FM newsroom – sustainability, building operations. In recent weeks, the latest version of the world’s leading sustainability building certification system has been released. Developed with the involvement of Hungarian experts as well, BREEAM New Construction Version 7 (V7) significantly tightens energy and environmental requirements and sets a new direction toward ESG compliance and the path to net zero emissions. The Hungarian real estate market is also responding to these sustainability expectations.
According to Zsombor Barta, founding partner of Greenbors Consulting, which specialises in sustainable real estate consulting, the changes in BREEAM are also impacting the domestic property market.
“While the volume of new construction projects has declined in recent years, more and more developers are opting to ‘green’ existing buildings. The number of commercial properties with green certification is continuously increasing in Hungary, with BREEAM certifications rising by 54% between 2023 and 2024,” the expert told FMbusiness.hu.
Sustainability got a price tag
The expert explained that one of the main reasons for the growth of sustainable real estate developments is that the financial and investment sector has clearly begun to price sustainability. This means that projects failing to meet sustainability criteria are placed at a disadvantage both in terms of financing and market competitiveness. As a result, obtaining green certifications is increasingly creating a competitive edge in Hungary as well.
He also highlighted that he is proud that their experts contributed to the international development of BREEAM New Construction Version 7.
Key changes in the new version for commercial real estate developers, investors, and owners:
- Stricter energy and carbon thresholds
- Mandatory life cycle assessment and use of recycled materials
- Evaluation based on measured performance rather than planned intent
- Fully digitalised platform
- Simplified assessment for mixed-use buildings