BREEAM use at the University of Bristol

Overview Background Our Approach Progress to date Lessons learnt

Who is this guy? Worked in energy and env management for 25 years. Degree in env science. Not an engineer. Been in HE sector for 15 years. Bristol set up – all env stuff under my control, energy, waste, transport staff, engage with construction, procurement, food, curriculum, students.

Background Significant building programmes Written Energy Conservation Design Guides – 1990’s Bath and Bristol) Time consuming, constant updating, doing the design teams job!?, I’m not an engineer/architect always on the back foot. Not integrated into the building process. Mid 2000’s looked at BREEAM, no real competition, LEED not here.

Background Director of Estates - “prove benefit of BREEAM”. Paid for a BREEAM review of a project. Also - full energy survey of a newly built science building. BREEAM review, just assessed not used for design - Result ‘good’, less than 50% score - building a below average building!? Survey £100k’s worth of savings

Bristol’s approach Iterated over three years. BREEAM on all projects over £1million. At least ‘Excellent’ on new builds, ‘Very Good’ on refurb’s EPC ‘B’, cost to get EPC A. Forms part of design brief. Deliverable for design team and contractors. Start at stage 0.

Bristol’s Approach Employ 3 rd party assessors as ‘advocates’. They sit with the design teams, attend many of the design team meetings, run separate workshops for the design team. Report to HoS on a regular basis, flag issues, they are independent. Each BREEAM criteria is targeted. Design teams need good reasons for not including a criteria.

Bristol’s Approach On top of this – early meeting with sustainability team to ensure their needs are met and local systems work. BREEAM consultants part of process through design, tender and construction. Work with the contractor – most projects Design and Build. Try not to novate across, though does happen.

Outcomes Projects – 8 Refurb’s, 5 New Builds Achieved – 8 Excellent, 5 Very Good Iterated the approach Capital Projects just do this now, its like CDM, not negotiable. CP also understand its about building sustainably, not BREEAM point scoring. Sustainability part of consultants framework.

Example – Richmond Building Richmond Building – Refurb - Excellent “B” energy label, difficult on a listed building. A combined heat and power unit (CHP) used to generate low carbon heat and electricity for use on site. A green roof on the new swimming pool changing block extension.

Richmond Building All primary materials achieve a Green Guide A+ rating (i.e. highly sustainable) and are supplied by responsibly certified suppliers (e.g. ISO14001, FSC timber). Most areas naturally ventilated, rare in a building with a footprint depth of more than 30m (usually buildings of 15m).

Richmond Building Low energy/water fittings and toilets, water leak detection, energy efficient equipment, variable speed pumps and drives, heat recovery, large areas of cycle storage, energy and water metering, real time data interfaces for educational learning.

Lessons learnt Try it, iterate. Be flexible – aim for everything, but consider cost. Not excellent at any cost. We added a 5% uplift for BREEAM, now we just do it – who cost H&S these days! You need someone looking out for sustainability – HoS/Advocates Selection of design consultants

Next steps Soft landings SKA Really small projects More consultant engagement