BREEAM New Construction V7: Raising the bar for carbon and sustainability in the built environment

The BREEAM New Construction Version 7 technical manual — released ahead of the upcoming BREEAM V7 platform launch due in 2025 —  represents a significant evolution of this sustainability assessment framework. This new edition responds directly to the urgent climate challenge and integrates feedback from industry consultation and the latest developments in carbon and energy science.

For project teams, developers, and investors, BREEAM V7 provides clearer pathways to align with ESG targets, deliver on net-zero commitments, and increase asset value. And for embodied carbon specialists and tool providers like One Click LCA, this version marks a critical moment: embodied carbon assessments are now embedded more deeply across multiple project stages, reinforcing their role as a non-negotiable part of the design and construction process.

Key Focus: Life-cycle assessment & embodied carbon

One of the most substantial updates is to Mat 01: Building Life Cycle Assessment.

This issue has been completely rewritten and now aligns fully between UK and International assessments, significantly increasing consistency across global projects. Key changes include:

• Expanded stages of LCA:
  • Concept design LCA & embodied carbon reporting (2 credits)
  • Technical design LCA & embodied carbon reporting (1 credit)
  • Post-construction LCA & embodied carbon reporting (2 credits)
    
    
• Benchmarking: New credits for comparing embodied carbon performance against set benchmarks.
  
  
• Public data submission: An exemplary credit for submitting embodied carbon data to a public database, boosting transparency.
  
  
• EU taxonomy alignment: Integrated requirements for GWP reporting and consideration of scope and methodology, supporting compliance with EU regulations.

One Click LCA’s tools are already fully aligned with EN 15978, ensuring seamless compliance for all stages of assessment. Moreover, these updates mean embodied carbon assessments are required earlier and at more points in the design and construction process — creating opportunities for greater impact on reducing emissions.

Major changes in energy & carbon performance

Decarbonising buildings means looking beyond embodied carbon. BREEAM V7 reconfigures energy issues to reflect the realities of high-performance, low-carbon buildings:

• Prediction of operational energy & carbon (Ene 02):
  A major reconfiguration introduces benchmarked energy use intensity (EUI) and carbon intensity metrics, as well as credits for third-party verification of models.
  
  
• Energy & carbon performance for regulated energy uses (Ene 01):
  Criteria are less prescriptive, allowing teams to choose between local building regulations or ASHRAE methodologies, with adjustment factors for countries with nZEB or similar energy regulations.
  
  
• Flexible demand response & installed controls (Ene 07 & Ene 08):
  Two new issues recognising smart energy management and controls that allow buildings to respond to grid conditions, enabling participation in demand side response — a crucial tool for supporting renewable energy integration.

These refinements support grid decarbonisation, one of the critical pillars for achieving net zero.

Health, wellbeing, & resilience

BREEAM V7 also enhances criteria for daylight, glare control, air quality, and thermal comfort. New issues such as Hea 03: Non-visual effects of light (focusing on circadian rhythm health) and updated thermal comfort methodologies support resilient, occupant-friendly buildings that can adapt to changing climate conditions.

UK vs. International: Greater alignment, clearer pathways

A defining feature of BREEAM V7 is the increased alignment between UK and International versions. This means:

• Shared methodologies for LCA, energy prediction, and water assessments
  
  
• Introduction of EU Taxonomy-aligned requirements in both streams, ensuring global projects are future-proofed for reporting demands
  
  
• Transport & ecology issues have been restructured for consistency, including integrated approaches to biodiversity net gain
  
  

This alignment reduces complexity for multi-region portfolios and makes it easier for global organisations to apply BREEAM across different markets.

Why this matters for the industry and how One Click LCA can help

The updates in BREEAM V7 reflect a sector-wide recognition: Tackling the climate emergency requires integrated, whole-life carbon thinking.

By requiring LCA at multiple stages, embedding benchmarking, and linking to EU Taxonomy frameworks, BREEAM is raising the bar for sustainable design and construction.

For One Click LCA users, this presents an opportunity to:

• Leverage our powerful, BREEAM-recognised LCA tools to achieve these new credits with ease.
  
  
• Benchmark and report embodied carbon in line with BREEAM’s updated requirements.
  
  
• Advise clients with actionable insights to drive decarbonisation strategies across the building lifecycle.

How One Click LCA helps you achieve BREEAM credits

As the only LCA software in the UK awarded a 100% quality score by BRE, our platform ensures total compliance and accuracy for BREEAM assessments. We are also IMPACT-compliant, enabling seamless integration with BREEAM’s life cycle assessment methodology. One Click LCA is uniquely positioned to deliver the maximum LCA credits for any BREEAM UK project, having been rated the highest-performing software by BRE for four consecutive evaluations. In addition, the software platform supports the delivery of the exemplary credit in Mat 01, helping project teams achieve outstanding results and optimise their sustainability performance.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about BREEAM V7 and One Click LCA

1. What is BREEAM New Construction Version 7?
   
   BREEAM New Construction V7 is the latest update to the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for buildings. It incorporates enhanced requirements for embodied carbon assessments, operational energy modelling, and EU Taxonomy-aligned reporting, helping projects meet net zero targets and improve ESG performance.
   
   
2. What are the key changes in BREEAM V7 for embodied carbon?
   
   One of the most significant updates is the complete rewrite of Mat 01: Building Life Cycle Assessment, which now requires embodied carbon reporting at concept design, technical design, and post-construction stages. It also introduces benchmarking against performance scales, with an exemplary credit for submitting embodied carbon data to a public database.
   
   
3. How does BREEAM V7 differ for UK and International projects?
   
   BREEAM V7 has increased alignment between UK and International versions, ensuring consistent methodologies for LCA, energy performance prediction, water efficiency, and ecology assessments. However, some regional differences remain to reflect local regulatory frameworks, particularly in energy performance metrics and biodiversity requirements.
   
   
4. Why is embodied carbon a bigger focus in BREEAM V7?
   
   According to the WGBC, buildings are currently responsible for 39% of global energy related carbon emissions, making embodied carbon a critical focus area for decarbonisation. By embedding LCA across multiple design and construction stages, BREEAM V7 enables earlier and more effective interventions to reduce carbon impacts throughout the building lifecycle.
   
   
5. How can One Click LCA help achieve BREEAM credits?
   
   One Click LCA is the only UK LCA software to achieve a 100% quality score from BRE and is fully IMPACT-compliant, meaning it delivers maximum LCA credits for BREEAM projects. Rated as the highest-performing LCA tool by BRE for four consecutive evaluations, One Click LCA also supports teams in securing the exemplary credit for Mat 01, ensuring projects can achieve their highest possible BREEAM ratings.