The Bloc in downtown LA will be among the first projects to undertake BREEAM In-Use. The Bloc is undergoing renovation into an open-air urban destination. Photo: BuildingWise

"Before there was LEED, there was BREEAM.

While the LEED rating systems might have more buzz, the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) is the world’s oldest and most widely used green building rating system. Created in 1990 by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) in the U.K., the system is responsible for 544,600 certified projects worldwide compared to LEED's roughly 75,000 certified projects.

Now BREEAM is coming to the U.S. through a partnership with BuildingWise, a U.S.-based LEED certification consultancy. A new organization, BREEAM USA, will make the BREEAM In-Use standard available to commercial buildings of any size, age and condition. The standard also offers benchmarking and certification for existing buildings."

 
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