1. Project initiation and goal setting

• Which certification system the project targets (BREEAM, LEED, WELL, DGNB, A4U)
• Which rating level (e.g., BREEAM Excellent, LEED Platinum)
• Whether EU Taxonomy compliance is also a goal

2. Preliminary assessment / Gap Analysis

• We review the building plans or existing condition and compare them with the chosen system’s requirements.
• Identify:
  
  • criteria automatically met,
  • criteria that are missing,
  • what costs and efforts are needed to address gaps.
• Output: preliminary scoring matrix, realistic project prospects.

3. Detailed documentation and compliance plan

• For each criterion, specify required documents / measurements / declarations.
• Examples:
  
  • Energy: EPC, thermography and/or airtightness testing, life cycle assessment (LCA).
  • Water: water-saving devices, water consumption monitoring.
  • Materials: environmentally friendly construction materials, EPDs, recycled content.
  • Transport: bicycle storage, public transport connections.
  • Wellbeing: natural light, acoustics, air quality, water quality.
• Output: documentation schedule.

4. Project tracking and advisory

• Coordination with designers and contractors → to ensure implementation meets the scoring system.
• Organization of measurements and tests: involvement of ecologists, flood protection experts, acoustic assessment.
• Supplier declarations: regarding materials and certifications.

5. Preliminary submission (Design Stage) //optional//

• The first possible submission (usually at the end of the design phase), where the certification assessor preliminarily scores the documentation.
• The expected certification level is issued (e.g., BREEAM Excellent pre-assessed).

6. Support during implementation phase

• On-site inspections and checks during construction.
• Collection of documents, photos, measurements.
• Coordination between the contractor and the certification body.

7. Final submission and audit (Post Construction)

• Submission of complete documentation to the certification body.
• Independent auditor evaluates and may request supplementary information.
• After successful verification, the certification certificate is issued, valid indefinitely for new constructions, and for existing buildings it must be renewed every 3 years.

8. Connection with the EU Taxonomy

• Building certification systems overlap in many requirements with Taxonomy TSC and DNSH criteria (e.g., energy efficiency, water protection, materials, LCA).
• Thus, a well-executed BREEAM/LEED/DGNB project significantly supports EU Taxonomy compliance.
• Handling both together → greater value for investors and banks.

9. Operational phase and monitoring

• Some systems (e.g., BREEAM In-Use, WELL Performance Verification) require continuous data collection and monitoring.
• From the EU Taxonomy perspective, this is also valuable as it helps demonstrate ongoing compliance.