9/7/2025

Certification as a design tool: how Ingenium supports architects in sustainable construction

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Certification as a design tool: how Ingenium supports architects in sustainable construction

Sustainable building is no longer a buzzword, but an essential building block of contemporary architecture. Certification systems such as BREEAM and GRO provide a clear framework for making sustainability, energy efficiency and comfort measurable. For architects, this not only means more design responsibility, but also a need for technical underpinning and project-wide coordination.

Ingenium supports architects in this with targeted guidance and specialized partial studies that make a difference - both on paper and in practice.

Technical depth that counts for your certification

For projects aiming for BREEAM or GRO certification, a substantiated set of sub-studies is essential to secure the intended credits. For example, a thorough daylight analysis provides the objective justification for BREEAM HEA01 and GRO CRD4 and HEA1; parameters such as glass surfaces, reflectance values and shading are calculated in such a way that the required light levels are demonstrably achieved.

Thermal comfort simulations show that spaces remain within permissible temperature limits - a prerequisite for HEA04 in BREEAM and CRD1/2/3 and HEA3 in GRO. When these simulations are performed at an early stage, façade construction, shading and installations can still be optimized before material choices are finalized.

In terms of energy performance, ENE01 and ENE04 (BREEAM) and CRD1/2/3 and ENE1/2 (GRO) in particular determine the overall score. An integrated energetic model of building envelope, HVAC, renewable resources and control strategy concretely shows how the requested threshold values are met and how much CO₂ reduction that yields.

For water management, WAT1/2/3 in GRO and the water credits in BREEAM require clear sizing of rain or gray water systems, including pump control and consumption analysis. A correctly developed hydraulic diagram shows the savings in cubic meters and supports the requested supporting documents.

Ingenium monitors performance for substantiated results

At the end of the certification process, it must be demonstrated that the building delivers the same performance in use as calculated in the designs. A carefully designed commissioning process - complete with test protocols, site inspections and completion reports - establishes that proof and prevents points from being lost in the final stage.

What sets Ingenium apart is that we translate the often theoretical certification requirements into practically feasible measures. We base this on years of experience with what works on site. We know the pitfalls as well as the smart solutions - and that makes our advice not only well-founded, but also realistically feasible.

By collecting all sub-studies into one coherent technical file, daylight, indoor comfort, energy and water performance become logically interrelated. This creates a clear roadmap to the desired BREEAM or GRO score, where each credit is substantiated with measurement data, clear reporting and a concrete plan for implementation and aftercare.

Why partner with Ingenium?

Working with Ingenium means choosing a partner that combines technical expertise with a strong feel for the practice. We believe in cooperation from the very first moment: we enter into discussion with all parties involved and together we look for solutions that are not only well-founded, but also truly feasible on site.

Our advice is always tailored to the project. No standard solutions, but concrete proposals that respond to the specific ambitions, possibilities and challenges of each construction task. We ensure that each step fits logically and thoughtfully within the bigger picture, paying attention to the right timing and technical coherence.

With that approach, we build sustainable projects together in which quality, reliability and cooperation are central - from concept to completion and aftercare.

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Raf De Herdt

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