LEED vs BREEAM certifications: what you need to know

Green building certification systems

Think of a building as a complex puzzle. Each piece—whether the initial design, the construction process, or the final choice of materials—must fit precisely to create a sustainable whole. When every component is chosen carefully, the building achieves operational efficiency, a reduced carbon footprint, and minimal end-of-life environmental impact.

Green building certification systems such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) provide a framework for assembling this puzzle. These systems set standards, measure environmental performance, and reward efforts in energy efficiency, water use, materials, indoor environmental quality, and more. They guide industry professionals toward best practices in construction, design, and material selection that will continue to influence a building’s performance for decades.

For installers, plumbers, engineers, architects, and property owners, knowing the features, similarities, and differences of LEED and BREEAM is important: they influence design decisions, product specification (including piping and plumbing), costs, and often regulatory or market desirability.

This article will cover:

1. About certification systems
   
   
2. What is LEED?
   
   
3. What is BREEAM?
   
   
4. What they have in common
   
   
5. Key differences
   
   
6. Why choose one over the other
   
   
7. Conclusion
   
   

Importance of certification systems

Certification systems like LEED and BREEAM are not only checklists. They are structured methodologies that encourage best practices in every stage of a project. Two areas are particularly important:

Building construction processes:

• Both systems promote efficient site construction methods that minimise waste, reduce pollution, and ensure proper management of resources.
  
  
• Attention is given to the way materials are transported, stored, and installed, reducing both embodied energy and unnecessary losses during construction.
  
  

Smart MEP (Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) services:

• MEP systems account for a large share of a building’s operational energy and water consumption.
  
  
• LEED and BREEAM encourage designs that optimise hot water circulation, reduce pumping energy, prevent leaks, and use efficient electrical and mechanical systems.
  
  
• For plumbing systems in particular, reducing water demand through efficient fixtures and leak-resistant distribution is central to both certification schemes.

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What is LEED?

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a green building certification program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Some key points:

• LEED covers many project types: new construction, existing buildings, interior fit-outs, core and shell, neighbourhood development, and homes.
  
  
• Projects earn points by meeting credits in different categories. There are also prerequisites that must be met as a baseline.
  
  
• The main categories include: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, innovation, and regional priorities.
  
  
• While U.S. in origin, LEED is widely used across the world.
  
  

What is BREEAM?

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) was developed in the UK and is the world’s oldest building environmental assessment tool.

Some key points:

• First published in 1990, it has since spread internationally, with national versions (such as BREEAM NL in the Netherlands).
  
  
• It applies to new construction, refurbishment, in-use buildings, and communities.
  
  
• Assessment categories include management, energy, health and wellbeing, transport, water, materials, waste, land use/ecology, and pollution.
  
  
• Buildings are rated according to overall percentage score: pass, good, very good, excellent, or outstanding.
  
  

What they have in common

LEED and BREEAM share many similarities:

• Both aim to improve sustainability of buildings, reduce environmental impacts, and promote best practice.
  
  
• Both cover the full lifecycle of projects, from design and new construction to refurbishment and operation.
  
  
• Both assess multiple criteria such as energy, water, materials, and indoor environmental quality.
  
  
• Both require projects to meet baseline requirements and then achieve additional credits for higher ratings.
  
  
• Both are independently verified by accredited assessors.
  
  
• Both carry strong market value, with certified buildings typically enjoying higher reputation, stronger tenant demand, and sometimes regulatory incentives.
  
  

What are the differences

Although similar in many respects, LEED and BREEAM differ in several important ways:

• Origin and geography
  
  
  • LEED was developed in the United States and has strong global reach, particularly in North America, Asia, and parts of Europe.
    
    
  • BREEAM originated in the UK and remains dominant in the UK and much of Europe, with national schemes tailored to local contexts.
    
    
• Local adaptation
  
  
  • LEED has some regional priority credits but is relatively global in scope.
    
    
  • BREEAM places more emphasis on localisation, with national versions that reflect local codes, climates, and practices.
    
    
• Category weighting
  
  
  • LEED places strong emphasis on energy and atmosphere, along with indoor environmental quality.
    
    
  • BREEAM places greater weight on categories such as ecology, pollution, and transport.
    
    
• Process and documentation
  
  
  • LEED typically requires energy modelling and detailed documentation during design.
    
    
  • BREEAM may require both design-stage documentation and post-construction site visits and verification.
    
    
• Certification levels
  
  
  • LEED awards certified, silver, gold, and platinum.
    
    
  • BREEAM awards pass, good, very good, excellent, and outstanding.
    
    
• Market penetration
  
  
  • LEED has stronger recognition globally, particularly with international investors and multinational clients.
    
    
  • BREEAM is more familiar and often more credible within the UK and Europe.
    
    

Why choose one over the other

Choosing between LEED and BREEAM depends on several factors:

• Location: in the UK and Europe, BREEAM is typically better recognised; in North America and international projects, LEED carries more weight.
  
  
• Regulatory context: some local authorities or financial incentives may require one or the other.
  
  
• Project type: depending on whether you are building new, refurbishing, or operating existing assets, one framework may be a better fit.
  
  
• Costs and benefits: both certifications add design and documentation costs, but they deliver value through efficiency gains, marketability, and long-term operational savings.
  
  
• Stakeholder expectations: some clients or investors may have strong preferences for one system over the other.
  
  
• Compatibility with other standards: depending on whether you are also pursuing WELL, DGNB, or net-zero goals, one system may integrate more easily.
  
  

Conclusion

LEED and BREEAM are two of the most influential sustainability certification systems for buildings worldwide. While both encourage water efficiency, energy savings, better materials, and improved indoor environments, the choice between them often comes down to geography, client expectations, and regulatory drivers.

The goal of systems like LEED and BREEAM is to provide a comprehensive framework that guides industry professionals toward a more sustainable built environment, and PB-1 is the best puzzle item to choose when it comes to the selection of the water pipes.

Material decisions made today, such as the choice of pipe materials within walls and floors, will have significant repercussions in 50 to 70 years, directly impacting the building's recycling potential.

For installers, plumbers, engineers, and property owners, understanding both systems ensures that design and installation practices not only meet certification goals but also deliver efficient, reliable, and future-proof buildings.