Apr 29 2008
The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) has adopted BREEAM as their pan-European sustainability standard of choice, ahead of other international environmental assessment methodologies.
This decision was confirmed by ICSC executives attending their recent European conference in Amsterdam and comes after several months of talks with BRE Global. ICSC, through its European Sustainability Working Group, is now launching pilot projects in several European countries where a number of developments will be assessed against BREEAM.
Announcing the partnership, Ermine Armies, ICSC Managing Director commented "We decided to adopt BREEAM ahead of other sustainability tools because of its very high environmental standards, its European roots and its adaptability to local markets. Developers within ICSC want a common methodology that they can work to across all their operations and national boundaries."
Clare Lowe, Associate Director for BREEAM, said "We are delighted to be working with these commercial developers to raise standards of sustainability. ICSC members are leading the way for developers throughout Europe and beyond."
ICSC's working group includes members such as ING, Redevco Europe and Multi Development, who between them are already piloting projects in Germany and Turkey. The working group as a whole will advise, comment and act as a source of local knowledge to help tailor BREEAM assessment criteria to the local context and legislation.
This project also provides a great opportunity for emerging Green Building Councils across Europe to get involved. Interest to date has been received from Councils in the Netherlands, Poland, Turkey and elsewhere.