LEED/BREEAM Certification - Earn points in green certification without architectural compromises

Ecological certification of buildings - how to meet the requirements without compromise

Have you ever wondered why some buildings worth hundreds of millions of euros remain empty for months after being put into use? The answer often lies in the lack of proper environmental certification. In today's world, LEED and BREEAM have become not so much an add-on as a standard demanded by corporate tenants and institutional investors.

Imagine the situation: the architect has just completed the project of a modern office building. Everything has been worked out to the smallest detail - from the elegant facade to the functional common spaces. And then a certification consultant appears with a long list of requirements that completely disrupt the original vision.

“That was the moment we realized we had to practically redesign half of the building,” recalls John Anderson, chief architect at one of London's leading design offices. “Traditional photovoltaic panels would occupy the entire southern facade, obscuring the view and disrupting the proportions we have been working on for months.”

The problem is complex. On the one hand, LEED and BREEAM certification systems place ever higher demands on energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources. A building must generate a certain amount of clean energy to score points in key categories. On the other hand, traditional photovoltaic solutions often force drastic compromises in design.

The consequences are serious. Market research shows that buildings without LEED or BREEAM certification achieve up to 20% lower rental prices compared to certified counterparts. Moreover, large corporate tenants are increasingly not considering buildings at all without proper certification due to their own environmental obligations.

“It's no longer a matter of choice,” explains Sarah Chen, a commercial real estate analyst. “The lack of LEED or BREEAM certification in the demanding European market is practically a guarantee of a prolonged commercialization process and lower rental revenues. In some locations, this can mean the difference between success and failure of the entire investment.”

An additional challenge is the rising energy costs. Buildings that do not meet high energy efficiency standards generate significantly higher operating costs, which directly translates into a lower return on investment. As a result, a vicious circle is formed - to obtain certification, investors often opt for solutions that disrupt the aesthetics of the building, which in turn can discourage potential tenants and reduce the value of the property.

The architect is therefore faced with a difficult choice: either to preserve the original design vision at the expense of a lower score in the certification, or to subordinate the design to the requirements of the certification, risking losing the architectural integrity of the project. In both cases, the end result is far from ideal.

So how do you reconcile certification requirements with architectural ambitions? Is there a way to get a high score without giving up design aspirations?

Solution

The eBlade system completely changes the approach to integrating photovoltaics in certified architecture. Instead of treating solar panels as a separate technical system, it transforms the functional elements of the building into active energy generators.

“It was like finding a missing piece of the puzzle,” says David Wilson, an architect specializing in sustainable construction. “Suddenly it turned out that the railings, blinds and shutters that we had to design anyway could simultaneously generate energy and contribute to certification.”

The system offers many opportunities to earn points in the key LEED and BREEAM categories. Take, for example, a typical office building with an area of 10,000 m². The railings of terraces and balconies, converted into active photovoltaic elements, can generate up to 15 kWp of energy. Facade blinds, in addition to solar control (further points in certification), add another 20 kWp. The system of technical shutters on the roof, masking the air conditioning units, provides an additional 10 kWp.

“What sets the eBlade system apart is its versatility,” explains Maria Rodriguez, LEED consultant. “One item can score points in several categories at the same time. For example, facade blinds score points in the categories of energy efficiency, user comfort and innovation.”

Intelligent control of the system further increases its efficiency. The slats can automatically adjust the angle of inclination to the position of the sun, optimizing both energy production and insolation control. This translates into better results in terms of energy management and user comfort.

The system is also designed for certification documentation. Each element has complete technical documentation, environmental declarations and certificates of conformity. This greatly simplifies the process of documenting points in certification.

“Previously, we had to coordinate documentation from many suppliers - separately for shading systems, separately for photovoltaics, separately for railings,” recalls Anna Kowalska, project manager at the development company. “Now we get a complete set of documents for the integrated system, which saves a lot of time and reduces the risk of errors.”

What's more, the eBlade system can be easily adapted to different certification requirements. If a particular project requires more renewable energy production, the number of active lamellas can be increased. If the priority is to control the insolation, the angles of inclination and the spacing between the slats can be optimized.

“This flexible approach is especially valuable in retrofit projects,” Rodriguez adds. “We can gradually expand the system, adjusting to the client's budget and certification goals.”

It is also worth noting that the eBlade system is produced locally in Europe, using recyclable materials. These are the next points in terms related to responsible sourcing of materials and supporting the local economy.

As a result, instead of choosing between aesthetics and certification, architects can realize their design visions while earning high marks in LEED and BREEAM systems. But what does this mean in practice for the value of the investment?

Benefits

The impact of eBlade on the value of an investment goes far beyond certification itself. Let's look at specific data from the commercial real estate market.

“Our analyses show that buildings with LEED or BREEAM certification at the Gold/Excellent level achieve, on average, 15-20% higher rental rates,” explains Michael Thompson, director of valuations at the international consulting firm. “What's more, the time it takes to commercialize such facilities is up to 40% shorter.”

Let's take as an example a real office investment in Warsaw. The 15,000 m² building was equipped with the eBlade system as part of the certification strategy. The use of the system in the form of facade blinds, terrace railings and technical shutters allowed:

• Earn 12 additional points in the BREEAM certification
• Reduce annual energy consumption by 18%
• Maintain full design freedom without aesthetic compromises

“The key was that we did not have to give up any elements of the original design,” emphasizes the chief architect of the investment. “The eBlade system allowed us to transform standard building elements into active energy sources without changing their basic function and aesthetics.”

This translates into tangible financial benefits. In the case of said building:

• Rental rates are on average 5 EUR/m² higher than in similar, non-certified facilities
• The building was fully commercialized within 6 months of commissioning
• Operating costs are reduced by around €150,000 per year

“What tenants particularly appreciate is a comprehensive approach to sustainability,” notes Sarah Chen. “The eBlade system not only generates energy, but also actively contributes to user comfort through intelligent solar management.”

The long-term benefits are even more significant. In the face of tightening regulations on the energy efficiency of buildings, investments in advanced photovoltaic systems are becoming a form of securing the value of real estate.

“We look at it like an insurance policy,” Thompson explains. “Buildings that already meet future energy standards today will be much more competitive in the market in 5-10 years.”

The success of the eBlade system demonstrates that high marks in environmental certification do not have to mean architectural compromises. On the contrary, intelligent integration of photovoltaic solutions can become an additional asset of the project, increasing its market value and attractiveness for tenants.

For architects and investors, this means the possibility of designing without limits, with the certainty that each element of the building not only fulfills its basic function, but also actively contributes to its energy efficiency and market value.

“Did you know that...” Market research conducted by JLL in 2023 showed that buildings with advanced integrated photovoltaic systems achieve 12% higher prices at sale compared to facilities with traditional PV installations - mainly due to their better adaptation to future energy requirements and a higher aesthetic rating.

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