BREEAM for logistics real estate: useful or essential?

Nowadays, logistics real estate is increasingly being positioned in the market with a ‘green label’, which is not altogether illogical in view of the construction sector’s influence on the environment and overall carbon emissions. In the Netherlands, that label is often the BREEAM rating which ranges from one star (‘pass’) to five (‘outstanding’). The status is determined by the number of credits obtained within nine sub-categories including management, transport, land and energy.

Following a brief introduction, Groenewout went into more detail about the logistics-related ways to obtain credits within each category. Simple steps are often enough to obtain a label with fewer stars.

Last but not least, Groenewout’s consultant facilities touched on the costs involved in obtaining a label – both the certification costs and the costs of implementing the measures themselves. In fact, thanks to tax breaks (MIA and EIA) it can sometimes actually end up cheaper to invest in a building with a BREEAM certificate than without, and this is especially the case for very large distribution centers (upwards of 10,000 m2).

If you have questions or if you would like to offer your feedback to this article, please contact Mari van Kuijk.