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New qualification benefits designers and clients

23/11/2009

First to qualify as BREEAM Accredited Professionals say training is boosting early input on projects.

Designers achieving the new BREEAM Accredited Professional status are already reaping the benefits.

Dave Wakelin, senior sustainability consultant with Hilson Moran was among those achieving the new status three months ago, and has recently been appointed to a major project on the basis of his Approved Professional (AP) status. He said: "I've been offering consultancy advice and so could offer the knowledge, but this has allowed me to formalise that knowledge.

"It is allowing me to apply our understanding of sustainable design very early on - so we can look at how we can integrate renewables, for example. It is a very good way of demonstrating to clients that you know the right questions to ask in order to deliver a sustainable building."

The new qualification has been created to give architects, engineers, and other design professionals expert knowledge on built environment sustainability, environmental design and environmental assessment. For clients the employment of an AP on projects has the added benefit of providing up to two credits under BREEAM 2008, as their involvement from early design stages through the project is recognised as being beneficial to a BREEAM rating.

Prior to the introduction of AP training, designers could only demonstrate competence with BREEAM by being associated with top rated projects or qualifying as a BREEAM assessor. The new qualification responds to industry calls to fill the gap, recognising specialist skills in sustainability and environmental design combined with a high level of competence in the BREEAM assessment process.

Training comprises distance learning followed by a one-day workshop and examination. More information is available at www.breeam.org/ap.