BREEAM V7 – key changes for sustainable engineering consultancy
With news that registrations for BREEAM International and UK New Construction V7 will open at the end of September, our sustainability team wanted to clarify what this update means for sustainable engineering consultancy.
BREEAM New Construction V7 is a revision of the science-driven standard enabling designers and developers to deliver high-performing, future-proofed buildings. The standard integrates whole-life carbon, resilience and resource efficiency to help create sustainable assets that meet investor expectations, evolving market demands, and regulatory requirements.
Key Impacts for Mechanical and Electrical Engineering:
- Whole-Life Carbon Accounting
Projects will now need to consider the embodied carbon of MEP systems (ductwork, piping, wiring, etc.), not just operational energy.
- Energy Modelling & Operational Performance
New, more detailed energy credits (Ene01–Ene08) require accurate predictive modelling (e.g. TM54), load reduction strategies, and performance validation.
- Electrification Required for ‘Outstanding’
On-site fossil fuel use is no longer allowed for buildings targeting top ratings — heat pumps, high-efficiency systems, and smart controls are key.
- Controls, Demand Management & Metering
Greater emphasis on active energy management, demand response readiness, and granular sub-metering.
- Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)
Updates to air quality, thermal comfort, daylighting and lighting design — including non-visual effects (circadian impact) — facilitating closer collaboration with architects and lighting designers.
BREEAM V7 brings stronger integration of carbon, energy, and resilience into building design. Engineers will work more closely with stakeholders to prioritise performance, lifecycle impact, and compliance with tougher sustainability standards.
It introduces stricter whole-life carbon assessments, enhanced health and well-being criteria, better biodiversity and water conservation measures, and a shift toward actual building performance. Notable updates include predictive energy modelling, removal of the “Simple Buildings” route, clearer links between water use and carbon impact, and closer alignment with global frameworks like the EU Taxonomy.
Challenges & Considerations
While BREEAM V7 raises the bar, it also brings some challenges that our sustainability team have prepared for:
- Data Availability: Obtaining accurate embodied carbon data for many materials (especially for MEP) can be challenging. Product declarations may lag; therefore, our consultants are prepared to update older information with new data.
- Modelling Accuracy vs Reality Gap: Predictive models still risk diverging from real performance. The team will continue to ensure good feedback loops and monitoring.
- Upfront Cost vs Lifecycle Gain: Clients may hesitate unless lifecycle cost savings/value (resale, regulatory risk) are well demonstrated. The sustainability team always present data in clear, realistic reporting.
- Skill Gaps and Learning Curve: CBC has always used detailed LCAs, predictive modelling and has a well-trained, knowledgeable team ready for these changes.
- Transition and Project Timing: Projects already underway may struggle to adapt if many decisions are locked in before the transition period ends. Collaboration and discussion on this change has been communicated to our clients.
- Potential for increased complexity: More criteria, more data, more benchmarks add complexity. CBC consultants will ensure that this doesn’t bog down the design process or lead to “box-ticking” rather than genuinely better outcomes.
BREEAM V7 marks a shift in defining sustainable buildings, driven by climate urgency, stricter regulations, and investor focus on carbon, resilience, and transparency. For the industry, it’s a call to evolve; refine workflows, deepen expertise, engage earlier, and guide clients toward long-term value.
The Cudd Bentley approach to consultancy aligns with these values and welcomes BREEAM V7, taking a leading role in delivering the changes for our clients. Contact us if you have any questions or concerns about this update.