BREEAM certification and electrification of parking lots

Parking lots are no longer just parking spaces: they are becoming key players in the energy transition. With the growing popularity of electric vehicles, their electrification is a major challenge for property managers. The BREEAM label, a benchmark for the environmental performance of buildings, now includes sustainable mobility among its assessment criteria. Installing smart charging stations not only improves a site's BREEAM score, it also reduces energy costs and anticipates future regulations. How can you integrate these infrastructures to optimize your parking lot and obtain this certification? Here's how.

What is the BREEAM label?

The BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) label is one of the most widely recognized certifications for the environmental performance of buildings. Created in 1990 by the UK's Building Research Establishment (BRE), it enables the ecological impact of a building to be assessed and improved throughout its life cycle.

This certification is based on a multi-criteria analysis that takes into account several key aspects, including energy management and sustainable mobility, both of which are essential for the electrification of parking lots.

Why is BREEAM essential for parking lots?

Parking lots, whether integrated into commercial, residential or corporate buildings, represent a strategic opportunity to improve a site's environmental performance. In a context where electric mobility is on the rise, the integration of charging stations is becoming a major lever for obtaining BREEAM certification.

Electrification of parking lots: a key certification criterion

One of the areas assessed by BREEAM concerns energy management and sustainable mobility. The installation of charging stations for electric vehicles meets several of the certification requirements:

Reduced CO₂ emissions: by promoting clean transport, the company or parking lot manager limits its carbon footprint.
Optimizing energy consumption: intelligent recharging solutions enable better control of energy flows and integration with building management systems (BMS).
Encouraging best practice: offering a recharging infrastructure encourages the adoption of electric vehicles among users and employees.

By integrating these elements, parking lot managers can not only improve their BREEAM rating, but also enhance the value of their site and meet growing expectations in terms of sustainable mobility.

How to obtain BREEAM certification for an electrified parking lot?

Obtaining the BREEAM label is based on a rigorous assessment and validation process. For a parking lot incorporating charging stations, several stages must be followed to guarantee compliance with the environmental criteria of the standard.

Initial audit: Assess energy consumption, opportunities for improvement and compliance with environmental standards.
Installation of intelligent bollards: Adapt the number of bollards to the use of the parking lot, give preference to connected bollards and integrate an energy supervision system.
Optimized resource management: Optimize lighting (LEDs, motion detectors), integrate renewable energies and promote material recycling.
Validation by a BREEAM assessor: An expert assigns a rating based on the site's performance, with levels ranging from Pass (≥ 30%) to Outstanding (≥ 85%).

A well-electrified and optimized parking lot can easily achieve a Very Good or even Excellent rating, reinforcing its sustainability and market value.

What are the advantages of a BREEAM-certified electrified parking lot?

Obtaining the BREEAM label for an electrified parking lot is more than just an ecological advantage. This certification offers strategic benefits for parking lot managers, real estate companies and businesses looking to optimize their infrastructure while reinforcing their environmental commitment.

1. Real estate and financial value enhancement

A BREEAM-certified parking lot is more attractive on the real estate market. This certification is an internationally recognized guarantee of quality, enabling :

Increase the value of the property, especially for sustainability-conscious investors.
Attract demanding tenants and customers who are sensitive to environmental commitments.
Easier access to green financing, with some organizations offering preferential rates for certified infrastructure.

By optimizing energy performance and integrating intelligent recharging solutions, a parking lot becomes a strategic and profitable asset for owners and operators.

2. Lower operating costs

Intelligent management of a BREEAM-certified electrified parking lot generates significant savings on several cost items:

Reduced energy consumption thanks to optimized charging stations and high-performance LED lighting.
Reduce maintenance costs, by choosing durable equipment and centralized management via supervision software.
Optimize self-consumption by integrating solar panels or batteries to smooth out consumption peaks.

By limiting energy and operating costs, managers can improve profitability while meeting environmental requirements.

3. A response to regulations and legal obligations

Regulations governing recharging infrastructures and the environmental impact of buildings are evolving rapidly. BREEAM certification enables us toanticipate these changes and ensure proactive compliance.

Compliance with charging station pre-equipment obligations, now imposed in several European countries.
Compliance with EU green taxonomy requirements, facilitating access to sustainable financing.
Anticipating future environmental standards, particularly in terms of energy management and limiting CO₂ emissions.

An electrified, BREEAM-certified parking lot thus becomes a future-ready infrastructure, capable of evolving in line with changing needs and regulations.

4. Enhanced brand image and social responsibility

Companies and property owners who invest in a BREEAM-certified parking lot with recharging infrastructure are reinforcing their commitment to CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility). This approach contributes to :

Enhance brand image with a strategy aligned with sustainable development objectives.
Attract partners and customers who are sensitive to ecological issues.
Build loyalty among employees and users, by offering an infrastructure adapted to new modes of mobility.

The electrification of parking lots thus becomes a powerful lever for differentiation, combining economic performance, technological innovation and sustainable commitment.

How can charging stations be integrated into a BREEAM approach?

Installing charging stations is more than just adding equipment. To maximize their impact on BREEAM certification, it's essential to adopt a strategic, optimized approach. Here are the key steps to follow to ensure effective integration of charging infrastructure in a parking lot aiming for certification.

1. Define number and location of terminals

The BREEAM label assesses a parking lot's ability to promote sustainable mobility. It is therefore important to install a sufficient number of terminals, depending on :

The total surface area of the parking lot and its use.
Type of users (employees, customers, visitors).
Current and future needs for electric recharging.

Recommendation: Plan for a minimum of 20% of spaces to be equipped with charging stations or pre-equipped for future installation. This ensures compliance with BREEAM requirements, while anticipating developments in the electric vehicle market.

2. Choose smart, connected bollards

Not all bollards are created equal when it comes to energy performance and intelligent management. To meet BREEAM criteria, we recommend :

Communicating terminals, integrated with a supervision system to optimize energy consumption.
Dynamic charging stations, capable of adjusting power output according to the availability of the electrical grid.
Smart charging compatibility, to smooth out electricity demand and avoid overloading at peak times.

3. Integrate terminals into a global energy management system

The electrification of a BREEAM-certified parking lot must be designed with energy optimization in mind. That's why it's essential to couple the terminals to an intelligent energy management system (EMS), which enables :

Manage the distribution of power between the various terminals according to network availability.
Prioritize vehicle recharging according to needs and usage.
Exploit renewable energies, for example by integrating solar panels to partially power charging stations.

This approach improves the BREEAM score for energy performance, while reducing the site's overall consumption.

4. Ensuring compliance with standards and regulations

Charging stations must meet a number of electrical and environmental standards to be eligible for BREEAM certification. Among the points to check:

Compatibility with OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) for interoperable infrastructure management.
Compliance with pre-equipment obligations imposed by local legislation (e.g. European directive on recharging infrastructures).
Installation security, with surge protection and secure access to terminals to prevent fraudulent use.

A parking lot equipped with bollards that comply with current standards is not only easier to certify, but also more durable over time.

5. Communicating the environmental approach

An electrified, BREEAM-certified parking lot is a real marketing asset. It is important to promote this commitment to users and partners:

Display of certification and promotion of recharging infrastructures.
Raising user awareness of electric mobility and good recharging practices.
Introduce incentive pricing to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles and maximize the use of installed charging stations.

Effective communication boosts value of the parking lot and the responsible image of the company or manager.

BREEAM label and recharging stations: an asset for your parking lots