In today's rapidly evolving landscape and increasing awareness of climate change and social and corporate governance, ESG priorities have become so much more important. Tenants and investors alike are increasingly looking at the sustainability credentials of properties, thus obtaining accreditations that support ESG goals has become a pivotal strategy for landlords aiming to attract tenants and enhance the value of their property.
There are several accreditations available and Woodhouse are experienced in collaborating with our clients on a variety of sustainability requirements and working through a number of accreditation processes. We have four of the most recognised accreditations, further outlined in this blog.
BREEAM is the world-leading science-based suite of validation and certification systems for a sustainably built environment. It evaluates the sustainability performance across various criteria such as energy efficiency, water usage, materials and ecology. BREEAM's comprehensive approach provides landlords with actionable insights to optimize building performance and reduce environmental impact.
Our recent project at Horseferry Road, Westminster is BREEAM Excellent accredited - 62 Horseferry Road.
Read our blog for further information: Sustainability Accreditations: BREEAM.
A SKA rating is an environmental assessment method led by RICS, an excellent tool that assesses the fitout against 104 good sustainability practice measures across eight key impact areas: pollution, energy, water, transport, waste, materials, wellbeing and project delivery. The fitout is rated as either bronze silver or gold as a percentage. This accreditation has multiple benefits for both occupiers and landlords, for example helping to benchmark properties in a portfolio.
Read our blog for further information: Sustainability Accreditations: SKArating
Fitwel is a building ratings system, via a scorecard including 55+evidence-based strategies that address a broad range of risks and health behaviours, and considers the impact that the building has on the occupants in a variety of ways including safety, community health and supporting vulnerable or disadvantaged persons. The results of this system don't just drive sustainability priorities, but the tenants will benefit directly from the strategies, thus improving referral rates, more occupancies and an increased ROI.
Our work for Petplan (Allianz Insurance) got a 3-star Fitwel accreditation: Petplan (Allianz).
Read our blog for further information: Sustainability Accreditations: Fitwel.
AirRated is an organisation that carries out an environmental survey using the latest sensor technology to determine your building’s AirScore, by collecting detailed information about your Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) over a period of 3weeks. It assess and certifies the air quality based on a rigorous evaluation of factors such as ventilation, pollutant levels and thermal comfort. Having an AirScore assessment done contributes towards attracting tenants, by demonstrating your approach to sustainability and the indoor environment.
Read our blog forfurther information: Sustainability Accreditations: AirRated.
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Incorporating ESG principles into commercial real estate practices is becoming a necessity for landlords seeking to thrive in a sustainability-driven market. By pursuing accreditations such as BREEAM, SKARating, Fitwel, and AirRated, landlords can demonstrate their commitment to environmental responsibility, occupant wellbeing, and responsible governance while unlocking numerous benefits ranging from enhanced tenant satisfaction to increased property value. In an increasingly sustainability-focused world, these accreditations serve as valuable tools for landlords to elevate the sustainability performance of their properties and position themselves as leaders in the evolving real estate landscape.
