Frequently asked questions
What are the benefits of certified buildings?
Certification brings the advantages for both owners or operators and for tenants and users of a building. The most-often motivation for getting the building certified is competitive advantage.
The main advantages include:
- Attractiveness for potential tenants and users
- Lower operating costs
- Higher rents, higher prices
- Healthier and cleaner indoor environment
- Assurance, that the building is built in accordance with the sustainability and environment
- The opportunity to enhance their profile as a company that cares about the environment
- Social responsibility
At what stage of the project should I start with the certification process?
The best time for starting the certification process is the early design stage of the project. It will make it easier to obtain the desired rating, in some cases, you can save some extra cost that could be required by changing the already designed solutions.
How long does it take to have an assessment carried out?
The time taken to complete an assessment varies from project to project and depends on several factors, such as the stage of design process, the availability of necessary information, in which stage of the project the Assessor is appointed and if an already existing building or a new building is certified.
How much does it cost to certificate building?
The fee depends on the size and purpose of particular building, current license fees, level of certification and also on the fact, if the building is already existing or if it is a new building. The certification fee ranges from 300,000 Kč to 3,000,000 Kč.
If you are interested in a price quotation for your project, don't hesitate to contact us here.
What is BREEAM/LEED?
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) are special methods used to describe the environmental performance of buildings.
What types of buildings can BREEAM/LEED be used for?
BREEAM and LEED can be used to assess any type of building anywhere in the world. Standard schemes have been developed for many building types, e.g. offices, shopping centres, industrial buildings, even for blocks of flats or specific projects. BREEAM and LEEd are used as an assessment for both buildings in early design stages and already constructed buildings.
What is the difference between BREEAM and LEED?
BREEM was developed by Building Research Establishment in 1990. LEED was created by U.S. Green Building Council in 2000. Both systems are very similar, they differ especially in the process of assessment. BREEAM is preferred by British companies, American companies prefer LEED certification.
Which level of certification can my project obtain?
The assessment is based on awarding points by satisfying various requirements in areas such as water efficiency, energy efficiency, materials selection, quality of the indoor environment, etc.
The project has to meet minimum requirements and a minimum amount of credits to be certified. The more points the project is awarded, the higher rating it gets. LEED certification levels are Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum, BREEAM certification levels are Pass, Good, Very Good, Excellent and Outstanding.
