Technical Portal for Sustainable Architecture
Specialist Consulting for LEED and BREEAM Certifications
We transform building envelope performance into certified scores. Technical support helps you achieve the highest international sustainability standards.
LEED vs. BREEAM: Which protocol is right for your project?
While both aim to certify the eco-sustainability of buildings, they operate with different methodologies. VM Group supports you in interpreting both standards to maximize the value of your property:
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design): Originating in the United States, it is the most widely used standard in the world. It is based on a points system and rewards energy efficiency and overall environmental impact through rigid, measurable categories.
BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method): Originating in the United Kingdom, it is the oldest protocol. It evaluates sustainability across a broader range of categories (including management and well-being) and uses a "weighting" system that adapts the score to the local context and building type.
In summary: While LEED focuses more on energy performance and materials, BREEAM offers a more flexible and holistic assessment.
Beyond Theory, Score Management
Obtaining international certification is not just a matter of materials, but of process engineering. VM Group assists designers and clients in selecting façade solutions that maximize sustainability scores, addressing the key pillars required by international protocols.
Our Approach to Certification
We don't just provide certified products. Our technical support intervenes during the implementation phase to ensure that design choices fully comply with LEED and BREEAM requirements. We analyze the project to optimize credit balance in critical areas:
Materials and Resources: Selection of components with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and a high percentage of recycling (essential for LEED credits).
Energy Efficiency: Optimizing the thermal performance of the building envelope to drastically reduce the building's energy demand (a central pillar of both protocols).
Health and Well-being (Indoor Quality): Use of low- or zero-emission materials (VOCs), essential for the comfort and health of occupants.
Traceable Management: Support for material traceability (e.g. FSC-certified wood) and waste reduction protocols on construction sites.
Certification Levels: The Value Scale
Both the LEED and BREEAM systems rank overall efficiency on a scale of excellence. Our consulting is geared toward achieving the objectives defined in your specifications:
LEED Level
Required Score
Required Score
Market value
Basic (Certified)
Silver (Silver)
Gold (Gold)
Platinum (Platinum)
40 - 49 points
50 - 59 points
60 - 79 points
80+ points
40 - 49 points
50 - 59 points
60 - 79 points
80+ points
Compliance Standards
Certified Efficiency
Excellent Performance
Global Leadership
