The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) provides a comprehensive tool for analysing and improving the environmental performance of buildings from design through to management.
Conceived as a tool to encourage a market for more environmentally friendly buildings, it is now widely accepted and used both as a property specification tool, a design tool and as an environmental review tool in environmental management strategies. The method covers a range of standard building types with assessment being carried out by a network of registered assessors. BRE are also able to use the methodology to carry out one-off assessments of other buildings.

For developers of buildings, using BREEAM provides:

	A ready-made specification tool and design standard which maintains flexibility for the design team
	Independent monitoring and advice during the design process
	Visible recognition that an office has achieved a level of environmental performance
	Pre-assessment design support from authorised assessors
	An opportunity to demonstrate and benchmark environmental performance
	A simple, understandable and established market label for environmental performance