilot version, allowing stakeholders time to test the standard with real projects.  BRE Global will seek feedback from stakeholders on the pilot version which will inform the final development of the standard.  BRE Global will launch the final version of the methodology during 2010 following feedback from on the pilot version, and input from an advisory group.

Get Involved

Complete our Expression of Interest Form to join our mailing list or to provide us with information on a project you are working on that would be used as a pilot.