31-42_breeam prospekt.qxd
05.03.2013
15:35 Uhr
Seite 36
36
Focus on the Netherlands – BREEAM NL The Dutch Green Building Council (DGBC) was founded in 2008 and is the National Scheme Operator for BREEAM in the Netherlands. DGBC chose BREEAM as its sustainability method because the scheme is adaptable to local standards and legislation, and is the most widely used sustainability certification scheme in the world. This allows for both the effective assessment of Dutch projects and accurate comparisons with projects in other countries. Now that BREEAM NL has been accepted by the market, DGBC is moving forward – looking for new opportunities and improved ways of working. Putting a value on sustainability Many of the major Dutch real estate finance companies recognise the importance of sustainability. In 2011/12, ABN AMRO, FGH Bank, ING Real Estate Finance, SNS Bank Business, Syntrus Achmea Real Estate and NIBC Bank committed themselves to contributing to a process for developing a more sustainable built environment. These finance companies are members of the Market Financiers Group of the DGBC. They have agreed to take joint steps, in their roles as real estate investors, towards putting a value on sustainability. A research project is about to be launched by this group, which focuses on the extent to which sustainability influences the financial risk for investors in new construction, redevelopment and refinancing. As part of this research, DGBC will be looking at viable forms of sustainability financing and appropriate sustainability requirements for such projects. BREEAM NL Junior To increase sustainability awareness among children (and indirectly among teachers and parents) DGBC has launched the BREEAM NL Junior learning programme. Children are able to use BREEAM NL Junior to assess the sustainability of buildings based on themes from the BREEAM scheme. The programme was launched during the Dutch Green Building Week in 2012, where children aged 9 to 12 were asked to assess the World Trade Centre in Amsterdam. BREEAM NL Junior is on the curriculum for primary school pupils. They can use it in the classroom to map out how sustainable their school is, and can also use the method on other buildings. Sustainable demolition The Netherlands is aiming to be the first country with a certification process for demolition and deconstruction proWaitrose are a major corporate user of BREEAM in the UK jects – BREEAM Demolition and Deconstruction. The scheme is due to be developed in collaboration with several demolition and commodities companies. It will consider issues such as the sourcing of materials, adaptability of buildings, reuse of materials and sustainability of demolition sites. DGBC Director Stefan Uffelen says, ‘Our aim is that BREEAM Demolition will close the gap between the certification processes for new buildings and existing buildings. The basic principle is that the whole material chain connects, closing the circle.’
Major Real Estate financiers in the Netherlands have signed a covenant committing them to contribute to the development of a more sustainable built environment.
BREEAM NL Junior aims to increase sustainability awareness amongst children, teachers and parents.